Sheesh, and I wonder what is wrong with US healthcare.
Well another couple of birthdays came around and once again it is time for my old man internal exam. (yea!)
I called up the previous officer that checked out my pooper and they pulled my records. I told them I had a referral from my GP for another swell time.
They told me that before I could make an appointment, I had to have a telemedical appointment with the doctor?
When I asked why, since my GP has already ordered the procedure, I was told that it was their office policy.
Well, I could not do a tele meeting but I could do a phone call. So the doctor called me and talked to me for about 10 minutes. He discussed the prep and went over the procedure. I had been there done that a few times. At the end of the 10 minute phone call, I was told that someone from his office would call me to make the appointment. That was about 3 weeks ago.
Today, I received a medical bill from this office. Now remember, the only contact I had was two phone calls, one with a doctor for about 10 minutes.
The bill was for $542.00
Fortunately my insurance paid $497.00 of that but that still leaves me coughing up $45.00 for a frickin phone call!!!
WTF?
$542.00 just for a phone call. Billed as an "office visit". This is not for the procedure, just the phone call.
That is so messed up. I can just imagine the doctor's bill for when he actually does something. This colonoscopy will probably run about $50,000
This is insane!
/rant