Co-Pay to get blood results?

[JerseyMouse]

Have you ever been told by your doctor's office that you needed to come into the office in order to get the results of your blood work, rather than getting the results over the phone.

I feel like my doctor's office is holding my blood results hostage. I am basically being forced to come into the office ($30 co-pay) in order to speak with the doctor. I told the nurse to schedule me in for a full physical, that way I at least feel like I am getting something for the co-pay.

My appointment isn't until Friday, and now I'm just starting to think that they don't want to give me "bad news" over the phone.

Has this ever happened to anyone? I feel like many doctor's have just become "BIG BUSINESS - MONEY MAKERS" rather than people who actually care about your health.

 

[pixiedustaholic]

Yes, I had a similar situation. I had a CT scan b/c the dr. suspected my appendix was giving me trouble. I was told they would call me as soon as they had the results.. The nurse called to tell me dr. wanted me to come in to go over the results. I was very nervous. All he told me at the appt was that the results were normal and suggested I begin a laxative regimen to see if that helped my problem. Why couldn't they have told me that on the phone?? I had to pay my $20 copay for nothing.

 

[gabriellyn]

The same thing happened to me - I had gestational diabetes and had to get a referral to a diabetes doc, but the referral had to come from my Primary, not my OB, so they MADE ME COME IN AND DO THE SAME BLOOD TEST AGAIN that my OB had already done. I was LIVID. And I let the doc know too. Oh well.

 

[Belle5]

Calm down--they probably don't have really bad news for you! I think all these docs are being advised by their business managers that this is the what they need to do to make money. I am seeing it over and over again. I had a wart removed from the bottom of my toe a couple of weeks ago and the office gave me a paper telling me that I must not miss my follow-up appt. in three weeks to have it checked. I found out I would be charged a copay to have that follow-up visit. I canceled. Three weeks post-surgery I certainly knew my toe was healed. I don't want to pay $25 to have someone tell me that!!! That is one example of MANY I could give you. I would call the office and say, unless something is terribly wrong with me and the doctor must speak with me about it, I want my results sent to me or I will pick them up. What is the worst thing they could say. I would give it a try.

 

[mom of princessx2]

DH and I did this in the fall for our physicals. I couldn't believe it. We each had to pay $20 co-pay for original office visit, come back for lab work and another office visit and $20 co-pay for results. I told her our insurance should pay 100% and that they coded it wrong. Dr said because she talked to me as well as did the physical that it had to be turned in as office visit??? I went in for results (which was nothing bad) but I told her my husband couldn't take off work again and she would need to call him. She did but I have never had this happen before and thought it was our new Dr. but obviously it is happening elsewhere as well.

 

[soonerlpn]

You do not have to go to the doctor to get your test results. Simply request the records from the office. They are your property.

 

[brittsmum1998]

My doctor sends a letter stating what tests have been done and if the tests are normal or not. The dr. calls if any of the tests come out bad. I've never had to pay co-pay to get results but have heard of other people having to do that .

 

[dferr]

Better yet ....my husband went for his blood test results and they couldn't find his results !! And yes he paid the $30 co-pay ! I called the billing office when he got home and they said they would check and get back to me. It has been over a week and hasn't even gotten a call back about the results !! Thanks for reminding me I will have to call them 1st thing in the morning.

 

[cheerforchelsea]

The test results are your property and they cannot refuse to furnish you the results. I once received a bill from the Lab company where my insurance company refused to pay for my husband's blood work on a test ordered by his doctor --- it was for a pregnancy test!?!?!?!?

 

[pixiedustaholic]

I once received a bill from the Lab company where my insurance company refused to pay for my husband's blood work on a test ordered by his doctor --- it was for a pregnancy test!?!?!?!?

I have heard oft hat they sometimes give men pregnancy tests to check for prostate cancer but I think that would be the urine pg test.

 

[tictac]

Yes ....this has been happening to me for over 14 years of dealing with a chronic illness. Just recently, I went to an orthopedic doctor and he would not just call me to give me the results of an MRI. I had to go in for a his full ONE MINUTE consultation to be told I would need a small knee surgery. If it helps any, a nurse told me that legally a doctor was the only one authorized to tell diagnose you. I dont know if what she told me was right or not, but my guess is that doctors are so busy that bringing you in is the only way they will take the time diagnose patients.

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

The test results are your property and they cannot refuse to furnish you the results. I once received a bill from the Lab company where my insurance company refused to pay for my husband's blood work on a test ordered by his doctor --- it was for a pregnancy test!?!?!?!?

I have heard oft hat they sometimes give men pregnancy tests to check for prostate cancer but I think that would be the urine pg test.

No. It's a serum (blood) hCG test. The levels hCG produced by the cancer are too low to be measure in the urine. Plus, they need to be quantitated, which cannot be done with a urine test since urine concentrations are dependent on fluid intake and metabolism.

I know. Very OT. But did my graduate work in clinical biochemistry.

Carry on.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

Mine sends a postcard with all routine test results. Even (cholesterol) instructions for care. I appreciate not having to waste another hour + copay going back into the office.

 

[CrzyforPiglet]

Wow - I've never had to go back into the office for any test results and most definitely not have another co-pay. I've either had the results given to me over the phone or sent in the mail. Unless there is something wrong where the doctor needs to see you I think making people pay money to tell them they're fine is ridiculous!

 

[dismom24]

Our Dr schedules the blood test a few weeks in advance and then gives the reults at the physical. We do not pay a co pay to have the blood drawn - it is usually a very quick first morning draw.

 

[NewCrew42]

I have not had to go back for a doctor's visit to get results.

This is just another way for the office to make money. Unfortunately, besides you paying your co-pay again, the insurance company also has to pay for the office visit. More office visits will eventually result in higher insurance costs for you and I the insured.

 

[soonerlpn]

Tell them no. Tell them you will not make an appointment to get blood work results. Have them send them to you. If there is anything abnormal the lab results will say so. If you have questions after that then make an appointment. It is ridiculous that you would have to pay again to get your results.

 

[fraggie]

I had blood work done back in Nov and had to come back in for the results. They did that just to tell me my cholesterol was high. And you couldn't tell me that over the phone.

 

[soonerlpn]

I had blood work done back in Nov and had to come back in for the results. They did that just to tell me my cholesterol was high. And you couldn't tell me that over the phone.

They could have. Most people will not tell a doctor no. Its whatever the doctor says goes.

 

[Muushka]

I went to a doc that held my tests hostage, once.

Then I found a great doc that believed that the patient has a right to know the results of their tests, without a visit. Whenever my blood is drawn, about a week later I receive a copy of the tests with the doc's comments written on the report. My kind of doc.