DUmmies Conduct A Health Care Bouncy Contest

[GOBUCKS]

Every DUmmy has a horror story about their moneygrubbing doctor.

It's sort of like political arguments in the grocery store checkout line.

These things happen routinely to DUmpmonkeys, but never to normal people. 

Tue Apr 30, 2013, 01:43 PM
LibDemAlways (12,916 posts)

Health Care Providers and Fear of Not Getting Paid...A Rant
Yesterday I took my 90-year-old mother to her primary care physician because of a small cyst on her hand. The doctor was hesitant to do anything about it and referred her to a hand specialist. OK, fine. The next half hour her doctor spent trying to locate a specialist who would take Medicare. When that task was finally accomplished, I called immediately to set up the appointment.
 
All, and I repeat all, the new office cared about was how they are going to get paid. They didn't ask a single question about the problem itself. They insisted that I produce health insurance info on the spot over the phone. I told them I'd get back to them this morning since the appointment isn't until tomorrow. So, I'm sitting here at home focusing on some work I need to get done when the phone rings. It's the doctor's office desperate for the insurance information and getting nasty about it. My mother has Medicare plus excellent supplemental insurance. I told the receptionist this when I set up the appointment yesterday. I had every intention of calling them a little later on with the specifics.
 
I know this is a small thing and ultimately my mother will get the care she needs, but I'm more than a little pissed off about the brazen money-hungry attitude of the office. I'm grateful they accept Medicare and whatever procedure is necessary will be covered, but God almighty, a little human compassion by a physician's office with regard to an elderly woman's health issue would be much appreciated. Rant over

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022776826

Response to LibDemAlways (Original post)
Tue Apr 30, 2013, 01:48 PM
still_one (30,976 posts)

1. That is why some practices do not accept Medicare, or it is vital to have supplemental. That has

Been happening for some time, however, you won't find any large reputable facility that I know of who won't accept it
 
Like mayo clinic, John Hopkins, major hospitals, and medical facilities

God, no! Not Johns Hopkins!
They'll lose your money in their mailroom.


If you suspect a little fiction in that hand-cyst story, try this one on for size:

Response to LibDemAlways (Original post)
Tue Apr 30, 2013, 02:03 PM
Worried senior (527 posts)

2. several years ago
my husband needed a heart cath. At the time he had a BC Medicare Advantage plan which was very good, since then it has been discontinued of course, but when the hospital called to verify his appointment they were concerned too about payment. At the time of check in he offered her the check to cover his co-pay, she didn't want it.
 
Just as he was ready to go in for the cath a clerk came running in the room to collect payment, mind you this was $25.00. Really made me mad, what if things had gone differently and the payment would have been the last thing on our minds.
 
It was a lot less cost effective for her to have to chase us down than it would have been to collect it in the first place.

Tue Apr 30, 2013, 03:52 PM
LibDemAlways (12,916 posts)

4. The issue is not whether the doctor should get paid. Of course he should. And I
agree that everyone should be covered, and hopefully, the Affordable Care Act will make inroads in that direction - though I'd much prefer to see government funded healthcare for all.
 
The issue here is the intense focus on the monetary transaction and the lack of consideration for the problem driving the consumer to the doctor in the first place. No concern for whether or not my mother was in pain (she was) or how long the problem had been festering. No, only provide your insurance info or you don't get in the door. It's the attitude that bugs.

Tue Apr 30, 2013, 08:40 PM
LibDemAlways (12,916 posts)

6. Thanks for "getting" it. One thing I've
learned here on DU is that no matter what you post, someone will diss you for it. Just needed to let off a little steam over my mom being treated like her wallet is all that matters.

Well, when you make up lies, one DUmmy out of a hundred will realize it.

Tue Apr 30, 2013, 10:57 PM
Honeycombe8 (17,771 posts)

10. All dr offices I make appts with require insurance info on the phone.
I have regular insurance (thank goodness). They all require the group #, my id #, the phone # of the company, etc. I guess they've had too many instances of patients showing up without their card. I actually did that one time...I left my card in my other purse. They were so rude to me. They were still going to see me, but I left, telling them that I thought I'd rather see a doctor whose staff was a little nicer to the patients. They stared at me w/their mouths open as I left.

