Is it just me or?

[Homerr]

Doctors...Are they out to milk the system or?<br /><br />I have a few health issues. For the sake of this discussion, lets call them issue 1,2 and 3.<br /><br />Issue 1: I've had it for YEARS. No life threatening, no biggy.<br /><br />I have a maintenance medicine for it that I get filled about every 2 or 3 months. Now, this SAME Dr. wants me to 'come in for an appointment' before another refill. Why? It's the same stuff I've had for ever? There is no cure, it's just annoying. <br /><br />Condition 2:<br /><br />This one is a bit more serious, involving broken bones. I also have a maintenance medicine that is called in by my SPECIALIST.<br />Well, guess what..My regular Dr. (PCP) wants me to 'make an appointment' with him before he will renew the referral to my specialist. Huh? Why? You couldn't do anything in the first place...I'm pretty darn sure you can't do anything now?!<br /><br />Condition 3:<br />A recent condition.<br />I see my PCP, and he pokes around a bit and says I have tendinitis and gives me a brace. The whole exam takes about 30 seconds.<br />A few weeks go by, and the brace makes things worse. I ask for something different...Like maybe an X-ray or?<br />A few more weeks go by. Nothing. More pain.<br /><br />Finally I ask him to send me to a specialist, which he finally did after practically pulling his teeth.<br /><br />The specialist did a thorough exam and was appalled that my PCP didn't at the very least take an x-ray. I had a nasty tendinitis flareup and a shot of cortisone cleared it right up.<br /><br />----------------------------------------<br /><br />My point to this mess is:<br /><br />Are some doctors just milking the insurance system or am I just being paranoid or?<br /><br />Seems like they want you to 'make an appointment' for just about everything nowadays.<br /><br />Although my employer pays for my insurance (less prescriptions), I'm always watching out for unnecessary expenses and fraud. <br /><br />Gotta love the HMO's.<br /><br />And don't get me started on insurance billing. I don't think they got even a handful of my family's billings right.<br /><br />H.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Is it just me or?

Time to find a new PCP. Ask friends and co-workers who the use and recommend.<br /><br />I recently had to do this as mine just got too old and I feel his skills are dwindling. Let's see, he was old (40 something, I was 7) when I started going to him. That was 35 years ago.

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: Is it just me or?

Homerr, I went through something similar last year. I was lifting something and suddenly felt pain. I went to the orthopedist ( I was treated at this same office for broken bones by a different doctor in the past and couldn’t have been happier.) He felt around and said tennis elbow. Gave me a brace and some meds. I questioned him on why tennis elbow would suddenly appear. He said I must have aggravated it????? Any way to make a long story short after several visits and much pain I insisted on an MRI. Guess what. I had torn tendons in my elbow. I really think this guy knew I had more than an inflammation in my elbow and knew I would be back several times. Because it was workers comp it was easy money for him. <br />On a side note, The malpractice insurance cost for doctors in Pa. Is out of control and a lot of the good doctors are moving out of state. Is it any wonder??

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Is it just me or?

This is one main reason I don't care for attorneys. In a round about way of all the law suits and money paid out in settlements, the attorneys end up with at least 40% of the money. Then when settlements are in the millions, 40% is a heftey chunk of change.<br /><br />If there was ever a cap put on how much attorneys could make off of someones injury, there probably be alot less law suits. It is easy money for them.<br /><br />Doctors do what they do to protect themselves from law suits. With so many havenots wanting something for nothing, it is ridiculious.<br /><br />Wifie works in a medical facility that does workers comp only. The stories she tells about people coming in with a slight injury and trying to get time off is unreal. This is what hurts the honest person that is seriously hurt.<br /><br />If there was a way to put a limit on law suits, there would be a change in the amount of lawsuits filed.<br /><br />Then doctors wouldn't have to do uneccessay tests to cover their butts. Then there are those that do milk the system. Maybe this wouldn't happen if they didn't have high premium's to pay for <br />their insurance.<br /><br />Just my opinon.......SS

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Is it just me or?

