Anyone use Minute Clinic for acne treatment?

[Toots]

CVS Minute Clinic in our area post $62 for skin condition exam. Since our insurance has a high deductible and any treatment will be out of pocket, I thought this might be a reasonable way to get acne treatment for our son.

We've never used the Minute Clinic and would like to hear from those who have.

 

[hmansure]

CVS Minute Clinic in our area post $62 for skin condition exam. Since our insurance has a high deductible and any treatment will be out of pocket, I thought this might be a reasonable way to get acne treatment for our son.

We've never used the Minute Clinic and would like to hear from those who have.

MinuteClinic (at least where we are) is looking to expand beyond it's initial core offering of services. They now offer treatment for strains/sprains, allergies, suture removal, minor cuts/repair, and acne treatment. $62 is almost certainly less than an initial, new patient consult with a dermatologist. Oddly though, in our area, many derm practices now routinely use physician extenders in their own practices. It is very probable that a patient would end up seeing a CNP or a PA anyway in these practices. I had a lengthy conversation with a dermatologist the other day wherein he blasted the use of these physician extenders, etc. Problem is though is there a 4 month wait to see him at his office!

Does CVS/MinuteClinic par with your health plan? If so, the deductible amount would almost certainly be less than the $62 charge (it would be up to the negotiated amount between MinuteClinic and your health plan). I would check there first to save a few bucks.

 

[Toots]

Does CVS/MinuteClinic par with your health plan? If so, the deductible amount would almost certainly be less than the $62 charge (it would be up to the negotiated amount between MinuteClinic and your health plan). I would check there first to save a few bucks.[/QUOTE]

We must first spend $1500 out of pocket and then our insurance would pay 80%. We've only had well visits this year and nothing applied toward our deductible.

We live in a rather affluent area, and it must the the dermatologist here don't need to compete for business. I phoned two yesterday. The first would not see you unless you have insurance and then could not say how much an office visit would cost. The second said a routine visit would be between $79 to $150.

If getting a quote for just a visit is so difficult, then I can really see the appeal of a Minute Clinic approach.

 

[DisneyLover83]

I recently visited a Minute Clinic near my house in Charlotte, NC. I was seen by a Nurse Practitioner and given a diagnosis and a Rx and sent on my way for my $15 office visit copay. I ended up going to my regular Dr two days later and told the diagnosis from the Nurse was incorrect and I should not have been given the prescribed medication. Could have been a one time mistake or could be a regular occurance, I do not know, but I would proceed at a Minute Clinic with caution.

 

[Namsupak]

Do you have a primary care physician or family doctor you can see? I am not sure about your insurance but is the co-pay too high everyone or just specialists. Not all skin disorders need a dermatologist to diagnose them. My specialty is not dermatology and I can diagnose some common skin disorders. Usually I suggest people try to get in with their PCP or family doctor who should be more than capable of helping you. The only thing that concerns me is that some doctor might just hand you out Differin gel or Tretinoin cream and then you have no one to follow up with. We do not have these minute clinics in our state but we have something similar, my friends and I call them Doc-in-a-box, and the care varies greatly in them. Physician extenders are just fine in my opinion they have a place in the healthcare system, but like anything else they also vary in quality. I had acne as a kid too it sucks hopefully he will grow out of it, personally I only become concerned when I see people who have potential to scar.

 

[Lewisc]

Got to a site like webmd and try the OTC solutions first.

 

[WendyisDarling]

Love minute clinic for flu shots because they bill insurance. But, every other time I have been sent off to see a doctor.
'
I did see posted in ours the acne treatment listing. I was kind of surprised. My guess is it is a standard medication prescribed if the Nurse Practioner deems necessary.

The ladies who work at ours are super friendly. If they don't have patients, I've asked them simple questions like which OTC med is best for sinus problems (you know if you go in for a sinus probem that is the answer you will get anyway) and they have happily obliged. If the person isn't workig, you may just ask what sort of treatments they provide at least then you could make a better decision.

 

[torinsmom]

I have been to Minute Clinic quite a few times, mostly for sinus infections. I have never been disappointed. Quick exam, no exposure to a waiting room full of sickies, weekend hours, etc. I've always done fine with the prescriptions they have given me.

Once, we did get sent to the regular dr., because the RNP thought my son might have pneumonia. They don't treat that and so she did not charge me for the visit and sent us on our way. Turns out it was just a bad case of bronchitis, but I am glad she erred on the side of caution.

Marsha

 

[elgerber]

I also have a very high deductible plan, but the negotiated rate for the office visit with my sons dermatologist is only $49. Maybe you can find out first if it would really be cheaper at minute clinic.

 

[WendyisDarling]

You know another issue you may want to consider with the minute clinic vs. dermatologist decision is wait time to get an appointment.