Apr 30, 2013, 11:49 PM
slipslidingaway (18,367 posts)

13. Too many doctors and dentists offices are now primarily are focused on payment ...
with patient care following behind.
It is as if the provider, in many instances, no longer has the final say because the office is being run by non-providers whose sole focus is profit.
Gone are the days when payment was secondary and care was the main focus.
I mention dentist because that was my recent experience with a large firm when they demanded payment in advance for all of the bridge work before it was performed. The dentist sat there while the office manager talked of corporate policy.

Someone has a very, very low credit score.

[BattleHymn]

13. Too many doctors and dentists offices are now primarily are focused on payment ...

Nationalized dentistry has done wonders in making sure British people are able to maintain their reputation of great teeth.

For anyone who enjoys dental horror stories, feel free to nadin "NHS dentistry".  

[Carl]

Thanks to Barrycare even less will be accepting Medicare patients now.

[98ZJUSMC]

Tue Apr 30, 2013, 03:52 PM
LibDemAlways (12,916 posts)

4. The issue is not whether the doctor should get paid.

Well, I mean, who cares, right?

Of course he should.

Oh.  All righty, then.

And I agree that everyone should be covered, and hopefully, the Affordable Care Act will make inroads in that direction

Enjoy your fines, taxes and decreased pay.  Someone hasn't been paying attention  The good stuff starts next year.  Hope you can afford food.

though I'd much prefer to see governmen funded healthcare for all.

Taxpayer funded, retard. TAX - payer.

Thanks to Barrycare even less will be accepting Medicare patients now.

Ah, merely an inconvenient little blurb the (D)ipshits refuse to recognize.

[Gina]

These idiots forget that the dr's have staff and bills to pay.  Of frucking course they want to make sure they get paid right off since so many deadbeats suck off the system expecting some other hard working person to pay for them.  Yall created this scenerio now lick it up! 

[Karin]

The next half hour her doctor spent trying to locate a specialist who would take Medicare.

Sinister foreshadowing of things to come.  Probably he's not going to spend the half hour doing this, though. 

[Doc Savage]

Because in the heath care business I work in, we never care how we are going to be paid.  Oh wait, yes we do. 

[ConservativeMobster]

Our system does the phone call info due to time constraints, it's much easier and more efficient to do this over the phone so that patients aren't backing up in the waiting room. And we don't accept BCBS MS because the provider sends the check to the patient and WE bite it when that check never comes our way. One woman has been refused service unless she pays up front due to over $60k hitting her pocket rather than the hospital for services she's received.

Yeah, Obamacare is great with all of it's new regulations.

[IassaFTots]

Because in the heath care business I work in, we never care how we are going to be paid.  Oh wait, yes we do. 

1%er!!!!


 

[Doc Savage]

1%er!!!!


 

Trying,  almost made it last year.  Funny, all the suppliers that we get drugs and DME from expect payment rather quickly.  Don't they know that heath care is free now?

[JohnnyReb]

Most of the doctor offices I go in now have a sign at the door, "We do not accept Medicaid/mediacare patients". I guess they will be changing that or adding to it "Obamacare Patients" soon enough.

[jukin]

I've designed several medical devices for small and medium sized companies. Doctors are the absolute worst payers. In one piece of equipment we had software that after 6 months would come up with a message to call the manufacturer. If they had paid we would give them the code to get it operational again. If not we waited to give them the code after payment. The docs were flying mad but always paid up.

[GOBUCKS]

Funny, all the suppliers that we get drugs and DME from expect payment rather quickly. 

DUmmies are very aware of that.

The suppliers they get drugs from carry Glocks.

[Gina]

Most of the doctor offices I go in now have a sign at the door, "We do not accept Medicaid/mediacare patients". I guess they will be changing that or adding to it "Obamacare Patients" soon enough.

ALMOST sounds discriminatory 

[delilahmused]

Well, at my doctor's office there's a sign right at the window where we check in that says "Copay due at time of visit" or some such thing. Still, they always ask me if I want to be billed or pay it now. The doctor and/or his nurse has no freaking clue whether someone did or didn't pay their copay unless there's some secret expression or something the receptionist flashes at the nurse who comes out to get you because when I've been there she didn't leave her general area.

