No memory of tick/rash. Sick 1/09. Diagnosed CFIDS 7/09. Diagnosed Lyme 7/10. Posts: 56 | From San Diego, CA | Registered: Jun 2010
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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.
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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.
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