Just found this out and tried it. I filled out the forms for Quest and received my results. Directly to me via email. Results that doctor had yet to call me about from two weeks ago. So I have them. Labcorp does the same thing. I don't think all states have this "RTK" but it a nice thing to know about.
Now - I wonder - the other labs and states. Like Igenex and California. I think it would be a cold day that Igenex would send results directly to patients. I don't know if Cal. is a "RTK" state - or if it would even matter - if the state the patient lives in - is. If it is a law? Anyone care to investigate this?
[ 12-18-2011, 12:02 AM: Message edited by: susank ]
Posted by sparkle7 (Member # 10397) on :
I'm not sure about this - I'd have to check further... but you can order your own lab tests from some websites. You don't really need a doctor in many cases.
They are pre-paid. You go on the website & select the tests you want, pay & they will issue you a receipt. You just bring the receipt to a place that draws the blood - like LabQuest or something (I forgot the name). As long as the receipt says the test is paid for - they have to draw the blood & send it in.
I'll look for the link later. I think if you search "pre-paid lab tests" you might find it. I did my own growth hormone tests this way.
Posted by sparkle7 (Member # 10397) on :
Pretty cool, Susan!
Posted by susank (Member # 22150) on :
The results I got were from my doctors visits/orders - not from online labs.
There are many reasons this is such a good thing.
I also - for the first time - ordered tests from an online lab. That was really easy and no hassle to do. Results back real quickly.
Question on the online labs - can one get a "receipt" from them to submit to one's insurance company for reimbursement? I went to Labcorp - which is "in network".
Again the results I got directly from Quest via email - per my request. I had been waiting to hear from the doctor's office the results - were they going to call me and give me the results over the phone - or was I going to have to make an appointment to get my results?
Instead - under some new law? I got them myself. Surprised the heck out of me that this was now possible.
Of course some test results - one wants to discuss with the doctor. For me - having CVID -however - the less I have to go in where people are contagious the better.
I miss the days when doctors would call you and discuss results. I mean really - somtimes one is just too sick/fatigued to even go back to the doctor.
Posted by susank (Member # 22150) on :
For further info: Research 42 CFR Parts 493 and 164
and/or CLIA/HIPAA NPRM
The "patient direct" was proposed recently. I guess it passed for some states?
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
I was in the ER in Texas recently from a reaction to shellfish exposure (cross contamination). When they checked me out, I just asked for a copy of my labs, and they gave them to me no questions asked. Now I understand why it was so easy!
Posted by susank (Member # 22150) on :
I also got labs from my ER visits. I thought that was SOP - as they did the tests "in house" -the doctors I saw were there - and I was not (expected) to come back. The ER visits were 5 years ago.
I don't know if Texas has for years been one of the states that allowed patients to get their results directly. (and this fact was kept hush-hush?) - or if the proposals have recently passed. (I don't see any info where that has happened). So don't know.
FWIW a couple of years ago my sister went to our GP for usual bloodwork. She is very healthy except a little overweight and has high blood pressure. She got a call on a Friday afternoon that the doctor had some concerns about her results and she needed to make an appointment. Results would not be given over the phone. My sister was hysterical - going into the weekend and how much longer to wait and worry. Just what someone with high BP needed, right? I wonder if back then she could have gotten her results directly from the lab - and saved herself so much worry.