Upset with Doctors office..what can I do?

[Stitchfans]

Believe it or not this happened to my DD. She went to the drs office with severe stomach ach. this is actually embarrasing to tell, but...

any way. she was recovering from either the flu or food posioning. She had something at Culvers that didn't settle right with her so this is why she wasn't sure. She called the drs office to see if they would help with her stomach pains. They made her appointment and she went in. The dr told her she couldn't help her and said she should go to the hospital emergency room.
They gave DD her co pay payment back and she left. Her bf called me and told me what had happened.

In the conversation he told me how she for a couple days couldn't keep anything down. She hadn't eaten in several days and didn't try recently to see if she could keep the food down. I told him to bring her to me first.

Sure enough I was right. It was hunger pains she was experiencing. I first gave her soup and crackers which she kept down. Then I gave her some more food and guess what the pains disappeared. who would of ever guessed.

sure enough when the drs office caught wind that she never went to the hospital they charged her an office call. They wouldn't listen to her, but I went in and raised the roof and the charges where dropped.

 

[LadyyRedd]

Call your insurance company and ask if they permit their doctors to do this. The last two insurance companies I've had (one of which I worked for), did not allow any of the doctors that took their insurance to charge patients for missed appointments (the patients that were on that particular insurance, not necessarily ALL of the doctor's patients).

Kimya

 

[Andrea]

my doctor does that also. In fact i work for an eye doctor who charges you $30.00 if you dont show up for the appt.

 

[Jennasis]

I'm not a doctor and I charge my students if thhey no-show for their lessons (horse-back riding). My time is valuable and I could've filled the slot with another student. They get charged FULL Freight for the no show too.

 

[Disney Duck]

Are you saying that you had an appointment and you just didn't show up? You didn't call or anything to say you wouldn't be there? Why? I live in Canada so I don't have to pay for missed appointments because I don't have to pay for appointments period. However, if I schedule appointment and am not going to make it, I call to let them know.

 

[buddy&wooz]

I think all our doctors say they charge for a missed appointment, or if you don't call to cancel 24 hours before, but I've never been charged even when I called that day.

If you never called to cancel, and just forgot and didn't show up, I don't think you have much of an argument, but it can't hurt to try. Just be very sweet and apologetic on the phone. Sounding upset or angry will only make the billing dept less likely to want to help.

 

[Mallory]

I would not pay it. I just wouldn't pay it. You called him and said you were not coming. That was fair. Believe me, I am sure he was able to "sqeeze" someone else in

How could he squeeze someone else in if he didn't know ahead of time that she wasn't showing up? By the time he knows she's not coming it's probably time for the next appointment.

 

[MeanLaureen]

I think that is pretty commonplace, especially as you start looking at specialists.

I see several doctors on a monthly basis and the only one that gives me a courtesy call is my primary care dr. My specialists never do, it's up to me to remember my appointment from the little card they give me.

In fact, they actually have me well trained. I usually book the last appointment of the day with my Rheumy since I usually come over from work. If I'm not working that day or I'm not busy, I call them in the morning and just say "Hey, it's Lauri.. want me in earlier?" 9 times out of 10 someone has canceled and they have me come in early so they can leave 30 minutes earlier that night. They told me they wished all their patients were as well trained as I am.

Of course at $250 just to walk in his door before the monthly tests are added on, and I see him about 15 times a year.. I'm definately his favorite. Think I should demand he name the boat I'm paying for the S.S. MeanLaureen?

 

[lookingforward]

There was a lawsuit about the "no show" charge here in south Florida. The patient won, here is why: Her doctor had never informed her in writing about his policy. It seems that at least here, if you don't sign that you understand his policy they can't charge you. Most of my doctors don't have a policy that covers this. One doctor in CT that I had never seen tried to charge me, I had to cancel my first appointment and called a few hours before I was due to show up. My son was sick at school and I had to go and take him home. The doctor's receptionist told me that I would be charged and I told her that noone had informed about this policy. They waved it. So, I guess, if you did not know about the policty I would question the charge. It is fair if you agree to adhere by the doctor's rules but a consumer should be notified BEFORE.

 

[Hannathy]

I worked for an endocrinologist that came to our local hosp from the medical school teaching hosp. every two weeks. He was incredibly thourough and spent over an hour with each patient. We only booked 10 pts a visit figuring on a 12 hr day. If someone was a no show it was very disruptive because it really left a huge hole in the schedule and there were always patients waiting for an appointment and if I even had 2 hrs I could usually fill it. people waited about 3 mos for an appointment. Most appointment cards have it printed on that they will charge if you don't show. I don't think docs are Gods but they are business people and think they have the right to charge for missed reservations -just like cinderella's table now! (isn't that the one that charges if you don't cancel) I think if you did just not show you should pay it and as we tell kids "learn your lesson"

 

[maps]

I work for a multi specialty clinic and i wish they would implement some sort of policy like charging for missed appointments.

The abuse that goes on in our office is staggering. We have patients that are called the day before their physical appointment and they still no show (that's a 45min appt)

We have people that call because they are sick and are given an appt that same day (sometimes within an hour or two) and they NO SHOW!

This happens multiple times with no recourse.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

As the wife of a DR. it is a PITA when DH's last appts. of the day are no call-no shows. He could have been home 1/2 an hour to 45 minutes earlier instead of sitting there waiting for patients to show up. They are talking about starting this at his office and I think it is a good idea.

 

[ziggystardust]

Since this thread was resurrected, I guess I'll give you all an update.

I had called asking about the policy, as I have never missed an apt before (in 7 years) and was unaware of it. It turns out on some form they had a phone number that I hadn't used in years, yet the doctors there have called me numerous times to inform me about my test results on the proper number. B/c it was a clerical error on their part, they took the charge off.

I understand about calling and cancelling, I had no intention on missing the apt. I did misplace the card and was relying on a phonecall which by a lot of people's opinions was a wrong thing to do. Regardless of the policy I will not miss/cancel an apt in the future, it is not something that I have ever done (with this one exception) or will do. I am a very scheduled person and for the most part write everything down. So thats my story, sorry if you disagree with me questioning this. And thanks for your opinions.