posted
Just went to a new LLND.........seems no matter what interaction we've had, it results in a bill from his office!
For example, just had a phone lab consultation-- on his request, stating that the results couldn't wait until the next visit--
Well, in the mail, the very next day (less than 24 hours later!), a bill from him regarding the phone call comes in--not cheap either! Geez, did he overnight it--lol?
I've never experienced being charged for obtaining lab results, especially when the doc is the one saying he has to speak to you--
The regular LLMD we see has never charged us for lengthy phone calls, etc.--he is probably too lax--but is a god-send and a true angel--but only uses abx, and we were hoping to add in herbals under the guidance of a practitioner.
Anyway, just wondering if I've been spoiled by the original LLMD--
do most patients have to pay for every second they speak to their LLMD, even for lab results? Or is this new LLND excessive? Just wondering if I will experience this with any new LLND we switch to..........
Thanks for sharing!
Posts: 648 | From northeast | Registered: Feb 2009
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posted
seems excessive to me, especially since you didn't initiate the call. i know docs charge for phone consultations but lab results don't qualify in my opinion.
Posts: 236 | From Zionsville IN | Registered: Jan 2011
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posted
While I was being treated, I could talk to my doctor for free. Those were the good ole days. No more. He began charging when calls from his patients got to be too much.
I always received lab results ( the original .. he kept the copy ) in the regular mail. Why call the patient unless it's something urgent???
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Especially since he initiated the phone call and you were not requesting a consultation, etc.
Does he think he is an attorney (just kidding and no offense to the attorneys, lol.)?
I am fortunate, I guess, that because my integrative physician does not label herself an "LLMD" I do not have all the extra charges. I would NEVER be able to afford this! I am broke from all my copayments, supplements, etc., as it is.
Don't get me wrong, if I won the lottery, I have a few "LLMDs" in mind who I would, at least, love to consult with. But, if not for my doctor right now, I would be doing nothing...or trying to treat myself.
I believe there is NO excuse for that charge, and I would be upset!
-------------------- Best Wishes,
Hope
"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies."
~~The Shawshank Redemption~~ Posts: 234 | From Minnesota | Registered: Dec 2010
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momlyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 27775
posted
No, that's not right. I wouldn't go back.
-------------------- May health be with you!
Toxic mold was suppressing our immune systems, causing extreme pain, brain fog and magnifying symptoms. Four days after moving out, the healing began. Posts: 2007 | From NY/VT Border | Registered: Aug 2010
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tdtid
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 10276
posted
I haven't heard this one either. Something seems a little fishy.
-------------------- "To Dream The Impossible Dream" Man of La Mancha Posts: 2638 | From New Hampshire | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
Okay, good.......I was livid over this, and I didn't think I was being unreasonable, but since this was a new LLND, I thought perhaps I wasn't up to speed with what most are charging.
Time to look for yet another--am broke though now so will have to save up for months again to see another--
pricy mistakes--sigh!
Thanks for your thoughts--Helped a lot!
Posts: 648 | From northeast | Registered: Feb 2009
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posted
If he called you I would send him the bill, he took your time, not the other way around and I wouldn't pay it. Was it a life or death lab result that could not wait until your next appointment?
I had a Dr. that would make you wait for hours for your scheduled appointment, never even apologize and I mean every appointment. One time I was 15 minutes late for my appointment and they not only told me the Dr. wouldn't see me, but then sent me a bill for missing the appointment even though i would have been sitting there for at least an hour waiting for the Dr. Fired the Dr. and did not pay the bill!!!!
-------------------- Down on her knees, she wept on the floor. This hopeless life, she wanted no more. Dead in the mind and cold to the bone, She opened her eyes and saw she was alone. ~Seether Posts: 427 | From Rhode Island | Registered: May 2011
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scorpiogirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 31907
posted
Don't get me started!! I got charged for prescriptions!! $10 a piece. I called the front office and told them I'm not paying for that. I don't think it's ethical to not give me prescriptions in the two visits I was there and then try to bill me for them later.
As if I don't pay enough cash out of pocket already! So as far as I know they have not charged me for them.
