I need help now like asap
2006-11-23 08:35:27 · 4 answers · asked by Gregory H 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
You have to look at how long it takes the physician to fill out the insurance forms. I have seen it an hour to complete forms for claims or for authorization. The physician usually has to pull the patient's chart, review the entire history (which some patients have charts that are 2-3 inches thick), and the physician must be familiar with what procedures and/or medications have been tried for a patient's treatment. So, where does the physician "schedule" this form into his day? During office hours? He has to see patients during office hours. He could do it on lunch. Oh, yea, he is returning calls to patients, reviewing lab tests, calling or making rounds at the hospital during lunch. Before hours? That is usually the first round of hospital rounding... After office hours? He is most likely returning all of the patient's phone calls. Plus, the insurance company isn't open before and after office hours, so if he has a question on the form, he just has to wait til 8:00 next morning... Wow! No wonder the doctors are so busy! And don't forget all those other insurance forms that only take about 5 minutes to fill out.... what if they have 20 forms for the 20-30 patients they see in a day... and the hospital patients.... Whew! Glad I am not a physician! I wouldn't have the stamina!
2006-11-23 08:53:14 · answer #1 · answered by pagliinaz 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't see how this can be unethical. As anything else, a doctor's office is a place of business and may charge as it pleases since you have a choice of going somewhere else.
On the other hand, if this was not made known to you before the service was provided, unless this is a customary charge in your community, the doctor should have informed you of the additional fees.
I don't however see how charging a fee where you can receive the same service for free elsewhere is good for business.
IMHP - Go to a different doctor.
good luck
2006-11-23 08:46:56 · answer #2 · answered by mk3 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it's legal, and I would say yes, it's ethical. as much as patients hate to think of it, doctors don't practice medicine for free. I've known many people who were banned from seeing their family physician because they owed too much for past visits.
2006-11-23 08:43:58 · answer #3 · answered by cirque de lune 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes.... nothing is free...
2006-11-23 09:17:37 · answer #4 · answered by lordkelvin 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