Nal
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6801
posted
OMG, I just got a new price list for my LLMD's clinic here in CO. Grant it they have expanded but I don't know if I can afford this! Hers the breakdown;
Initial appt: $500.00 Follow up visits: $250.00 (gulp!!) Phone consults: $50.00 per 15 mins Nursing consults: $25.00 per 15 mins Supplemental services (IV treatment setup, training, etc): $250.00
Doesn't this seem a little steep or not? They don't take insurance so I have to pay out of pocket! Good grief!
Nancy
-------------------- Life is 10% what happens to you, 90% how you respond to it!
-Chuck Swindoll Posts: 1594 | From Colorado | Registered: Jan 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
That's a little high, but you have to consider the cost of living where your dr is also. The initial apptm lasted how long? Follow-ups?? The follow up stuff and phone consults are pretty steep.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged |
Andie333
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7370
posted
Lymetoo, thanks for finding that initial thread!
I think the follow-up visits and phone consults you cited are expensive, too. The night I was taken to the hospital during a herx, we managed to reach my LLMD and patch her into the ER doc. There was never any charge for that...and it happened after business hours.
My entire LLMD experience has been about half the cost you mention.
I hope this helps.
Andie
Posts: 2549 | From never never land | Registered: May 2005
| IP: Logged |
Worthless tests & labs, a dangerous vaccine, insurance companies refuse to pay, undertreatment the norm, all about money. MO. Posts: 281 | From CT | Registered: Oct 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
I don't get charging patients if they call with questions or are having problems. Mine is wonderful and says to call the office OR his on call number at any hour if I run into problems. My LLMD will call after hours if he was unable to get back to us sooner. I'm so thankful to have this doctor after the years of pure hell of bad medical care.
I think my visits are $500. I don't remember what the follow up cost of mine was. It was supposed to be shorter than it was, but I was doing badly and had alot of questions that turned out to be really important that we had to get through.
I would ask if you are getting charged to call about questions, etc. or if you need a med called in. I can understand (to a point) charging for a phone appointment, but not for calling when you are doing badly and need to know what to do.
Can you submit your office visit to your insurance? We pay at each visit and than we have to submit forms to insurance so they will pay. That would make it a little less costly, thought not initially.
Posts: 114 | From USA | Registered: Sep 2005
| IP: Logged |
Nal
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6801
posted
Ill be calling the office on Monday and finding out what the deal is. I don't think they charge if you are just calling with a question. I think the charge is only for detailed phone consults.
Nancy
-------------------- Life is 10% what happens to you, 90% how you respond to it!
-Chuck Swindoll Posts: 1594 | From Colorado | Registered: Jan 2005
| IP: Logged |
riversinger
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4851
posted
This is the usual charge out here in CA. Some are even higher! very few charge less. I think it at least partly depends on things like real estate costs, malpractice costs, the going rate for wages, etc. Doing business with Lyme patients is not cheap!
If you have a good doctor, they are worth more than gold. But it is hard to pay. Can you file with your insurance to get reimbursement?
posted
I got the letter from the Lyme Clinic in CO - had gone there for some assistance since my husband was being tested by non-Lyme Literates for ALS - thought it would be a good place to go. NOT We paid last month's prices ($400 initial) and they didn't think he had Lyme and wanted him to go without meds for a couple of months and then come back. That was it. We wasted 2 days driving there and 2 days driving back to hear that. Then got the notice of the higher charges. We brought the positive WB and other tests and the doc we saw wasn't that interested in looking at what we broght. What a waste of time, energy and at least $1,000 that we really don't have to waste.
We are now searching for the help we need. Wonder how many doctors we will need to talk to to decide what we can do and will it be in time.
BTW, anyone know if they opted out of Medicare or if a Medicare patient could file for coverage.
This disease is way to expensive - a REAL problem for families with both adults not being able to work. Yikes! Not sure what will happen when we run out of funds - and that is coming sooner as opposed to later....
-------------------- "One Day At A Time" Posts: 2 | From Arizona | Registered: Dec 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
Nal, We pay $225 per visit, but exam/visit is never under an hour, is usually 2-3 hours. We pay nothing if we call with questions, but have been charged full fee for an hour long phone consult. Insurance does not pay for that. I have learned that the best way to communicate with the doctor between visits is to fax my questions, to which she can repond by fax or phone, whichever she feels best. She does not do insurance. We pay her, then file for reimbursement. Overall, I think we get more service for our money with her than with any other doctor!
Posts: 422 | From Herndon, Virginia | Registered: Oct 2005
| IP: Logged |
I agree...it is expensive. Hopefully you can file the claim with your insurance company and get some reimbursement for the visits, etc.
-David
-------------------- Same nightmare, different day! Posts: 401 | From East Coast | Registered: Nov 2005
| IP: Logged |
Nal
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6801
posted
Well, my dr explained to me that the new costs were to help pay for the increase in staffing, new office, malpractice insurance, etc. Im sorry Ann in AZ that your appointment did not go well. I am not sure who you saw in the clinic-I assume it was in Colorado Springs? I love my dr. He was going to retire but has decided to stay on my case alone. He wants to see me improve and get better. AT least i know I am not the only one being charged so much.
Nancy
-------------------- Life is 10% what happens to you, 90% how you respond to it!
-Chuck Swindoll Posts: 1594 | From Colorado | Registered: Jan 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
It's expensive, but I'll willingly pay for a doctor who has a clue and helps me. I thank God that they exist.
It's the doctors (ducks) that I have paid a fortune to, that did nothing useful, that I resent.
In addition to charging you a fortune they end up telling you, or at least inferring, that you are some kind of wuss.... Of course, *they* don't see anything wrong with you, so you must be either making it up or be a weak so- and- so, or the famous last resort... have emotional problems.
Posts: 856 | From Texas | Registered: Jan 2005
| 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