Anyone have to pay an annual "Administrative Fee" to their doctor??

[Grumpy's Gal]

no and if my Dr started that, I'd find a new doctor!

 

[QVCshopper]

My pediatrician charges $3 per form for school (or at least it was $3 last time I had one). $20 seems high to me; hope ours doesn't go up to that. Thus far, none of my docs charges an admin fee that I know of.

 

[pixie921]

My dh said he read that most practices will likely be starting this as a result of the new universal healthcare plan because of rules about billing and admin fees. He said it was on Yahoo news earlier today, but I can't find it now.

 

[PatMcDuck]

I work for a pediatrician, and we fill out ALOT of forms. Takes loads of time. We do not charge any fees for forms (yet).

My problem with this, is that a SPECIALIST is charging it. They fill out WAY less forms than the primary Drs, and get paid WAY more for a visit.......

 

[3boymthr]

It sounds to me like your specialist just had his contract re-negotiated with the local HMO/PPOs and he didn't get what he wanted as a rate so now he's passing along the difference in the form of a fee.

 

[cm8]

, and if the lord spares my life and I can make it through my residencies, and into my practice, I will not charge for anything that should already be included in the co- pays. I even want to get back to making house calls.

 

[angwill]

So doctors are becoming like the airlines now. What's next they charge you to carry your purse into the room. lol Seriously though I would protest and find another doctor. Unless more people start protesting being nickle and dimed to death it will only get worse.

When I bring in a physical form for my son I fill out everything all the boxes, height, weight and all the doctor does is sign it. I would forge his signature before I paid him $20.00 for it. I don't charge him for mine when I sign in.

 

[clarabelle]

I am not sure that this is best solution -but I understand where it is coming from.
My job is electronic filing for a family doctors practice.
There is a form for everything. Many factories in town require the worker to file for FMLA if they miss more than 3 days off work. Even if it is just the flu.

Want your labs from another office- have to fill out a form. Filling for disability -short or long term-pages and pages of forms.

School physicals, sports, disabled parking spaces, requests for services out of network or a medication not on formulary- it goes on and on.

I am surprised a specialist is going to this -it seems that a Primary care doctor would see more of this.

 

[Belle2667]

Actually, doctors aren't required to file your paperwork with the insurance. Most do it as a service, but it's not required. They could give you a superbill and have you file yourself. I have to do this with two doctors who no longer accept insurance payments directly.

I clearly remember during open enrollment that we were told that one of the benefits was that our docs would handle all the paperwork for submittals and pre-certs and such.

If my doc wanted to charge me for this service, I'd have to insist they submit it to my insurance.

 

[eyeheartgoofy]

I wonder if the administrative fee charged by doctor's offices will be an acceptable expense to submit to a flexcare account?

 

[Heidict]

So doctors are becoming like the airlines now. What's next they charge you to carry your purse into the room. lol Seriously though I would protest and find another doctor. Unless more people start protesting being nickle and dimed to death it will only get worse.

What is next? $5 for clean butcher paper on the table? $3 for a new and unused tongue depressor? $2 for every new piece of paper they have to put in your chart?

OP, if I were you, I would be getting a new specialist. There is no way I would ever pay $50 to cover something that is THEIR job, let alone with the attitude and treatment you receive there. Heck, I would drive a couple of hours each way and see another specialist if that is what it took. I would also be sure to mail them a letter advising them of every reason why you were leaving. From the unprofessionalism of the front desk staff, to the insane waits, to the total disrespect for your time and for their greedy and pathetic fee.

Also, if they participate with your insurance, I would be informing them also.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

Some doctors charge for filling out those school forms? Seriously? It takes my pediatrician about one minute to fill out the form when she is already in the room with us for the appt.. just checks the appropriate boxes, fills out the height/weight/etc info, and signs it. Charging $20 for something like that is just greedy.

I think this is crazy! I am a teacher and I write close to 25 college letters of recommendation for my former/current students each year. I fill out dozens of reference letters/paperwork when they seek jobs. I can't charge a penny for that. Why can others charge just for making one copy?

 

[skw444]

It's common here. Our pediatrician charges $10 annual fee or you can pay a per form fee of $20. It's cheaper for me to pay the $10 fee. My ob/gyn also does this. For OB patients, it's $75. For gyn patients, it's $30. They also offer a per form fee as well. I pass on paying the annual fee and just wait for the form since I don't have any forms to fill out. However, when I had my dd, I did pay the $75 fee since I needed disability forms filled out.

