Trolling for advice...

[kickaha]

(panthermoth, if you could toss this one towards the everlateone, I'd appreciate his input)

So the surgery looks to be a *SCREAMING* success (okay, I've only done that a few times) with my mobility almost, nearly, notquitebutwe'reworkingonit the same as my 'good' arm. Which is amazing, since I have congenitally loose shoulders to start with. The surgeon says I already have 'normal' mobility, any difference between my shoulders is only due to my left one still being a freak of nature.

The entire process wasn't too bad... with one exception.

On June 17th, I had that appt with Pre-Care to discuss my anesthesiology. I made an appt with the pre-care office, and talked to the same nurse I had before. She was able to answer my questions, with a couple of exceptions. She left me to read my chart (which was really cool), while she 'found someone who could answer them for me'.

In she walks again with a doc in scrubs. "Umm, that's ours" he says, and *yanks my chart out of my hands*. Okay, buddy, strike one. Instantly, I'm not liking this guy, but I figure what the hell, I'll get my questions answered and get out of here and never have to deal with this idiot again.

He introduces himself as Dr. Yue, Prof of Anesthesiology at UNC. Fine, good! Well, less than 10 minutes later he leaves. He couldn't *wait* to get out of there... and I'm only partially satisfied with the answers. Strike two. Enh, I have enough to mull it over and I finally made a decision on my own.

Today a bill came for a 'Consultation' with Dr. Yue... $150.

Bull. Fucking. Shit.

I never *asked* to talk to him. I never made an appointment with him. He was unprofessional. I was not treated with respect or courtesy. I left with my questions only partially answered, in part because I just wanted him to leave the room.

And he wants to charge me for it.

Wrong.

Advice?

I am writing a formal letter of complaint right now, but it will have to be forwarded to the Administrator of his dept, who will then yay or nay it (any guess on what it will be?), and then send it back down to the UNC Physician's & Associates billing center, which takes 30+ days.

Anyone have any experience in fighting something like this before? I'm happy, willing, and able to pay the remainder of the bill, and am thrilled with everything else.

But *THIS* will not stand. Period. If I have to pay, I'll make damned sure that it costs them more than $150 to get it.

Comments

[hetaera15.livejournal.com]

That's ridiculous.
Since you didn't ask to speak with him or make an appointment, it's crazy that they would expect you to pay for an impromptu "consultation".
I'm going to get in touch with my mom (she's an RN, among other things) and see what her take is.

[hetaera15.livejournal.com]

Okay. Spoke with Mom, she mentioned that you should speak with hospital administration because what you had doesn't really qualify as an actual consultation. It just sounds like another way for the doctor to get extra money that the insurance companies wouldn't argue with. Apparently it's fairly common for the higher-up doctors to do that sort of billing, even if they're just on rounds and merely look at a patient's chart and stop in their room.
Hopefully the admin will see where you're coming from and take those charges off your bill.

[kickaha.livejournal.com]

Agreed. I went to the UNC Physicians & Associates billing office, and they stated that a formal letter of complaint was required. Okay, I can do that. Muahahahahahaha, can I do that. It will be sent to hospital administration. In addition, that one charge will be suspended until this is resolved, so I don't have to pay it until this is all over.

I was sure to detail his lack of professionalism, and that I would like to discuss it in person with the appropriate officials... including snippets from their own Patient Rights and Responsibilities webpage that he violated.

I figure that if I threaten to make enough of a stink regarding him, they may decide that if they remove the charge, I'll forget about it. Ha. Not now.

[ymasen.livejournal.com]

oh dear... a red head is on the loose causing mayhem.

beware!

If it was covered by insurance

[lirrin.livejournal.com]

I'd cc the insurance company on any formal letters. It keeps the insurance company apprised of the hospital's practices (and what to look out for), plus it makes the administrators wet their pants. :)

Re: If it was covered by insurance

[kickaha.livejournal.com]

Actually, I called my insurance provider *first* to let them know. Their response was "Well, um, we normally don't get involved between the patient and the hospital in disputes, but please do keep us informed as to your progress. We are interested."

Good call on the cc... I'll add it.