seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067
posted
I have had some feedback on this board about this physician. He's not a LLMD, but a CFS specialist. He treats with anti-virals if needed. I don't know why I can't state his name, but whatever. Kind of irritating.
The first new patient appt is $1,000, plus possible labs. For some reason, they insist on doing their EBV and CMV testing at their office and refuse to outsource it. The cost is $70 each (four tests totalling $280 when you factor in IgM and IgG). i got all this info from the office today when I inquired.
I'm surpised because the first visit is billed as a 99205 office visit with no prolonged time for face-to-face visits. This is bad because insurance reimbursement is much less out-of-network. It's approximately a 2.5 hr visit. We have a LLMD here who bills differently and in turn you get more insurance reimbursement.
What really throws me off is when I asked for the approximate cost of the first follow-up visit. I'm told between $200-$600. WTF? HUGE RANGE. Is this for real?
It sounds like a recipe to go broke fast. It would be nice to have some clarity as to what you'll be charged. They said $600 if you need labs. What labs would you really need after the initial work-up if he's thorough?
Lastly, if this doc does give you scripts for anti-virals, are you paying completely out-of-pocket for these too because your insurer thinks his diagnosis is a far-fetched one? I know anti-virals are not cheap! This would put it over the edge.
I'm just trying to get an idea if this is legitimate or a money-making scheme. His background is ID doc. I realize these Fibro docs sometimes view sick people as their piggybanks and it makes me very irritated. I'm not saying this about this particular person, but the stories here about F&F centers really put a sour taste in my mouth.
Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
| IP: Logged |
bettyg
Unregistered
posted
wow, i don't know who you are talking about; i sent you a pm.
IP: Logged |
I don't think he deals much with lyme. There's a criteria for CFS based on HHV-6, cytomegalavirus and EBV that some doctors (including Dr. Montoya at Stanford) use to address this stuff as viral issues.
Before I got my lyme/babesia diagnoses, my ID doctor tried Valtrex on me (for EBV) for about 5 months. I had/have high IGG for EBV
Posts: 322 | From Venice, CA | Registered: Sep 2008
| IP: Logged |
seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067
posted
I have had all the viral tests done. This doc insists on doing them out of his own practice and charges you for them. He won't let LabCorp run them. I'm referring specifically to the EBV and CMV tests only.
I'm doubtful there's one doc in my state willing to do anything outside the box and I'm not kidding. The LLMDs here just don't care about viral issues or Cpn. I mentioned it at every visit and it's no priority. Basically, I'm told all get worse who take anti-virals.
Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
| IP: Logged |
posted
I saw him and he found HHV6 elevated on a couple of occasions. He told me to take Valcyte and I did for about 4 months.
It didn't change my symptoms and then I had to go off of it because it kept making my liver enzymes go up.
I figured it was worth a try because some people it does make better.
He certainly has his own theory about CFS in that he thinks its caused by EBV/CMV/HHV6 infection of the heart.
I am sure that in some cases this is true and those people respond to his treatment.
In fact I met a few of them in his waiting room.
I am also sure than some people have elevated viral titers from time to time or even have viral reactivation, but the root cause of their illness is not a virus.
Those people probably won't get better on his treatment, but it would be hard to tell who they are based on the current state of testing.
I probably was in this category.
As far as what else he tests for, hes a pretty thorough, yet old fashioned ID doc.
It probably depends on your history, but in me he tested for TB, mycoplasma pn., rheumatic fever, lyme, erlichia, babesia, and HSVI&II.
He also tested for syhpilis using the VDRL test. I know for a fact that he treats Lyme - but on me at least he ran the labcorp test and when all that came up was IGM and IGG band 41 he decided to focus on what he thought was a virus.
I don't know if he'd treat lyme clinically or not, but he certainly doesn't identify as a "LLMD" although he seems more open to it than most docs.
[ 02-20-2009, 06:56 PM: Message edited by: asus ]
Posts: 116 | From Ann Arbor, MI | Registered: Nov 2007
| IP: Logged |
cottonbrain
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 13769
posted
as keebler said, check out the Prohealth board. there is lots of discussion about Lerner and other docs who will do the tests.
you can google Montoya at Stanford University to find out about his HHV6 and EBV studies -- or just search at prohealth.
i think the study found that valcyte did NOT significantly improve the overall symptoms of ppl except for small cognitive improvement
Posts: 1173 | From USA | Registered: Nov 2007
| IP: Logged |
posted
The results of the stanford study haven't been published yet.
According to the reports from the HHV6 conference (see http://www.scivee.tv/node/7965/video ), Valcyte did cause statistically significant improvement in cognitive function at 6 months.
IIRC they also commented that "full recovery" required more time, and that the physical recovery usually occured slower than the cognitive one.
ie After people had their cognitive function, their physical stamina still wasn't back to normal.
I guess when they publish the full study with the full follow-up we will know for sure... but I wouldn't count it out yet.
Posts: 116 | From Ann Arbor, MI | Registered: Nov 2007
| IP: Logged |
sutherngrl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16270
posted
Amanda, speaking of the PH board. I too was banned from there for talking about Lyme. Must be run by the IDSA.
CFS is most likely LD as is FM, that is why anti-virals don't work on many people!
Posts: 4035 | From Mississippi | Registered: Jul 2008
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic