Drs office facility usage fee

[Free4Life11]

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/06/patients_fume_over_cleveland_c.html

Sounds like many people are upset. I think if they are going to charge extra fees, they need to be VERY upfront about it and make it clear BEFORE you receive treatment!

I think there is WAY too much sneakiness when it comes to the cost of health care..and until that changes I think any "reform" that is passed will be meaningless.

 

[emma'smom]

Seems like it might make sense to just go to the emergency room and pay a 35.00 co-pay rather than (what results in being) 80.00 one for non-emergencies. I'm not saying its right, but it might end up being cheaper.

 

[RNMOM]

Dawn is right...Cleveland Clinic pays all their doctors salary and always have. They have a very arrogant attitude. I don't know if they still do this but if your insurance doesn't pay the full amount of the charge, you will have to.

They used to not take any non paying patients because they didn't use public funds for any of their facilities but they started to take public moneys from the state and feds and now are obligated but even those patients are few and far between. As you can tell, it isn't my favorite place.

To add insult to injury, you have to pay a huge amount to park and then walk a couple blocks to the buildings. This place is really spread out and huge.

Delilah, I agree you are really in a tough position. I think all this medical billing and reimbursement needs to be revisited and unified. Doctor's shouldn't have to work all those extra hours without getting equal time off or paid for it. Oh yeah, my engineer DH works 10/5 days a week and travels and sometimes has to work as much as 16 hr/day till the problems are solved. Guess I should consider him in my comments too.

If you live in Cleveland, try the University Hospital system. I love them. Who knows, they might start charging this too but the doctors are much more "people friendly". I have worked at both hospitals as an RN and I do most of my care at UH.