-------------------- Posts: 1391 | From Lyme Land | Registered: May 2011
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Dogsandcats
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 28544
posted
My doc sent me for an MRI of my foot The nurse calls me after and says you have tindonitis. I said what is next She says if you want to talk to the doc come in for an appt I asked if he couldn't call? Getting there can be hard along with $$ He finally calls me back. I say " I am sorry for being a pest" No reply I said, this is when you tell me I am not a pest.....no reply Next words he says is....what can I do for you? End of story, in less than 30 seconds, he says "call and get the number for Dr. _____ and he will fit you with a boot to keep it from moving." Whew.....guess it is not limited to llmd's....
-------------------- God will prepare everything for our perfect happiness in heaven, and if it takes my dog being there, I believe he'll be there.
Billy Graham Posts: 1967 | From California | Registered: Oct 2010
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posted
My LLMD does not charge for his time over the phone. I think he's just nice about it. Some are. And knowing that he has lots of calls to make, I try to keep it brief.
Posts: 13116 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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posted
That sounds like the way lawyers track and bill time. Typically, if they've budgeted correctly, the fees for the visits should cover the miscellaneous extras that come with the job. But, if you're charged a lot for the visit, and then also charged for every single bit of contact, then that seems fishy to me as well.
-------------------- IgM: [18++,31+++,34++,41++,83-93+] [39 IND] IgG: [41 IND] Positive according to IGeneX. Negative according to CDC. Negative for co-infections. Currently treating for Lyme, Bartonella, Babesia Posts: 225 | From Minnesota | Registered: May 2011
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i could never talk to my last llmd, but i was never charged for talking to nurses, and my lab results were always mailed to me, though never explained.
sadly, i think that there many people in the health field that take advantage of those with lyme and care more about making money than actually helping them.
i personally would stay away from this llnd, but thats my opinion.
Posts: 442 | From usa | Registered: Oct 2010
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posted
dogsandcats, that is SO akward! that's exactly how i felt around my last llmd. i don't understand how some people can be so silently rude!
Posts: 442 | From usa | Registered: Oct 2010
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lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
"I had a Dr. that would make you wait for hours for your scheduled appointment, never even apologize and I mean every appointment. One time I was 15 minutes late for my appointment and they not only told me the Dr. wouldn't see me, but then sent me a bill for missing the appointment even though i would have been sitting there for at least an hour waiting for the Dr. Fired the Dr. and did not pay the bill!!!! "
that happened to me..wonder if it was the same doc. i was late cuz of accident (not me-but traffic was tied up) and i had left work and lost pay too. grrrr. i never paid his bill. it just went away
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
If this is as it sounds, I'd send the bill back to him with a charge on it that he should pay, that is higher than what he charged you.
Tracy9
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7521
posted
That's ridiculous. I've seen several top ILADS LLMDs and none have charged for a phone call. The only time I've heard of charging is for a phone appt/consultation.
I also see a LLNP who not only doesn't charge for those things, but emails me regularly to check on me. For Free.
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
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posted
I would also question the Insurance Commission, Medical Board and/or the Attorney General of your state.
-------------------- Down on her knees, she wept on the floor. This hopeless life, she wanted no more. Dead in the mind and cold to the bone, She opened her eyes and saw she was alone. ~Seether Posts: 427 | From Rhode Island | Registered: May 2011
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I definitely agree that this was not an acceptable charge. I was not told beforehand that I would have to pay for the phone call nor did I even think to ask since I've never had to pay any doctor to review labs via the phone, especially when they are the ones saying the results can't wait until the next appt. If I had been told, I could have refused.
I can't believe some of stories on here regarding what some are charging--$10 per prescription--what? Come on now! That's just not right!
(Lymetoo--I deleted some PMs so your message should be good to go.)
Thanks again everyone...
Posts: 648 | From northeast | Registered: Feb 2009
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posted
HA!! I have no clue what I was going to tell you!! I've slept 5 nights since then!!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Rumigirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15091
posted
I don't think this is right either, esp if you weren't informed about this ahead of time.
However, as someone said above, I would be careful not to burn your bridges, as there are too few good LLM/ND's. So I would nicely state that you don't believe you should be charged, since you weren't informed about the charge ahead of time, and you didn't ask for the call either! Hopefully, that should work.
If not, negotiate, if possible. But as someone else said, you either may want to continue with this person, or might end up there again in the future, so . . be careful in how you deal with it. It's just how it is, since there aren't a lot of LLM/ND's.
I've seen quite a few top LLMD's, and, although you usually can't get the dr on the phone unscheduled, you don't get charged. And the same even if you do get the dr on the phone. I assume it wasn't too long anyway.
Posts: 3771 | From around | Registered: Mar 2008
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