Need to See the Doctor for Multiple Issues? Make Multiple Appointments!

[Seifer]

Recently, I've noticed a lot of doctor's offices in my area suddenly telling patients that if they have multiple issues, they'll need to make multiple appointments to see the doctor. This screams "INSURANCE SCAM" to me, because the office is basically milking the insurance company several times for issues that could all be taken care of at once. It's especially annoying for the patient, because they have to waste time, gas, and money to visit their doctor multiple times for simple problems.

[bainsidhe]

This is an interesting point. I once made a regular visit to the doctor for a follow-up on my prescription, and I also had a woman's exam done. Even though the first part of the visit lasted barely 5 minutes if that, I was charged two separate copays for the 2 "separate" appointments, even though they were happening with the same doctor, in the same room, during the same visit and basically at the same time. On my next visit, I learned my insurance didn't pay for one of the appointments and the office had to write it off. Seems my insurance didn't like the doctor's office claiming two appointments happening at the exact same time.

[HYHYBT]

If it helps any, this comes from the insurance companies. They often will not pay for more than one issue per appointment. As I understand it, the policy reduces their expenses, theoretically by preventing doctors from tacking on everything under the sun. What happens instead is that either they wind up paying for multiple visits as well as multiple treatments, inconveniencing everybody involved even aside from the expense, or they really do save money by doctors only charging them for one issue no matter how many there really are. Neither is reasonable, but when those are the only options, both happen.

[fireheart17]

Recently, I've noticed a lot of doctor's offices in my area suddenly telling patients that if they have multiple issues, they'll need to make multiple appointments to see the doctor.

They're stating this down at the clinic I see, but for an entirely different reason.

Basically, doctors appointments down my way (remember Aussieland gal here) are covered by Medicare TO AN EXTENT. Certain things aren't covered. The amount you pay is proportional to the amount of time you spend with the doctor, but you usually get a decent portion of that reimbursed. For certain groups, medicare covers the entire cost without you needing to pay extra.

For about the past five years, they've had the "multiple issues=multiple appointments" thing because some patients have been known to take ages while they're seeing the doc. You CAN arrange for a double appointment (and in some cases, you actually need to) if needed, but generally you're only meant to have a 15-minute slot with the doc. Most patients didn't get the message hwoever and ended up taking maybe 2-3 slots instead. So they encourage patients to stick to 1-2 issues at a time.