I will concur with SS on this one.<br /><br />In Wva, the doctors are leaving because of high insurance also.<br /><br />On a sidenote, my daughter is still being treated for a accident she was in, in 2001.<br /><br />Just went back to the doctor yesterday for a final test to see what she could and could not do.<br /><br />First he said that he could tell her yesterday the results of the test and then after the test was over said he would have to have her come back.<br /><br />Said to come back July, 8<br />Man it sure must take a long time to read a test.<br /><br />But my insurance is still paying for it cause she was still at home at the time of the accident and was covered under my car insurance.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Is it just me or?

Sad thing is SpinnerBait Nut, we will never see anything that will put a cap on fees. Since just about all our politicians are or have been attorneys, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO STAB THEIR BROTHERS IN THE BACK!!!!<br /><br />This is why I don't delare myself as a Democrat or Republican. Put on a blue collar professional for office, and I will vote for them!<br /><br />Basically my point is this, "WE THE PEOPLE" Not "WE THE ATTORNEYS" If our government was run by people of our own piers, it would be more fairly balanced and alot of Americans would be more interested in the govenment.<br /><br />But this isn't going to ever happen because the majority of our lawmakers are attorneys of course, and their not going to stab themselves in the back.....<br /><br />Gotta get to work to pay the B**t**Ds, Sorry for venting ......SS

 

[one more cast]

Re: Is it just me or?

I had to leave a 21 year job because of RA. My insurance paid for my meds for awhile.After 18 months I was canceled and went on medicare which won't cover my meds, which I can't afford on my own. My specialist cost me about $125 out of my pocket per visit. I switched to a different specialist and now it cost me about $30 per visit and this new doctor got me on a program to get free meds paid for by the drug company.It pays to shop around for a good doctor.<br />OMC

 

[JB]

Re: Is it just me or?

Hmmmm. Two thoughts.<br /><br />1. Q. What do they call the person who graduates at the bottom of the class at Med School?<br /><br />A. Doctor.<br /><br />2. Three years ago I changed my PCP from a man about my age to a woman about the age of my oldest grandchild.<br /><br />She changed my regular heart/ulcer/blood monitoring appointments from monthly to annual.<br /><br />She took me off a $5 a day ulcer medicine and told me to take 2 Zantac 75 a day (about $0.35a day).<br /><br />She took me off a $5 a day anti-cholesterol medicine and told me to eat at least 4 portions of salmon a week. YUM. <br /><br />She took me off another heart medicine and told me to drink at least 1 oz. hard liquor or 1 beer, but not more than 4 of either a day. WHEEE!! <br /><br />My blood lipids (cholesterol, triglycerides, etc.) are at their best levels in 10 years. <br /><br />I would adopt her if I could.

 

[ebbtide176]

Re: Is it just me or?

LOL at JB. sounds like my kind of doc too.<br /><br />sorry for the trouble homer, you really should check on getting another doc.

 

[NOSLEEP]

Re: Is it just me or?

Sounds like you have found a good physician JB.<br />The younger doctors now seem to have a little<br />more knowledge about diet and nutrition.<br />Homerr I like the suggestions about finden a new<br />Doc.

 

[Jack Shellac]

Re: Is it just me or?

I'd have to agree that a new doctor seems to be in order. My old one [male] always wanted me to spend 2 minutes with him to get a maintenance prescription refilled. Of course, I got billed $60 for an office visit. Changed to my daughters doctors { three females ] and just phone the desk for a refill now. I was hesitant to go to a woman doctor at first [how I was raised, I guess] but wouldn't go to anyone else now. They are all great.

 

[Fishbusters]

Re: Is it just me or?

In defense of doctors sometimes insurance requires a doctor visit to reauthorize a prescription. As well even if you know you need to see a specialist you must first see your doctor and get a recomendation/referal before your insurance will pay for it. Now all this said I am not saying some doctors don't know thier stuff and I am also not saying some are not milking us/the system but most are in it for the right reasons.

 

[Homerr]

Re: Is it just me or?

Thanks all for the replies! I'm not alone! <br />Yes, the family and I are seeking another doctor. We've had enough.<br /><br />Many doctors are leaving my area too, and who can blame them? I would too.<br /><br />Keep an eye on Oregon. They are taxing and suing themselves right out of business.<br /><br />It's going to get interesting from here. <br /><br />H.