Sickened by Doctor's Office Charges

[npmommie]

One of the most driving factors is we are living in a "sue-happy" world and malpractice insurance is through the roof.

I agree this is a huge problem, I only work very part time as an NP , less than 15 hours a week, and I have seen my malpractice insurance more than TRIPLE in the last couple of years.
I have never had a claim against me either.
thankfully the company I work for pays it, but its insane how expensive it is just for a part time mid level provider, and from talking to physician friends about their cost , that is truly insane and thru the roof.

Why don't you shop around and find out what other opthalmologists in your area are charging????

I agree with this.
if your insurance doesn't pay any of the cost, call around to price others.
even an optometrist can check pressure you don't need an opthamologist. so you may find a less expensive place to go.

 

[luvsJack]

Probably when the doctor doesn't have to pay his staff or give them annual raises, or buy new equipment, or pay for overhead, or pay for his malpractice insurance, or pay for his license or DEA registration, or buy supplies, or get less and less from third party payors . . .

hmmmmm. So thats why two of the doctors in our area can afford to basically try and out do each other on the size of their homes--each building houses the size of a small town just so his house can be bigger than his patner's. Yep, that must be it--all those bills the poor fellows are having to pay out.


I am willing to pay high doctor bills to know that my family is being treated by highly skilled, well educated doctors. I know the bills will be high and I pay them. BUT, I refuse to say "well, he has to pay all this $$ out" when I see the houses they build and the cars they drive and the lifestyles they live.

 

[wvjules]

hmmmmm. So thats why two of the doctors in our area can afford to basically try and out do each other on the size of their homes--each building houses the size of a small town just so his house can be bigger than his patner's. Yep, that must be it--all those bills the poor fellows are having to pay out.


I am willing to pay high doctor bills to know that my family is being treated by highly skilled, well educated doctors. I know the bills will be high and I pay them. BUT, I refuse to say "well, he has to pay all this $$ out" when I see the houses they build and the cars they drive and the lifestyles they live.

What lifestyle is acceptable to you? After years of undergrad, med school, residency, fellowships, etc to become trained and proficient at treating what ails YOU, don't you think they deserve a nice house, car, boat, jewerly? Most doctors don't even start living a nice lifestyle atleast 10 years out of residency since most of their earnings go towards paying off loans. Should everyone have to live in a 3 bedroom rancher, drive a ford and not have luxuries? They worked long and hard for what they have.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

What lifestyle is acceptable to you? After years of undergrad, med school, residency, fellowships, etc to become trained and proficient at treating what ails YOU, don't you think they deserve a nice house, car, boat, jewerly? Most doctors don't even start living a nice lifestyle atleast 10 years out of residency since most of their earnings go towards paying off loans. Should everyone have to live in a 3 bedroom rancher, drive a ford and not have luxuries? They worked long and hard for what they have.

So I guess no one else ever works long or hard for what they have?



It's a bunch of bull and nothing but excuses for allowing them to charge people so much they can't afford to see them.

 

[eliza61]

This thread reminds me of a saying I recently heard:

"People want 2010 medical technology but 1970's medical prices for that technology".

Teachers and Doctors seem to be the favorite "whipping" boys lately.
Everyone wants their kids to get Havard type education just as long as teachers make barely liveable wages and they want first rate medicine that cures them immediately as long as it doesn't cost more than 20 bucks.

And God forbid that the doctor dare live in a better house then they do!!! Get the tar and feathers.

 

[luvsJack]

What lifestyle is acceptable to you? After years of undergrad, med school, residency, fellowships, etc to become trained and proficient at treating what ails YOU, don't you think they deserve a nice house, car, boat, jewerly? Most doctors don't even start living a nice lifestyle atleast 10 years out of residency since most of their earnings go towards paying off loans. Should everyone have to live in a 3 bedroom rancher, drive a ford and not have luxuries? They worked long and hard for what they have.

As I said, I want well skilled doctors and I am willing to pay for them. I think they deserve whatever they so desire that they can afford.

My point was not that they don't deserve the life style they have, it is that I will hardly sit here and say "oh, they charge that much because of the steep bills they pay" when they are living in a house the size of Kentucky! Obviously the "steep" bills aren't getting in the way too much.

If you want to say they charge so much because they deserve to make more money than God, fine. But, please, do not tell me that they need to "meet their overhead" when most are obviously making way above that.

 

[wvjules]

So I guess no one else ever works long or hard for what they have?

It's a bunch of bull and nothing but excuses for allowing them to charge people so much they can't afford to see them.

Yep, that's exactly what I said.

Why is it ok for other professions to acquire nice things but not doctors? Are they not entitled to things too?

If you can't afford to go see Dr. A then go see Dr. B, or even Dr. C. Sometimes though, Dr. A is worth what he charges.