I just wanted to add...ours charges to the form fee if the forms are requested outside of an actual office visit. We have summer camp forms that need to be filled out since my daughter has food allergies and asthma and I get the forms filled out but don't need to actually see the doctor. If we are there for an office visit, then the forms are filled out free of charge.

Here's an interesting article from the doctor's point of view: http://www.physicianspractice.com/index/fuseaction/articles.details/articleID/598/page/2.htm

 

[dawson5]

What is next? $5 for clean butcher paper on the table? $3 for a new and unused tongue depressor? $2 for every new piece of paper they have to put in your chart?

OP, if I were you, I would be getting a new specialist. There is no way I would ever pay $50 to cover something that is THEIR job, let alone with the attitude and treatment you receive there. Heck, I would drive a couple of hours each way and see another specialist if that is what it took. I would also be sure to mail them a letter advising them of every reason why you were leaving. From the unprofessionalism of the front desk staff, to the insane waits, to the total disrespect for your time and for their greedy and pathetic fee.

Also, if they participate with your insurance, I would be informing them also.

This. I drove an hour and a half--each way-- to see our pediatrician, when my husband moved us from here to Michigan (thankfully we moved back after three years). I was talking with a friend and asked her if I was crazy. She told me she would drive that long for a good hairdresser, she would drive longer for a good pediatrician.

 

[simonsmom]

so I guess my pharmacy can charge a fee for the vial we put your meds in?
that is ridiculous! filling out forms is part of their job. calling or faxing rx's is their job and most of the time a doctor does not do it themselves. the doctors that charge people for a prescription are ridiculous.

 

[clarabelle]

What if filling out the forms takes longer than the visit?

 

[pilesoflaundry]

My doc office charges a fee to fill out certain forms( car insurance stuff due to accidents, work mans comp etc. not basic physicals) but it's not for everyone and it's not a fee for doing their job like you mentioned. Wow.

 

[01spirit750]

A couple of years ago I went to a (contracted) lab to have some blood work done. A few weeks later I got a bill for the plebodomy (drawing the blood). The lab billing department told me that only the lab work was covered by my insurance and not the drawing of the blood. My insurance company said that the agreement with the lab is that they get paid for the lab work and drawing of blood is just part of it and is considered free.

Of course the lab billing department was argueing with me about this over the phone. So I told them I was not paying, and that next time I came in they can give me the needle and I will draw my own blood. This shut them up real fast and I never heard from them again.

 

[daughtersrus]

I just went to a new Gyn yesterday. I waited over 30 minutes to get into a room. Once there, I was handed a bunch of papers to fill out and sign. Included in the papers was one listing their fees. I've posted it below. Some are only charged if they are done outside of the office visit. I guess if I needed one of them filled out, it would be cheaper to schedule an appointment.



PATIENT SERVICES (not covered by insurance)
Copy of Medical Record .........................................................$25 (20 pages or less)
Copy of Medical Record .........................................................$40 (21-40 pages)
Copy of Medical Record .........................................................$50 (over 40 pages) Family max $100
NO-SHOW Fee-Physical appt only ..........................................$50
Non payment of co-pay at time of service ................................$10 rebilling fee
Disability Forms ......................................................................$25 / $50
Ins forms (such as rule out pre-existing condition) ....................................$25 / $50
Worker’s Comp Forms ............................................................$25 / $50
FMLA Forms, Medical LOA, Soc. Security forms ......................$25 / $50
Any Form completed with duplicate information ........................$15
Medicare forms for diabetic supplies, oxygen, etc. ...................$25
School / work forms completed outside of the visit .....................$25
School medication administration forms outside of the visit .......$15 OTC / $25 Rx
Adoption Forms ......................................................................$75
Notary ....................................................................................$25
Dictated letter .........................................................................$50
Form letter ..............................................................................$25
Re-bill with correct insurance information .................................$15
Handicap Parking Form outside of the visit ...............................$25
All other forms completed outside the visit .............................$25 / $50
(Higher fee is used for forms that are 3 pages or more)

My DD goes to 7 different doctors. I am not aware of any extra fees from any of them.

 

[ReneeQ]

If this specialist is a contracted provider with your health insurer ask them to bill the fee to your insurer. Your insurance will not pay for it and contractually the physician may be unable to bill you thereafter. It's certainly worth a try.

I thought about this. I'm going to call the ins. co. today. I have a Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO plan, and he is one of the preferred providers.