Often new derm. patients wait months to get a first appointment. At least that has been the case for me and I have been to several dermatologists.

 

[auralia]

have you tried proactive first in lue of this... i'd buy it and make certain he uses it twice a day before i went the doctor route that stuff really does work if your skin isn't too sensitive to it.

 

[momtofour]

Personally, I would not use the Minute Clinic for acne. My two sons are currently seeing a dermatologist for acne. There are a multitude of prescription products for different types of acne. I doubt that any nurse practitioner is that versed in all of the possibilities. One of my sons started out last December with an extremely mild form of acne. He was at the dermatologist to have her check a mole and I asked for a prescription for his acne. Two to three months later this acne changed into the most severe type, nodular acne. It was extremely disfiguring. He is now on Accutane.. the last resort for acne. It is working but it has really affected him emotionally. I would spend the out of pocket and go to an expert. Good luck.

 

[RitaE]

It takes about 4 months to get into a Dermatologist around here also.
With both my teens the Dermatologist started them out with a medicated face wash and a prescription for an antibiotic. I think the Minute Clinic could probably write those prescriptions.

If it takes that long to get into the Dermatologist for your child, you could go in already knowing whether or not that treatment works.

 

[Free4Life11]

Please visit www.acne.org

Seriously. I can't recommend this site enough. It is FULL of information. Totally awesome site. I personally use the Benzoyl Peroxide sold through the site.

I would check it out before spending the money on the Minute Clinic or the Derm.

 

[Lewisc]

I'd go to a site like webmd
http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/default.htm
over a site that's based solely on peer posts.

Start with the OTC suggestions. If they don't work, and you can't get an appointment (or can't afford) a dermatologist try MinuteClinic. They're going to take a history, input it into the computer and prescribe whatever product their system suggests.

PP are correct, your plan may have a network negotiated (discounted) fee for participating specialists. You may even get a small discount with MinuteClinic.

 

[Irin997]

Please visit www.acne.org

Seriously. I can't recommend this site enough. It is FULL of information. Totally awesome site. I personally use the Benzoyl Peroxide sold through the site.

I would check it out before spending the money on the Minute Clinic or the Derm.

Have to 100% agree with acne.org. The support there is incredible.

1) I would try OTC meds. If you've already tried them, then go to the doctor. Definitely try Proactiv. It works for a lot of people, esp. teenagers.

2) I would go to your PCP first. The dermatologist will be a long wait and I would go to the derm as a last resort if working with your PCP doesn't work. I go to my PCP for acne I've dealt with for many many years and they are able to prescribe good meds that have helped me.

3) Keep in mind that you will only have to pay the allowed amount - the allowed amount the insurance company has contracted with your doctor to charge you in exchange for payment. So for a person on the street this amount might be $120 for an office visit but your insurance company might have contracted with them to charge you $60. I would contact either or both your PCP and the insurance company. This happened to me when I had a high deductible insurance and broke my thumb. Off the street the ER charges for everything would have been about $1200 but through my insurance company I could only be charged about $750.

 

[Toots]

Please visit www.acne.org

Seriously. I can't recommend this site enough. It is FULL of information. Totally awesome site. I personally use the Benzoyl Peroxide sold through the site.

I would check it out before spending the money on the Minute Clinic or the Derm.

I looked into this site two days ago and asked my son to look at it. It's good to know about a possible practical plan that uses OTC medications.

Thanks to all others for their recommendations. I plan to check with our insurance regarding any negotiated rates as recommended by elgerber and others.

Our son's acne is not extreme, but seems to be getting worse. Perhaps a nurse practitioner/physician assistant at CVS can prescribe a topical medication to help clear it up. If this doesn't work we'll contact our PCP first and a dermatologist if necessary. We chose a high deductible insurance policy, but also realize that saving money is not worth risking physical or emotional scarring.

 

[Melani]

I followed the benzoil peroxide routine outlined on acne.org for years w/ some success, but for the past year or 2 it hasn't worked.

I recently went to a Med Spa that said I had rosacea & wanted me to but $150 Obagi kit.

So after alot of research I was still on the fence. Then I remembered an interview I saw awhile back w/ a dermatologist that said only sulfur products help rosace.

I went to Walgreens and read every label until I found something w/ sulfur. It was Adult Acnomel. I started using it at night. In 2 days I was almost clear. It dries your skin out bad for 5 days & you have to moisturize, but it works.

As a teen I went to a dermatologist every month. He would alternate tetracycline & penicillin. And he would switch out topicals. I remember being on this ointment. I didn't remember the name, but the smell & texture is unforgettable.

I don't know if it shows up in the pix below, but my face was BAD. At $10 a tube it's worth a try.