Its been 15 years since I did infertility and I see nothing much has changed. Same docs, same problems.

Anonymous wrote:Wow, these stories make me go greatful for Brian at GW. I should get him some chocolates! I never once had a financial worry with him- if you are considering a clinic, he is worth his weight in gold. I wish ever doctors office had someone as great as him.

I agree whole heartedly, Brian is a great person and skilled in all aspects of the finances including compassion when working with us. He genuinely seemed to care to get us the possible care at the least possible cost. GW is worth it all around. I love Dr F and all the nurses. I don't see how you can go wrong there.

Wow, these stories make me go greatful for Brian at GW. I should get him some chocolates! I never once had a financial worry with him- if you are considering a clinic, he is worth his weight in gold. I wish ever doctors office had someone as great as him.

This is not a 2013 experience, but about a year and a half ago we received a check in the mail from SG for $2300. I called to ask why and they told me that it was their POLICY to charge for procedure B whenever a patient had procedure A, even if the doctor doesn't order procedure B. (I can't remember the procedures now, but they were pretty standard.) Anyway, I didn't need procedure B and it was never ordered. Nevertheless, they sat on our money for almost two years before finally refunding it. I was still a newbie when it happened so I didn't understand any of the ART terms or why we were being billed for the things were were being billed for. Even knowing what I know now, I still might not have caught it. I would definitely never go back to them, and if I did, I would treat their billing office like the enemy and question EVERYTHING they do. I would also encourage you to challenge any extra charges that they say are a matter of "policy" with your doctor. The doctors own the practice and should know that the billing office has those crazy policies. Don't just accept it like we did.

Anonymous wrote:This is 9:54, and I was a patient of Dr. Sacks. Billing was awful. They essentially told me I hadn't been paying my co-pays, some almost a year later. Then after I spent a long time digging up receipts, writing a letter and sending everything to them, they said things like "oh, the payment you made on June 1st was applied to the missed payment on May 30, and thats why you still owe us money." It was a never ending cycle until I finally lost it on them and had DH call Dr. Sacks, which helped, but it took hours and hours of my time and LOTS of stress. Their finance dept. does not know what they are doing and do not care about the stress it causes.

This was exactly my experience.....except I was with Shady Grove in DC (K Street office, Cleveland was financial person). Rockville personnel were helpful when I could get to them, but they'd usually say, oh, you need to deal with your financial counsel, Cleveland. Like PP it took hours and hours of my time to sort it all out and was extremely stressful. I was paying out of pocket, so it was a lot of money at stake.

Anonymous wrote:

Late 2012 experience with CFA. Don't do it. It does not matter if doc is "nice", the ENTIRE finance dept is incompetent and will make your life a living hell. and success rates are not all that impressive. So, why bother?

This. More than once they submitted the wrong paperwork (or sent it to the wrong place), did not follow-up when they got no response, and then told me I needed to pay for the (definitely covered) procedure in full or the billing person would get in trouble. Um, well you should if you didn't do your job.

Also, the billing person refused to submit the authorization for my D&C for a missed miscarriage, b/c we hadn't paid a bill that we never received (and wasn't past due). I was crying on the phone at that point.

Anonymous wrote:13:13: Congrats on your "graduation"! Whoo hoo!!!!

Thank you very much! It has been a long road (5+ years). Good luck to you as well!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2013 experience with CFA. Love them. No billing issues and I adore dr sacks

Where did you cycle? Could it be that the billing person assigned to Sacks isn't bad? If anyone can comment on this that would be helpful as there have been enough messages about the inadequacy of the finance team at CFA which one cannot discount. The whole IVF process is stressful and expensive enough - the last thing one needs is finance people messing things up. That is something that I am not willing to take a chance with at all.

Late 2012 experience with CFA. Don't do it. It does not matter if doc is "nice", the ENTIRE finance dept is incompetent and will make your life a living hell. and success rates are not all that impressive. So, why bother?

I know you prefer DC or MD but Dr. Sharara at VCRM in Reston is amazing. He is the only doctor and you see him every visit. It is worth the drive. His clinic is extremely organized and well run.

How can extra reading be the patient's "responsibility" when the patients are paying tons of $$$!!! for professional advice?! I agree that it is good to do info gathering on your own, however, it should not be the patient's "responsibility" to do so....at all. (IMO.)

Anonymous wrote:13:59: Just out of curiosity (I guess because I'm wondering if we're not being proactive enough), what do you mean when you say "some want the nurses and doctors to do all the work for them"?

What types of things do you think end up slipping through the cracks and getting messed up because the patient expected the dr/nurse to take care of it?

Thanks!

Oh, sorry what I meant was that it is sometimes the patients responsibility to do extra reading and information gathering to make sure that they are doing what is right for them. No balls have been dropped at all for us at SG.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2013 experience with CFA. Love them. No billing issues and I adore dr sacks

Where did you cycle? Could it be that the billing person assigned to Sacks isn't bad? If anyone can comment on this that would be helpful as there have been enough messages about the inadequacy of the finance team at CFA which one cannot discount. The whole IVF process is stressful and expensive enough - the last thing one needs is finance people messing things up. That is something that I am not willing to take a chance with at all.

I was in the DC office, if that's what you're asking. My DH made sure to stay on top of the billing issues throughout -- would have done that anywhere. Anyway, it worked, and insurance covered almost everything. I didn't have issues with nurses. In fact, I really loved Lafaya (not sure I have her name right). She responded to emails, calls, etc from an antsy new-to-fertility-treatments patient.

Cannot say enough good things about Sacks. He triggered me himself, at his home, after I had a mishap with calling a nurse to come do it (DH was too scared). I visited Dr. DiMattina at Dominion -- and could. not. stand him. Felt patronized, squeezed for cash, etc.

I liked CFA and Sacks but I do not miss the blood draws in Arlington. They butchered me every.single.time.

13:59: Just out of curiosity (I guess because I'm wondering if we're not being proactive enough), what do you mean when you say "some want the nurses and doctors to do all the work for them"?

What types of things do you think end up slipping through the cracks and getting messed up because the patient expected the dr/nurse to take care of it?

Thanks!

This is such a personal issue. Some like hands on and some like good guidance and some want the nurses and doctors to do all the work for them. We have been at SG for almost 9 months and have been through it all. We are now getting ready for DE next month. I love Dr. Saffan and the rest of their team. I only had one bad experience with a blood draw and was immediately given another technician.