 

[wvjules]

As I said, I want well skilled doctors and I am willing to pay for them. I think they deserve whatever they so desire that they can afford.

My point was not that they don't deserve the life style they have, it is that I will hardly sit here and say "oh, they charge that much because of the steep bills they pay" when they are living in a house the size of Kentucky! Obviously the "steep" bills aren't getting in the way too much.

If you want to say they charge so much because they deserve to make more money than God, fine. But, please, do not tell me that they need to "meet their overhead" when most are obviously making way above that.

And what is wrong with wanting to make money? Should they only make 50K a year then after that stop charging patients so they aren't seen as having "too much"?

 

[luvsJack]

And what is wrong with wanting to make money? Should they only make 50K a year then after that stop charging patients so they aren't seen as having "too much"?

You are not getting my point. I don't care how much money they make. Making money is the American way, is it not?

Just don't tell me that they charge such high prices because of having to pay overhead for thier offices or for malpractice insurance.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

Yep, that's exactly what I said.

Why is it ok for other professions to acquire nice things but not doctors? Are they not entitled to things too?

If you can't afford to go see Dr. A then go see Dr. B, or even Dr. C. Sometimes though, Dr. A is worth what he charges.

Many people in this country (the so-called greatest) can't even go see doctor Z, much less doctor C or A.

It's only when someone is dying, that they can even see any doctor. Usually in the emergency room, and even then they get crappy service because they don't have top of the line insurance. Then people complain because these patients can't pay their bills.
Been there. Done that.

 

[wdwmom2]

Teachers and Doctors seem to be the favorite "whipping" boys lately.
Everyone wants their kids to get Havard type education just as long as teachers make barely liveable wages and they want first rate medicine that cures them immediately as long as it doesn't cost more than 20 bucks.

And God forbid that the doctor dare live in a better house then they do!!! Get the tar and feathers.

Great post

 

[wdwcoltsfan]

Many people in this country (the so-called greatest) can't even go see doctor Z, much less doctor C or A.

It's only when someone is dying, that they can even see any doctor. Usually in the emergency room, and even then they get crappy service because they don't have top of the line insurance. Then people complain because these patients can't pay their bills.
Been there. Done that.

What are you basing this on? Dh is physician in the emergency room and there is a federal law--EMTALA that states if a patient presents with an emergency they have to be treated with the appropriate tests, medications and everyone is to be treated equally regardless of ability to pay. Patients also have to a screening exam before insurance questions are asked. The physicans here(about 60 miles north of you) don't know if a patient has insurance unless they specifically ask. That is done before they make a referral.

Now, if a patient comes in with a NON emergency, they may be treated in a manner that will allow them relief until they can see their family physician. So, the person with a cold or back pain may not receive a boatload of tests, but that's because they don't need them to be done in an emergency room setting, not because they don't have insurance and are receiving crappy care.


Rachel

 

[kamik86]

I really don't understand why people don't think Doctors should make what they do.

They have a job that requires the knowledge of alot of science classes and not just a BS but a PHD, then residency.

Lets take another job that requires alot of science type classes... say mine in Engineering. I got a BS degree and then got a job making over 60K a year in a relatively low cost of living area. My company is paying for me to get a Masters and I can afford pretty nice things even with having graduated in a recession.

The doctor had to finish the BS degree then go to med school for 3-4 more years and take even more student loans and lose the 180K that they would have been making if they went with my degree. Then they have to be residents and work crappy hours and long shifts where I get a normal job with the occasional crunch time. I don't know how much residents make but I'm going to guess its less then the Engineer that now has 3 years of experience.

Then the Doctor finally finishes residency. Now they should get paid enough to make up for the fact that they lost all that time and made so much less so that they can be on more even footing with majors requiring similar skills. So in my opinion that is why doctors make so much.

Depending on the type of doctor they still have it much worse then the engineer. Higher stress (Yeah my work deals with nuclear missiles but mine can be checked several times by several people before it could ever kill someone also if I"m having a really bad day I can fix the stupid mistake I made in my formula tomorrow when I'm thinking clearly again, the doctor messes up and the person could be dead with no second chances.)

If doctors didn't get paid enough they would all go into careers that require similar skills but without all the hassle and that probably give higher pay.

 

[luvsJack]

I really don't understand why people don't think Doctors should make what they do.

I don't know about anyone else posting, but for myself, I never said whether I thought they should make what they do or not. I simply said do not give me their sad tale of what they have to pay out. They make more than enough to cover all of that and then some.

The doctors I am referring to are partners and obviously make a tremendous amount of money. I have no problem with a person being paid for the amount of school and training they have, but when a person is remodeling a house that will be one city block in size plus their very own private garden with a man made creek running through and mature size trees and plants planted in the ladscaping; do NOT even hint to me that he "needs" to charge a lot because of high insurance costs.

