Medicare Wellness Doctor Visit

debodun said:
Got that out of the way today. She was concerned because my blood pressure was low (100/60) and order blood work (I don't know exactly what test, but she mentioned "kidney function"). I thought it strange her asking me if the world situation was making me tense. I made a non-committal answer that I wished people could find a way to solve their differences without warfare. Then she replied "It's all about money." When did a doctor visit become a political platform?
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They blame some of my heart problems on anxiety. It never got political unless i introduced it and they didn't pursue the subject.
 

Stopped by the doctor's office to get a copy of my blood test results (they promised to send it to me by email, but never did).
It was like trying to get a carcass away from a hyena. Several excuses were given as to why they couldn't give it to me until I finally got to speak with someone that seemed to know what was going on, but I had to mention the 21st Century Cures Act. Even then the results were given grudgingly,
What is it with doctors not wanting patients to see test results?

Anyway, the only items that were out of range were:
Glucose - 110 mg/dl - normal according to the report is 70-99 and this was not a fasting reading.
Triglycerides - 150 mg/dL - normal 0 - 149
HDL Cholesterol - 37 mg/dl - more than 39

So even the outliers were barely that.
 
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debodun said:
What is it with doctors not wanting patients to see test results?
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I have never once had that problem, my lab results are available within a couple of days. In the past I've also requested x-rays and MRI image disc, never been denied.

As for the yearly wellness exam I like it, gives me a chance to chart my health changes year by year at no cost to me. At my doctor's office the wellness exam is administered by a geriatrition, I don't think I've had reason to see my GP in six or seven years.
 
In the mail today, I received an EOB (explanation of benefits) for my recent blood work and follow up doctor visit, both of which were paid according to contracted terms, leaving me with a -0- balance.

On a separate line, the EOB showed a charge of $260.00 for "annual wellness visit" which was denied and the reason stated was "service not payable per managed care contract." Below that, it stated, "All or part of this claim was denied. You are not responsible for payment."

Yet, emails from Medicare tell me to get an annual wellness visit, and so does my doctor. As soon as I got this form, I called my doctor's office and told them I do not want anymore "annual wellness" visits, only my regular blood work and doctor consultations twice yearly, as I've been doing for years.
 
StarSong said:
If you're not responsible for payment, why stop the visits?
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I've already had blood work done, and a thorough consultation with the doctor about any and all health concerns, so I see no need for wellness visits which bring nothing new into the picture, and consist of nothing more than drawing a clock and answering questions about my mental state, which have already been addressed in the regular visit.

Also, this is a small community clinic, struggling as many others are nowadays to stay afloat financially, and they don't need the added burden of unpaid claims that accomplish nothing.

Besides all of that, as economic pressures rise, they may try to bill me directly. I could dispute it, and probably win, but I don't need that aggravation, when I get nothing from these visits.
 
debodun said:
Stopped by the doctor's office to get a copy of my blood test results (they promised to send it to me by email, but never did).
It was like trying to get a carcass away from a hyena. Several excuses were given as to why they couldn't give it to me until I finally got to speak with someone that seemed to know what was going on, but I had to mentioned the 21st Century Cures Act. Even then the results were given grudgingly,
What is it with doctors not wanting patients to see test results?

Anyway, the only items that were out of range were:
Glucose - 110 mg/dl - normal according to the report is 70-99 and this was not a fasting reading.
Triglycerides - 150 mg/dL - normal 0 - 149
HDL Cholesterol - 37 mg/dl - more than 39

So even the outliers were barely that.
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My husband had a colonoscopy twelve or so years ago and we received a bill from the doc wanting $1,000 beyond the Medicare payment. We refused so they refused to provide the test results. They know were to put them...LOL
 
Happy Heart said:
My husband had a colonoscopy twelve or so years ago and we received a bill from the doc wanting $1,000 beyond the Medicare payment. We refused so they refused to provide the test results. They know were to put them...LOL
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I think that is illegal. They must provide the results. Doesn't matter now.
 
Muskrat said:
In spite of being (or perhaps because of) a retired RN, I avoid doctors unless I must see one.
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Same here! When I was younger I had to get liver function tests every 3 months. Now I hardly ever see a doctor. I got tired of going to the doctor quite awhile ago. Still I have an appointment coming up. I hadn't gone to the doctor in probably 6 years.
 
Victor said:
I think that is illegal. They must provide the results. Doesn't matter now.
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We knew it was illegal but he had no symptoms and if they had found something, they would have told us - never miss an opportunity to find a reason to bill Medicare.
 
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