Not everyone has a nice paying job and/or insurance and when we don’t have one or both, are refused to be seen by anyone EXCEPT THE ER!!! When that changes and doctors have to actually, oh my gosh, DO THEIR JOBS WITHOUT WORRYING ONLY ABOUT THE ALMIGHTY, F$%^ING DOLLAR, THIS WILL CHANGE!!!

Stop assuming just because you can’t find the problem that it is all in the person’s head, especially when that person is female. Maybe you’re just a shitty doctor!

I spent several weeks in a “rehab center” after leaving the hospital. I got billed $1,600 from a psych Dr. affiliated with the rehab center who never saw me. The bills from the “rehab Doc” who came 2x/week but billed daily were bad enough, but this one I fought. Ended up having to pay it.

All told, even though I had a top-tier BCBS insurance plan, I was out of pocket to the tune of about $40k for that accident by the time all parties got their piece.

This, added to lost wages, was the biggest reason I was forced back to work (AMA) after only 5 weeks of the 6-12 MONTHS I was told to expect for a rehab period. I simply had no choice.

Reading about all these deadbeats just makes my blood boil, because I know most of “my expenses” really went to cover the costs incurred by people who abuse the system.

DD

Obviously, the surgeon who saved my leg also handled all of my follow-up care. Imagine my shock when the “out of network” bills came in for all the surgery, Not for anything else, just the surgery.

Apparently he had 2 different provider numbers, one “in network” and one out. He’d use the “out” one for expensive stuff when he didn’t want to accept the cut-rate from being “in network.”

I later learned that my wife had paid several thousand dollars of this while I was laid up. I raised 9 kinds of hell with the insurance company, and they later told me what he’d done, but I never did get back the $$ I was cheated out of.

I say “cheated” for a good reason… When he agreed to be “in network” he also agreed to accept their pay scale. To manipulate things as he did is fraud, or at least breach of contract. He was listed by name and address as “in network” yet billing “out of network” when it pleased/profited him to do so. Fraud.

Further, he never informed me of this until the bills were sent — until I got the bills I was under the impression all of it was “in network.”

I am grateful — he really did save my leg when a lesser Doc may have ended up amputating it. This is the only reason I didn’t sue him over his fraud. As it is, I know he won’t be doing this to anyone else, and I’ve been lucky enough to find another, more honest surgeon.

I’m also willing (eager, actually) to be educated, so if I have misread any of this please let me know.

Thanks!

Alan

I’ve been getting billed (originally typo’d as “bilked” which fits just as well) by a paediatrician who supposedly was present when my son was born 16 months ago. Problem is, 1. I was there and I don’t remember seeing him, 2. a different paediatrician, also on staff at that hospital, actually was following my son in hospital until he was discharged, and 3. unlike the doctor in item 2, the first doctor’s name appears nowhere in the chart… of course the insurance is refusing to pay for two paediatricians, as well they ought, so he’s coming to me for his $489. Now what?

They are the ones that have had multiple workups done, not seen the doctors they were told to followup with, and still come back to the ER (4 times or more per month for years. THESE are the ones that are drug seekers.

Did the adenoymosis patient who probably had negative ER labs/ct’s….followup with the gynecologist for ongoing undetermined pelvic pain? Or decide to come to the ER 8 times in a month instead

Did the retinal artery stroke (I’m assuming you meant retinal artery occlusion) patient who had symptoms for MONTHS every see her PMD or a neurologist? This condition doesn’t “usually” cause headaches anyway. Also, treatment for this is for the most part futile if it’s been going for more than 2-12 hours. Months? MRI/LP would show any other dangerous things. If pt has persistant symptoms, they are told to followup with PMD and/or neurologist. When they don’t do that but still keep coming to the ER—They are a drug seeker.

PID patient: shouldn’t have “chronic pain”. Have pelvic pain. Get examined, get pelvic exam, get cultures done, maybe a sonogram. If cultures are negative and sono is fine. She doesn’t have PID or infection. Still having chronic pelvic pain. See your gynecologist. WHen she doesn’t but still keeps coming to the ER—drug seeker.

Just my thoughts.
(I am stunned and amazed at those who seem to have sympathy for drug seekers. Sure there are many many people that have real pain syndromes. Sure everyone has heard of a story of a “drug seeker” being “neglected” and having a bad outcome. One of the first things I leared in residency was “drug seekers get sick too”. I always think of that with EVERY single drug seeker—–but to be honest—-MOST of them are just seeking narcotics to get their high or to sell them. It’s an unfortunate truth to current day medicine.

Happened all the time.