OT-Doctor charging $150 to fill prescription, now need a new Doctor

[disneyfan2]

I was complaining about hip pain, and she recommended i go to get Orthotics. Today i received a bill for $150 for outside services. WTH?? I am now searching for a new doctor, I have been with her 15 years and more times then not, she is sick and i see her partner/husband for medical appointment. I don;t go often to doctor, but i rarely see her. She is always calling in sick

So i am trying to find a new doctor and when i search the Canadian new doctor registry, that says they accept new patients, they only accept new patients if you don't have one currently. SO i am catch 22 and very upset by this?
Any suggestions on where to look?

 

[mkmommy]

Join the club, went to the doctor office on Monday to pick something up and there was a sign that our doctor has closed they practice, no letter or anything to warn us.

 

[bunnyfoo]

Last September, my family doctor that I had been seeing for more than 15 years suddenly packed up shop and moved to the other side of the city. I couldn't believe that he didn't even give us the heads up. I suspect he'd been planning it for a while because on the last few visits to him he'd complain a lot about the commute.

I was able to find another doctor through my fiance's doctor. She wasn't accepting new patients but gave me the name of another doctor who was. She's a new doctor and wonderful! Unlike my previous doctor who would try and treat everything himself, she's not afraid to refer to a specialist when she's not familiar with a specific problem.

That said, I didn't realize doctors could bill for stuff like that. I'll have to be careful what I ask for or at least whether there is a charge associated with it or not.

I came across this site recently http://www.ratemds.com It may be more useful once you find a doctor.

Good luck with your search!

 

[brighteyes]

I wouln't necessarily look for a new dr. If he wrote a script for orthodics, it's probably because you needed them.

Orthodics are not covered and u have to pay OOP for them. If you have a health plan some of it may be covered.

Were you refered to a specialist to get the orthodics?

I work in a clinic and if ppl need orthodics the dr write a script which they have to take to the specialist to get filled and have to pay to get the orthodics.

So it is really the government that has decided not to cover them the way I see it, just as they don't cover all immunizations, ddr. notes, etc.

Stephanie

 

[samepoohdifferentday]

Join the club

I have lost 3 doctors.
Doc 1 left to become an army doctor
Doc 2 was an addict and went to rehab
Doc 3 left to work full time in the hospital

No doctors are currently accepting new patients in this area at all.

Now I am back with Doc 2. He is out of rehab. Better than having no doctor!

 

[CanadianGuy]

I might add.. better the always sick doctor you know..

Than the one you don't.. (or can't EVEN get..) I have been without a family doctor now for years. I've given up. Not a good situation currently where I live.

Orthodics may be covered under any optional coverage you might have through your own or your spouses workplace however. Check with your program administrator if you have such coverage.



Knox

 

[Best_Vacation_EVER!]

With the current family doctor shortages in Ontario I'm not sure I'd switch doctors for the reasons you've given. Orthodics are definitely not covered under OHIP so your doctor would have no choice but to charge for them. My DH's are about $500 each time they have to be replaced. Also since your doctor does have someone cover for them when they're sick/unavailable they sound like they're being responsible. If you have other reasons --- not providing proper care, etc... that's totally a different situation.

A family doctor is not an easy thing to find in many places. A number of the people I work with have been looking for years for one and still don't have one. They have to rely on Walk-in Clinics or the Emergency room. Not good at all.

 

[brighteyes]

I might add that in the clinic we see sometimes 150 or more per day easy. Most of these people do not have a family dr. We hand out lists of the physicians of ontario website to register on a waitlist for a family dr but ppl wait on these lists for years. You can also write your MPP and complain for what is worth.

I would stick with your dr. unless it is for negligence reasons, etc.

Orthodics are not covered by OHIP but maybe should have explained to you before billing you and filling the rx.

Stephanie

 

[disneyfan2]

Orthodics are not covered and u have to pay OOP for them. If you have a health plan some of it may be covered.

Were you refered to a specialist to get the orthodics?

This was not the charge for the orthotics, that i paid out of pocket $400. she charged me $150 to sign her name on a prescirption so i could go to the orthotics center, not for the actual orthotics. I have actually searched for a new doctor for years but limited choices. Now this is unreal! How much will she charge me to refill my Birth Control pills?

 

[OntFamily]

You can also write your MPP and complain for what is worth.

How would this help??? Our MPP's don't hire doctors.

 

[OntFamily]

This was not the charge for the orthotics, that i paid out of pocket $400. she charged me $150 to sign her name on a prescirption so i could go to the orthotics center, not for the actual orthotics. I have actually searched for a new doctor for years but limited choices. Now this is unreal! How much will she charge me to refill my Birth Control pills?