Still, you thoroughly stupid people, the government continues to pay less and less for patients on Medicare/caid. In many cases the amount the government deigns to give the doctors...you know, the ones who have employees to pay, important supplies they need to keep on hand, extremely large insurance premiums (in case one of you constantly indignate, angry bitches hires an attorney capable of channeling dead babies), and little things like utilities and rent...is LESS than what they need to break even.

But of course, you guys never think about that...the only important thing is how it affects YOU, isn't it? That's what self-centered tunnel vision does...keeps you from seeing the bigger picture or having empathy for others.

Cindie

Cindie

[IassaFTots]

Trying,  almost made it last year.  Funny, all the suppliers that we get drugs and DME from expect payment rather quickly.  Don't they know that heath care is free now?

I am the benefits administrator for my company.  I am not lying when I have had employees ask me when their free Obamacare starts.   

[njpines]

I am the benefits administrator for my company.  I am not lying when I have had employees ask me when their free Obamacare starts.   

What's your answer? (bet it's a duzy!)

[IassaFTots]

What's your answer? (bet it's a duzy!)

I was told that I was not to refer to Obamacare as Obamacare because that was racist.     THAT person is no longer employed here. 

I just simply smile, and say that I haven't heard anything about insurance being free to a person, unless they are unemployed.  And then I ask them if they know of anyone getting free Obamacare. 

I do let people know that the reason their FSA is so jacked up is because of Obamacare.   

[njpines]

I do let people know that the reason their FSA is so jacked up is because of Obamacare.   

I know it's just the tip of the iceberg but I was so STEAMED that I could only put 2500 in my HSA this year due to Obamacare.  That won't even last through August! 

[Chris_]

I was told that I was not to refer to Obamacare as Obamacare because that was racist.     THAT person is no longer employed here.

[Aristotelian]

DUmmies are very aware of that.

The suppliers they get drugs from carry Glocks.

Helps to explain why they want to ban guns too - afterall, the drug-dealers won't have guns once they're banned, will they?

[J P Sousa]

  The next half hour her doctor spent trying to locate a specialist who would take Medicare.   

As usual DUmmies get things all wrong.

IT"S MEDICARE STUPID DUmmie.

Yesterday I had to make an appointment for a hospital test. The woman I was talking with apologized about five times for all the questions MEDICARE requires.

I can only imagine all the B-S Obamacare will require.   

.

[Rebel]

13. Too many doctors and dentists offices are now primarily are focused on payment ...

How else are dentists supposed to pay for disposable tools and accessories like dental damns, gloves, endondontic broaches, etc., new tools and instruments, their water bill, their power bill, their staff's salary, and the dentist's salary who spent at a minimum of 8 years in school to become a dentist just so he/she could operate on your sorry, worthless ass? How else are doctors supposed to pay for the same?

These people are the dumbest ****ing people on the planet.

[Celtic Rose]

In the hospital, payment is directly correlated to care.  If somebody gets an infection because of something we did, we won't get reimbursed for treating it.  If we miss documenting education provided, we can risk the payment for the patient's hospital stay if they are readmitted.  If they have skin breakdown while in our care, that is on us.  However, patient priorities are not always our priorities.  If I have a patient on the call light for headache medicine while I have a patient in respiratory distress my priority is not going to be the headache medication. 

[Ptarmigan]

Tue Apr 30, 2013, 03:52 PM
LibDemAlways (12,916 posts)

4. The issue is not whether the doctor should get paid. Of course he should. And I
agree that everyone should be covered, and hopefully, the Affordable Care Act will make inroads in that direction - though I'd much prefer to see government funded healthcare for all.
 
The issue here is the intense focus on the monetary transaction and the lack of consideration for the problem driving the consumer to the doctor in the first place. No concern for whether or not my mother was in pain (she was) or how long the problem had been festering. No, only provide your insurance info or you don't get in the door. It's the attitude that bugs.

Obamacare will be worse. If many offices refuse Medicare, think about Obamacare. Will they be refused? Also, with Obamacare, it would make America more broke.