Reply to Billing for an "office visit" with free preventative care

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Reply to "Billing for an "office visit" with free preventative care - is this the new healthcare scam?"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]This has happened to me twice now. We go in for a physical which is fully covered by insurance and then end up receiving a bill for an "office visit" for $150+.

The first time it was for me and I was told it was because I "discussed a new issue" with my doctor. 1. - I didn't. He asked if I needed a refill for a condition I've had for 20+ years. I said yes. B. Even if I did bring up a minor issue, do they not want us to answer honestly when they ask us health questions or ask if we have any concerns? We should just say nope!

Then it happened again with my daughter at a completely different practice. The NP (because of course the ped doesn't do physicals) decided she wanted my daughter screened for a minor issue by a specialist. An issue that we did not ask about and were not concerned about. So she handed me a piece of paper with some pre-typed names on it. Turns out that writing "referred patient for X" is enough to get you billed for an "office visit." So then I took my daughter to said specialist (another $150+) for them to laugh and say my daughter definitely does not have X condition. And then I received the bill from the Ped's office for an "office visit" instead of the well visit.

In both cases, the conversation about the "issue" was less than 60 seconds and not initiated by me. After some back and forth and arguing I was able to get the charges removed. But both required persistence, multiple phone calls and talking to more than one person. Which I guess they are counting on a certain percentage of people not doing. In both cases they acted like they are doing me a favor rather than correcting their own error (best case scenario) or outright billing fraud (worst case scenario.)

So just, be very aware and vigilant for this, particularly if you are on a high deductible plan.

[/quote]

Yes, this is becoming very common. My GYN asked me about an issue during my annual and then billed for it.

Sadly, I think you have to go into the appointment and state you are there for preventive care and don’t authorize care or billing for additional issues. Just another day in healthcare in the greatest country in the world.[/quote]

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