I was emailed paperwork with detailed description of how they charge $30 for every 6 minutes
which includes "patient visits, review of records, preparation of forms, reviewing of labs, dictation concerning the patient..."
This seems scary and excessive. They want me to put a cc on file. They will then tell me the day of charging it how much they are going to charge.
Is this normal? Do other LLMD charge like this?
I understand charging for the visit but to look over my labs?!
Posted by Remember to Smile (Member # 25481) on :
Dear muddyfeet, Yes, my LLMD charges for reviewing records and labs. ALL physicians charge for reviewing records and labs.
Each practice is different, but doctors, LLMDs, and IDSA ducks all charge fees for services. Attorneys charge similarly. Sometimes the fee structure is clear; other times fees are hidden, buried, or bundled.
Here you've gotten detailed info up-front from an experienced LLMD. Sounds like this practice has lots of experience working with neuroborreliosis, so the staff wishes to prevent surprises and reduce confusion by organizing procedures at the outset.
Reality: Chronic Lyme disease patients have brain infections, so we forget stuff (like mailing the check!). CLD patients may ramble on and on, taking valuable time, or call a LLMD repeatedly over minor symptom flares. That costs staff time.
You may be more comfortable with an ILADS-active LLMD who charges patients a flat fee for office visits. Such a practice would have already factored in costs of reviewing records, labs, preparing forms, dictation, admin, and other overhead into the flat fee for office visits.
Some LLMDs have a sliding scale for office visits. Initial intake is highest rate, then follow-up appts are billed based on how long the LLMD spends with you. CLD patients with severe neuroborreliosis impacting cognition may need 1-hr appts for several months, then can save money later by using just 45 min or 30 min of the the LLMD's professional time as symptoms clear.
Everyone deserves compensation for work performed. Try to be an informed consumer of Lyme disease treatment and chose a LLMD that best suits your personal situation.
Hope that helps! Smile
Posted by muddyfeet (Member # 26633) on :
Thanks Smile,
This is helpful. I had just never seen anything like that before. If this is what well trained LLMD are doing then I will keep the appointment.
This particular LLMD had studied with Dr. H of NY so I am interested in seeing him, though I'm still looking out of state.
I don't feel like I've been seeing a good LLMD so maybe this is one of those differences.
You do mention that some ILADS LLMDs charge a flat fee.
Maybe I should be asking this when I call. Finances are tight (as many know) and I just need to know ahead of time.
Flat fees seem less stressful, more predictable to me but if the better LLMD do it this way I will adjust.
Ultimately I just want to get better.
Posted by littlebit27 (Member # 24477) on :
Some do, some don't. Mine doesn't, nor has any of the other 3 I've seen.
Posted by Remember to Smile (Member # 25481) on :
Dearest littlebit27, I'd venture to say all four LLMDs you've seen did charge for reviewing labs & admin duties, but it seems costs for those services were rolled into other fees you paid. Just not itemized up-front like the details muddyfeet received, right?
Otherwise, you'd have found four LLMDs who provide necessary medical service pro bono -- for free.