Re: Actual Doctor Visits --- Anyone Have Any Yet??... - Page 6

NYC Susan · ‎03-13-2010

@AngelPuppy1 wrote:
@Nuttmeg

My PC office just told me that I have a phone appointment next month. Oh, wow! That's so helpful. After 6 months of no care at all - this will really be beneficial. I told the girl - just ask her to renew my prescriptions and that's all. She said - no -- she will talk to you before she will do it. A person could say anything -- I'm fine ---- so that doesn't prove anything. Oh, well. Don't mind me --- I'm just getting crabby!

Doctors can't just keep renewing prescriptions. There needs to be a visit of some kind on record from time to time.

I had a FaceTime appointment with my neurologist last week exactly for that reason. He couldn't do a full neuro eval of course, but now it's documented that we had an appointment. (And he did do an eval of sorts, asked me questions, etc.) So it was worthwhile, and now I know I'll be all set with meds with no problems from either his office or my prescription plan.

BirkiLady · ‎02-22-2015

@lovesrecess Forgot to mention that is the process for arrival at my appointment next week with my Opthomologist. It certainly makes me feel safe to call from my car and have them come to the door to open the building after taking my temperature. Wise procedures IMO.

I also have a mammogram scheduled in June and they indicated the procedure would be identical.

However, not comfortable with the Dentist yet! That's not going to happen unless I think a problem is developing. Keeping those pearly white very clean!!

Money screams; wealth whispers.

Tinkrbl44 · ‎08-23-2010

@AngelPuppy1 wrote:
Just wondering --- regarding actual real doctor visits in their offices --- anyone have any of those yet?

So far, we've not. I have had a doctor visit cancelled 3 times already and as it stands now, it's currently scheduled for sometime in August.???

Dental appointment for DH was rescheduled for July as of now.

Everything else is still up in the air.

We have been told we can have virtual doctor visits. Both of us have serious lung conditions so virtual visits are not terribly helpful. How can you listen to chests over virtual visits????

Of course, I know we can go to ER if its a true emergency.

Just wondering.....

@AngelPuppy1

Yes, I went to see my Rheumatologist this week. Each chair in her sitting room had either a sheet of paper saying Don't Use This Chair .... or was available. I needed to see her this month, but next month's scheduled appointment can be either in person, or via telecom.

Cedars Sanai Medical Bldgs in Los Angeles were practically a "ghost town". Well, there was no waiting ... lol

Deree · ‎06-30-2018

No and don't plan to for the foreseeable future as long as my health holds up (*knock wood*). I had cancelled my wellness visit at the end of February and a new patient visit with a Functional Medicine Doctor. My routine dental appointment was supposed to be last month. I have received many emails from my health providers about virtual and televisits being available.

Wear a mask. Social distance. Be part of the solution - not part of the problem.

noodleann · ‎06-10-2015

Does anyone know how distance visits are being coded and if they're being compensated the same way?

Toppers3 · ‎10-25-2016

@noodleann wrote:
Does anyone know how distance visits are being coded and if they're being compensated the same way?

The only thing that I can tell you, is how my own visit went based on my experience from the other day.

I had a phone visit, and I had to pay a co-pay for it first by phone, just as if I were going in to the doctor's office in person for an in-person office visit.

I spoke with the receptionist by phone first, and then was connected to his Medical Assistant next.

This was also as if I was there in person, as I would see her personally first before seeing the doctor. She would take my vital signs in person, except that I was able to give them to her by phone, from taking them at home myself.

We have a newer thermometer, a reliable scale, and a blood pressure kit here at home.

Then, after speaking to her, I was transferred over to our doctor to speak to him by phone. It was the same type of thing--I spoke to him just as if I were there talking to him in person.

Personally, I would tend to think that It would be billed like a regular office visit, as that is how it took place, except it was by phone and not in person.

The best that I would be able to tell you would be to call your doctor's billing dept. to find out how they are billing doctor's visits during the Covid19 Pandemic.

NYC Susan · ‎03-13-2010

@noodleann wrote:
Does anyone know how distance visits are being coded and if they're being compensated the same way?

All of mine have been covered the same way as they would have been if the visits had been in-person. (PCP as well as specialists.)

Nuttmeg · ‎03-09-2010

@noodleann

My two tele-visits were the same as a regular office visit. Medicare waived the co-pay.

You should contact your provider with any questions.

noodleann · ‎06-10-2015

Thanks, @Toppers3 , @NYC Susan , and @NYC Susan for your responses.

Toppers3 · ‎10-25-2016

@NYC Susan wrote:
@AngelPuppy1 wrote:
@Nuttmeg

My PC office just told me that I have a phone appointment next month. Oh, wow! That's so helpful. After 6 months of no care at all - this will really be beneficial. I told the girl - just ask her to renew my prescriptions and that's all. She said - no -- she will talk to you before she will do it. A person could say anything -- I'm fine ---- so that doesn't prove anything. Oh, well. Don't mind me --- I'm just getting crabby!

Doctors can't just keep renewing prescriptions. There needs to be a visit of some kind on record from time to time.

I had a FaceTime appointment with my neurologist last week exactly for that reason. He couldn't do a full neuro eval of course, but now it's documented that we had an appointment. (And he did do an eval of sorts, asked me questions, etc.) So it was worthwhile, and now I know I'll be all set with meds with no problems from either his office or my prescription plan.

I guess that I personally feel that we should do these visits in whatever way they're offered to us right now.

This may be the way that it is for now.

If things were in a better way for all of us to go, then I would prefer to go in person if that's how it was offered to me, but it wasn't offered as an option right now.

I look at it this way: You just do your best with what you're given, and you just hope for the best for next time.

Like you, I looked at it as a way of keeping my prescriptions going, and as a way of being able to keep my relationship open with my doctor too, by keeping to the recommended visit schedule, even if it's by phone for now.