How to dispute an office visit bill?

Question

I went to a dermatologist that was shown on my insurance website. I came well on time, and I had to wait for more than an hour for the doctor to come. It wasn't even the doctor that came, it was some Asian female with a bachelors(his assistant???), even though I made an appointment with the doctor himself. The whole 10 minutes that she talked to me was basically a sales pitch..... I told her the products that I have tried on my face and she basically suggested benzol and sallycilic acid(which is what I have had used before?)... She had seemingly no skin treatment expertice and didn't help at all, or even suggest anything but the creams that they were pushing to sell. Now, three month after the horrible sales pitch (for yeltin and acanya<- slightly stronger benzoyl and sallycilic acid and costs over $300 for a month supply) I get a bill! $91 for the office visit with a description of OFFICE VISIT, INTERMEDIATE LEVEL IV DEDUCTIBLE & CO-INS.....Now before and after the visit I have asked the receptionist what my co-pay would be and both times she told me 0, as on my insurance card it said Office Visit: 0..... Now, I would have no trouble with paying if I actually received some help or advice, but why should anyone have to pay for a horrible sales pitch? Is there anything that I can do about this??? BY THE WAY... I CAME WITH SIMPLE FACIAL ACNE, HOW DOES A SUPPOSED SKIN SPECIALIST KNOW NOTHING ABOUT ACNE? ALL THE SEEMED TO KNOW WAS TO PUSH PRODUCTS THAT COST OVER $300 WITH INSURANCE???

Ranger4402 · Accepted Answer

I would take this right to the doctor.

Be concise and to the point.   

1.     Tell the doctor you made an appointment to see a doctor.   You did not make an appointment to see a physicians assistant, licensed practical nurse, or anyone else.   

2.     You paid for examination and treatment of your condition.  You did not go there to get pitched skin care products that you have already tried and can buy at Walgeens.   

3.     You consider it improper for a doctor to sell products to patients and earn a profit from the sales of those products.  That very situation creates a conflict of interest.  Are you being offered treatment products because you really need them or are you being offered these products so the doctor can cash in?   This is why we have pharmacies to fill prescriptions.   A pharmacy takes away the conflict of interest.

Finally, you do owe something for this visit.   I don't think it is $91.  But I do think you owe a fee for the examination.  Your skin was examined.

? · Answer

I understand your frustration - it's even worse when you work in the field! BUT, the bottom line is - you did receive some service from the first doctor. (It's just like not being able to get your money back if your groceries don't taste like you think they will.) You like to get paid when you work, even if you are having an off day, don't you? Same thing for doctors. That said, what you should do is call the billing manager and explain your situation. Technically, they're not supposed to write off anything like this - it's considered discrimination under HIPAA (it's favoring one patient over another.) - but I think in light of your issue, they might do it. DO NOT go directly to the doctor - most of them don't have a clue about what goes on on the business end - they're mostly concerned with seeing patients. Therefore, that would be a waste of your time. If you do not get satisfaction from the billing manager - and be nice, I know you're p*ssed, but letting that out will not entice them to help you - then go to the office manager or business manager and see if they can help you. If they don't at least see about a reduction in your portion under the cirumstances, then file a grievance with your insurance company - calling member services will help you do it. PS - Medicine is not an exact science - that's why they call it a Doctor's PRACTICE. =)

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How to dispute an office visit bill?

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