Teleconfering on Medical Office Visits - Page 2

deepwaterdotter · ‎03-09-2010

So far, my insurer is not covering televisits. Hoping that may change in the future.

shoesnbags · ‎03-10-2010

@JaneMarple wrote:
@CelticCrafter wrote:
Of course they're going to charge, why wouldn't they.
Not true, I had my first appointment this morning with my Rheumatologist and she mentioned that it was no charge.

My son has a teleconference type dr. visit scheduled for tomorrow. The pre-visit information specifically stated that he would be charged. I’m more concerned about whether the ap I had to download will work properly for us.

"Breathe in, breathe out, move on." Jimmy Buffett

Snowpuppy · ‎03-09-2010

My dr has done teledoc visits for the last 3-4 years.

I have the choice of a short visit or comprehensive. Yes, it is the same cost as in office. I phone the office, schedule day & time and of course pay up front. No refunds if I no show. In the event of equipment failure, we reschedule.

My carrier is currently waiving all co pays for any teledoc service.

NYC Susan · ‎03-13-2010

I had a video visit with a doctor last week. I really appreciated not having to leave my house. Of course it will be submitted to insurance - I fully expected that, and it's completely appropriate.

I would do it again in a heartbeat. It wasn't ideal, of course - She couldn't take my blood pressure or look inside my throat - but it was very beneficial.

sfnative · ‎03-10-2010

@Annabellethecat66

This is not only NOT a bunch of bunk or attempting to make the kind of bucks that seem just about criminal to you, it is quite necessary to follow-up with patients, in order to provide the expected standard of care our physicians have an obligation to provide.

This is a time in history where we CANNOT hop in our cars or take a bus or taxi to our appointments. So, you tell me: What in the heck are we supposed to do???

I have a follow-up appointment with my pain management doc in a little less than 2 weeks and received a call from his office yesterday indicating that my extremely important visit (to me) would be accomplished by telephone and would be billed as an office visit. Further, if I had a problem with that policy, I could cancel.

Well, I was NOT going to cancel. Why? I'm very capable of managing a one-on-one with my doc over the phone. Further, this appointment is slated for us to begin to get the wheels going with regard to the surgical implantation of a device, which will hopefully lessen my severe chronic pain. At the appointment, he needs to know the result of my many weeks long thoughts with regards to implantation of this device and my review of literature provided.

Even if this were a F/U with my pcp or other doc, I would gladly do so by phone and have it charged to my insurance.

What I can't figure out is the level of suspicion and implied corruptness, which seems to abide within you, especially under these most challenging circumstances. I am so pleased to have my pain doc at work and not at home, foregoing any clinical responsibilities, whatsoever.

icezeus · ‎10-30-2010

I had one last month, and have had them in the past. No big deal, I prefer it to taking time off work, to go into the office for visit that can be done over the phone, or by video conference. With all that is going on, you could not pay me to go into a Doctor's Office, be pleased that your doctors offer this as an option.

tsavorite · ‎03-09-2010

I wish all doctors offered this!! Just a short while ago I called in to my gyno about a medication change (I had just had my yearly exam with her mid Dec) so I figured with this stuff just kicking off she could just talk to me via the patient portal (told me to contact her that way in the past) and make the adjustment. Well she tried to force me to come in! WHY? well to bill me for a office visit....again! I told her why I preferred to NOT come in to the office...for a simple medication change. And that I had told her everything in my email to her. She backed off and the nurse called me and then called in a script so I could try that for 90days. THen told me I must come in after that. I don't think so....90days this state will be still in lock down.

I am hoping they have gotten their act together and are doing the telemedicine stuff now for patients like me. They can still bill it...I am totally fine with that...just stop with forcing people to come up and sit in waiting rooms for hours so you can bill a office visit on something that takes less then 5mins!

Telemedicine I PRAY is the new normal of the future....I LOVE IT!!

roster · ‎10-09-2017

deepwaterdotter: even Medicare now covers telehealth/televisits. Sounds very unusual your insurance won't.

Annabellethecat66 · ‎03-12-2010

@sfnative Oh! My! Somebody's mighty upset.

I don't normally call anyone out but since you found it necessary to particularly post to me, I shall address you directly.

I'm real sorry I seem to have hit a nerve with you? I honestly don't understand why you felt it necessary to rant about my post.

I constantly hear how medicare is going to run out of money.

Young people paying into it today will never get to use it (that's what I hear...perhaps you hear otherwise).

So, I had the meeting yesterday. After a few blips here and there we finally were face to face.

It took maybe 10 minutes of conversation. She asked me my pain level (which incidentally this week has been at least a 9 due to the cases of water, cat food, etc I have to carry into my house.

But I choose to live alone and due to the situation we all are encountering, I can't have my regular people carry it inside....so I do it.

I didn't mean to infer my PA (I refer to her as a Dr but I know the difference, just easier) was in any way dishonest. If you gathered that, well, you were wrong.

The reason I most definitely prefer to go into the office is because I've had OVER 37 procedures done (mostly to my back) but some to my hands, my knees, you pretty much name it....the last one was injections of steroids under my ribs to try to calm down the large nerve that runs under the ribs. The Dr said 1 cm too deep and it would puncture my lung.

I mention that because I want you to understand many of those procedures are done during an office visit.

Some were where I'd tell her about the enormous pain and she'd full her needles up with steroids and inject them into various joints, etc. She's bent the needle trying to get the 'juice' into me.

I do not appreciate the attitude you seem to feel necessary to rant to me.

I know why it was necessary for me to not go where a lot of people are. I have an autoimmune problem.

However, this was (hopefully) a one time deal because I often need injections and unless you know something I don't, I can't get an injection over the phone. Maybe you know otherwise...if so please let me know.

I hope that I have explained ....to you...why I consider the meeting to be a waste yesterday.

I don't know what you and your Drs do. I have a hard enough time keeping track of my business.

I was specifically commenting about my particular situation.

I certainly didn't mean to infer that you, your Dr or anyone in your circle is dishonest or whatever it is you were saying.

I don't know if you ever look at the information that goes out from the meetings between Dr and patient, but mine run in the 3 and 400$ range each time. Medicare doesn't pay that amount but they are charged that amount.

I just think it would make sense if these 'visits' (for want of a better word) were discounted.

The entire medical system needs an over-haul and if you disagree on that....well..there isn't much to talk about.

SugarPuff · ‎09-20-2017

I just got back from the Dr's office. I have to get injections in my spine every 3 weeks. They cancelled my appointment last week. It was wonderful, no one in the waiting room and got right in. I will have to have another procedure done there next week too. This office is on a hospital campus and I was surprised how full the parking lots and garages were.