Have you talked to your Dr's office about this charge? OHIP should cover this -- as you were getting advice from your doctor. It could be an administrative foul up (ie they thought you didn't have OHIP coverage). I'm assuming you showed your OHIP card to the receptionist when you entered the office.

 

[disneyfan2]

Have you talked to your Dr's office about this charge? OHIP should cover this -- as you were getting advice from your doctor. It could be an administrative foul up (ie they thought you didn't have OHIP coverage). I'm assuming you showed your OHIP card to the receptionist when you entered the office.

yes, they said that i should have paid the yearly fee to her office for full service? I have ben with her for 15yrs never had her sign anything for me???
Yes they have my health card. IF she wanted to charge me that much for a signature then she should have told us upfront?

 

[brighteyes]

This was not the charge for the orthotics, that i paid out of pocket $400. she charged me $150 to sign her name on a prescirption so i could go to the orthotics center, not for the actual orthotics. I have actually searched for a new doctor for years but limited choices. Now this is unreal! How much will she charge me to refill my Birth Control pills?

I must admit, I have never heard of this.

As far as the MPP thing goes, no they do not hire doctors, you are complaining about the fact that there are no doctors available. Maybe if enough people write to their local MPP maybe change will happen. I doubt it, but it's a thought. It's a place for our unhappy clients who can't get a dr. to voice their opinion instead of at us.

There have been some new dr. in our area but they get filled up soooo fast.
Not even a drop in the bucket for those who do not have a dr.

Stephanie

 

[jtdl]

This was not the charge for the orthotics, that i paid out of pocket $400. she charged me $150 to sign her name on a prescirption so i could go to the orthotics center, not for the actual orthotics. I have actually searched for a new doctor for years but limited choices. Now this is unreal! How much will she charge me to refill my Birth Control pills?

By law she cannot charge you to write out a prescription or referral form. They can charge to fill out third party forms or sign letters that you request (that is where the annual fee comes in - you can pay it up front and then they cannot charge you for anything at all or you can pay by service). She needs to be reported to the College of Physicians and Surgeons.

 

[damo]

By law she cannot charge you to write out a prescription or referral form. They can charge to fill out third party forms or sign letters that you request (that is where the annual fee comes in - you can pay it up front and then they cannot charge you for anything at all or you can pay by service). She needs to be reported to the College of Physicians and Surgeons.

I agree. Go back and say that you don't feel this charge is legitimate and say you are going to report them if it is not rescinded. I've never heard of referrals getting extra billing either.

 

[disneyfan2]

The office told me that because the prescirption was written up by orthics clinic and she signed it that i am being charged. The orthotics clinic wrote it only to make it easier for the doctor. She only had to sign her name. But she was the one who referred me to get them. i think she she knew that i needed the prescription to go get orthotics, and did not give me one to get around it. But had she wrote out the prescription while i was in her office, i would not have been charged?? I still think she should have told me how hight the fee was before signing....

But i am still looking for a new doctor,.

 

[momlady]

I would call the office and ask for a written explanation for the charges. Also ask to see their fee schedule which *should* be posted in their office. This could definitely be reported to the college of physicians and surgeions as it is an EXCESSIVE charge. I see a foot specialist (surgeon) and I have NEVER had to pay for a prescription for orthotics! And believe me I have had several sets!

My family Dr's office has a "flat yearly fee for extra services" also but you are under NO obligation to take it. They will charge for non-insured services but on a "per service" basis -- they will not charge the whole ball of wax for just one service!! Even a Dr's letter for illness and stuff like that is only $25. If you need a Dr's referral (for orthotics) in order to be reimbursed by your insurance co., then I can see them charging for that -- but it should be more in the order of TEN bucks not $150.

Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[OntFamily]

The office told me that because the prescirption was written up by orthics clinic and she signed it that i am being charged. The orthotics clinic wrote it only to make it easier for the doctor. She only had to sign her name. But she was the one who referred me to get them. i think she she knew that i needed the prescription to go get orthotics, and did not give me one to get around it. But had she wrote out the prescription while i was in her office, i would not have been charged?? I still think she should have told me how hight the fee was before signing....

But i am still looking for a new doctor,.

OK. It's now making a little more sense. It seems you are being charged for a letter (I originally thought it was a prescription, like what you'd bring to Shoppers Drug Mart), and this is an uninsured serviced.

The cost does seem high. Especially if you weren't told before hand there would be a cost.

So, this practice does not fall under Medical Services, but contract law. You can't be charged for something, where you reasonably thought the cost was covered by a third party (OHIP). The onus is on your Dr to advise there is a surcharge which you have to pay.

So now you have a choice. Pay the bill (if you want to keep your Dr) or ignore it (if you find a new Dr).