I have no doubt that they are very good at what they do and are extremly highly skilled and possibly deserve every penny they are paid but they ARE well paid and are in no need of anyone being concerned with their high cost of doing business.

 

[DawnCt1]

So I guess no one else ever works long or hard for what they have?



It's a bunch of bull and nothing but excuses for allowing them to charge people so much they can't afford to see them.

We have freedom of choice in this country. Anyone is free to excel in school, in college, apply to medical school and pursue the career that they think they will most enjoy and the career from which they can reap rewards.

 

[DawnCt1]

What are you basing this on? Dh is physician in the emergency room and there is a federal law--EMTALA that states if a patient presents with an emergency they have to be treated with the appropriate tests, medications and everyone is to be treated equally regardless of ability to pay. Patients also have to a screening exam before insurance questions are asked. The physicans here(about 60 miles north of you) don't know if a patient has insurance unless they specifically ask. That is done before they make a referral.

Now, if a patient comes in with a NON emergency, they may be treated in a manner that will allow them relief until they can see their family physician. So, the person with a cold or back pain may not receive a boatload of tests, but that's because they don't need them to be done in an emergency room setting, not because they don't have insurance and are receiving crappy care.


Rachel

Rachel, Facts don't matter to those who have their preconcieved but false notions. I took care of plenty of patients as a nurse, and I never knew who had insurance or didn't, nor did I care. As you said, the same is true of any patient in the ER. The care they recieve is based on need and the urgency is based on criticality.

 

[wdwcoltsfan]

Rachel, Facts don't matter to those who have their preconcieved but false notions. I took care of plenty of patients as a nurse, and I never knew who had insurance or didn't, nor did I care. As you said, the same is true of any patient in the ER. The care they recieve is based on need and the urgency is based on criticality.

I know, Dawn. I usually try to stay out of the medical threads, but a couple of them lately have made me irritated enough to say something.

I said in another thread that I really wish the general public could spend 2-3 days in the ER to see what patients walk through the door and how it is adversely affecting our healthcare costs.

Rachel

 

[Deb in IA]

I don't know about anyone else posting, but for myself, I never said whether I thought they should make what they do or not. I simply said do not give me their sad tale of what they have to pay out. They make more than enough to cover all of that and then some.

Right. Doctors don't have bills to pay. That malpractice premium? Just a myth. And all the staff all work for free. And no charges for the medical office equipment, which, by the way, never breaks down or has to be replaced or updated.

The doctors I am referring to are partners and obviously make a tremendous amount of money. I have no problem with a person being paid for the amount of school and training they have, but when a person is remodeling a house that will be one city block in size plus their very own private garden with a man made creek running through and mature size trees and plants planted in the ladscaping; do NOT even hint to me that he "needs" to charge a lot because of high insurance costs.

Income for physicians vary widely, depending on mostly on subspecialty and some on geographic location, years in practice, and number of practioners in the group.

Just as not everyone who works for Microsoft lives like Bill Gates, I can assure you that most doctors, particularly if they are in primary care, live like the ones you describe.

 

[Abbie]

Just as not everyone who works for Microsoft lives like Bill Gates, I can assure you that most doctors, particularly if they are in primary care, live like the ones you describe.

I can attest to that. I've worked in a family practice for ten years now, with two different providers. The first was/is an extraordinary doctor who truly just cared about the patients and didn't worry if they could pay him or not. I can assure you that man did not live like the pp described....he has a small house and if he could have been paid in chickens and eggs, he would have been fine with that. Even then he always made sure we had good raises and treated his staff fairly.

The practitioners who bought out the practice work hard but it is difficult to make money in family practice. There are significant costs to running a practice and they also do not live lavishly, they barely make ends meet some months. Personally we haven't had a pay raise in over two years but it's not because we aren't valued, it's just not there.

I'd venture to guess that most family practices are similar. Specialists make more and I'm sure some live fantastic lifestyles. I don't care if they do or they don't, if they can afford it good for them. It's payoff for the extra years of schooling and sacrifice made in order for them to do what they do.

 

[luvsJack]

Right. Doctors don't have bills to pay. That malpractice premium? Just a myth. And all the staff all work for free. And no charges for the medical office equipment, which, by the way, never breaks down or has to be replaced or updated.




Income for physicians vary widely, depending on mostly on subspecialty and some on geographic location, years in practice, and number of practioners in the group.

Just as not everyone who works for Microsoft lives like Bill Gates, I can assure you that most doctors, particularly if they are in primary care, live like the ones you describe.

Ok, lets take this slowly. I NEVER said that they did not have bills. I said THEY MAKE MORE THAN ENOUGH TO PAY THOSE BILLS.

To act as though doctors are not very well paid is just ridiculous. I have yet to meet one that wasn't. Do they deserve it? Most do, yes. But, they are well compensated and can certainly pay their staff, their insurance and everything else.