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Ironically, it is comforting to learn that we are not alone in being charged extra for an annual physical.
I scheduled a physical last month, and, within a few days of making the appointment, I received a packet from the doctor's office. In this packet was a letter informing me that the insurance company is the bad guy, and the doctor's office is the good guy. It said that the insurer wants the doctor to do only a wellness visit on one day, and address any chronic or acute medical issues at another visit, another day. The doctor's office says that isn't good medical care, and they don't think it's very logical or convenient for the patient. Their position is that an "annual health review" should address all three issues-preventive, chronic, and acute (if appropriate for the patient)- at one visit. Sounds good, right?
Wrong. They go on to say that they bill for their services according to nationally recognized standards; that for patients with chronic or accute medical issues at the time of their annual review, two services may be billed: a preventative medicine service, and an office visit.
I called and cancelled my appointment for a physical.
My husband and I go to different doctors, but both practices are part of the same large medical chain in our area, Eagle Physicians. When we finally received the statement for my husband's physical two months ago, sure enough, there was an extra charge of $94 for an office visit. He doesn't remember getting a warning letter, but he is going to call and ask what exactly triggered the extra charge.
This practice is so subjective! At what point does the doctor think to themselves, "If I answer this patient's question, I can charge them for another office visit"??? My sister and my friend go to doctors who still do it the right way - anything that is going on with you at the time of your physical gets addressed, for one charge. Period. I'm now looking for a new doctor.
I would just like to know how widespread is knowledge of this deceptive and unfair practice?