Re: Podiatrist

panda1234 · ‎04-27-2015

@Tinkrbl44 wrote:
@CelticCrafter wrote:
If you don't ask her why she is recommending another person you'll never know the reasoning behind her suggestion.

JMO, podiatrists while they have their place, are scammers looking to make an extra payment or two from Medicare by suggesting unnecessary testing and treatments.

@CelticCrafter

So her podiatrist is now a "scammer" because she is being referred to someone else, instead of continuing to do it themselves?

A podiatrist shouldn't be expected to do pedicures.

The OP should not waste their time not if it's not a medical necessity.

@Tinkrbl44 trust me insurance would not pay unless it was a medical necessity.

qvcaddition · ‎03-10-2010

Had a nurse that works in the Podiatrist office come to my home to cut toeails. Cost, 65.00. she was here 15 mins at the most.

I now do my own foot and nail care, about an hour and do a much better job.

I a member of the hospital health plan, but when she this on the side for seniors and charges. I am quite old, but have all the equipment. Foot bath, electric nail filer, etc. Also the time to do my own. I also do my own callous.

So make sure you check if their are any charges. Medicare didn't pay for it.

Toppers3 · ‎10-25-2016

@panda1234 wrote:
@JeanLouiseFinch wrote:
I haven't read all the replies but how is anyone here supposed to know the doctor's intentions? You need to communicate with them. You shooukd have asked right then and there. Maybe it was a referral to a specialist for something more than nail trims.
@JeanLouiseFinch it was for callus removal and the nail trim which I believe is pretty routine.

I would definitely find out what's going on with her/her office, and why you're being referred for different care.

As someone myself who has chronic foot and leg issues and who also sees a Podiatrist routinely every 3 months for diabetic care and checks, I would want to know what was happening if all of a sudden my doctor changed his practice policies.

That being said, if you have a swollen foot and a possible toe amputation, to me, that's serious enough to have your foot routinely checked.

Who knows if the doctor thinks that your foot is stable enough to where you qualify for home care?

If she wants you to have home care, what type of home care is it? Would she be sending a nurse, or another doctor?

I have personally found myself that home care has not been on the same level of care as that in a doctor's office or hospital setting.

This has been my own experience when I needed care with my legs and feet in the past.

For example, when I was in Wound Care in the past for my feet and legs, one of the nurses there thought that I could benefit from home care between Wound Care visits, to save my husband having to drive me to extra Wound Care appointments.

The hospital Wound Care nurses were specially trained in taking care of wounds. The Home care nurses were not specifically trained in Wound Care. They were good nurses and were trained in general nursing care.

The nurses that came out to help me at home were trying their very best to help me, but my legs and feet were very difficult to treat at that time and it wasn't working out very well for me to have home care, so I ended up having all of my appointments back at the Wound Care Dept.

panda1234 · ‎04-27-2015

@Kachina624 wrote:
@panda1234. Did you ask her why you needed to see someone else?

@Kachina624 she told me that I would be a good fit for this practice. They have a day spa with different treatments for your feet.

Jersey Born · ‎03-10-2010

@panda1234 - I feel for you. My mother, may she rest in peace, had terrible foot problems, including a chronic foot ulcer with chronic callus formation around it (that ultimately healed with an experimental product) that required monthly debridement, and very thick toenails that also required the same medical professional, a podiatrist,l to clip. I understand your need for frequent visits for your feet, and I understand that not everyone is as capable, or as responsible, as a medical doctor specializing in feet to perform this delicate and necessary work.

I hope that you are able to continue with a dedicated medical professional who wants to help your feet. It may be that your current doctor no longer wishes to take care of your feet. Is she nearing retirement age? Is she overloaded with patients and wishes to off-load some of them? Is her waiting room always full of patients, with a long wait period at every visit to get in to see her?

I agree with the post from someone else that a home visit would not be as good as a doctor's office visit. The lighting in your home would not be as good. The availability of proper instruments would not be as optimal, either. Is the person she recommended a medical doctor or medical professional?

Regardless, I wish you the very best in care for your toenails and feet. You owe it to yourself to ask her why she thinks you should have someone else help you.

Stray · ‎04-20-2013

First I’d ask your provider for a detailed explanation as to why he/she is referring you.

If you have a toe that is in danger of amputation, I’d not go to a day spa but I’d go to a different podiatrist. We have a podiatrist who visits the infirmed in my building & he is quite good. I see him at his office. So I’d go with a visiting podiatrist & at least a professional would be checking your toe & cut your nails

I have had three of my doctors opt out of Medicare as of 7/1. Maybe he/she will not be accepting Medicare but he/she is obliged to notify you.

NYCLatinaMe · ‎01-14-2017

@panda1234 I would not take it personally that they are suggesting other places unless the are telling you not to go back. It looks like you can continue to go to your regular doctor if you wish. Sometimes some insurance companies pay very little, and the doctors can make more money seeing other patients. That would be my guess. For a while, I had a doctor that had a call-in hour, which I thought was nice, but every time I called her he suggested something and told me I didn't need an appointment. This went on for years, and I eventually thought this was not right. I realized the insurance company probably didn't pay enough. I switched plans. I am not recommending that in your case, since this doctor seems to be giving you appropriate treatment. Whether to see someone else or not is your choice.

Zhills · ‎11-15-2011

I have Humana and they pay for nail care!

If your feet don't need medical attention, it is much cheaper to pay a Nail Tech than a Doctor to cut nails!

Insurance companies are scaling back everywhere they can with the physician shortages we are facing.

The Nail Techs are fully trained for the position for medical purposes!

NYCLatinaMe · ‎01-14-2017

@Zhills wrote:
I have Humana and they pay for nail care!

If your feet don't need medical attention, it is much cheaper to pay a Nail Tech than a Doctor to cut nails!

Insurance companies are scaling back everywhere they can with the physician shortages we are facing.

The Nail Techs are fully trained for the position for medical purposes!

@Zhills If by Nail Tech you mean a nail salon, I don't find that to be true. I think they are supposed to be licensed, but I think many manicurists have damaged my nails by the way they use the instruments. Pushing those metal tools between my nails and the nail bed. I am not good doing nail color, and I am thinking about not using manicurists to do anything but apply color. Most of the manicurists I have seen don't speak English, the services are ridiculously cheap, and I don't think they are properly done. Just my experience in NYC.