Doctor charging a fee for giving a shot?

Question

I noticed on the bill that I received from my sons Dr. that she charges a fee for injecting the shot ALONG with the fee for the immunization itself. The fee for poking him with the needle is $30.00 for one kind of immunization injection and $20.00 each for the other 2 injections. These injections were normal immunizations for his 15 month check-up. Is this fee a normal fee or am I getting ripped off? The doctor doesn't even give the dang shot, the nurse does!!

Answer 1

true about who gives it but they still always charge a fee for the actual stick and for the med.

Now we know why doctors make such good money.

Answer 2

If he's billing it to the insurance, that's perfectly acceptable, because they're entitled to the additional fee from the insurance company. If he's billing YOU for it, that's not right. If you're getting billed for the administration fee, call the doctor's office and ask if they can reduce the fee because you're paying for it on your own. (Often, they can cut the fee down - insurance companies only pay about half of it anyway.)

And primary care doctors don't make great money - only about fifty cents on the dollar for what they charge. That doesn't count for paying for supplies (vaccines cost an average of $50 a dose.) or his staff or his office or anything else.

Answer 3

Yep, that's all part of the charge they call the "office visit". Doesn't matter if the nurse gave the shot, the doctor is in charge. I'd check around and see if there are some other clinics in your city that offer free or reduced immunizations. I'm sure there probably are.

Answer 4

It's called an administration fee. Have they always charged it or did it slip through the system that you pay yourself this time? If they can't reduce it you will need to pay but you can look into getting his future shots at the community Health Department. Their vaccines are free from the state and the admin. fee can be waved if you tell them you can't pay.
The vaccines aren't $50 a dose they get them at cost and add a huge mark up.

Answer 5

At our ped office the nurse administers all shots so we don't pay a fee for the Dr on those visits. The shots and associated charges should still be partially covered by your hmo though.

If you don't see the doctor on those visits at all and they are charging your for a Dr visit then this is fraud.

Answer 6

I also just got a bill for my sons shots and imunizations too, which are FREE from the state for EVERY CHILD. I have never been billed before, and I also paid 150.00 for his 0office visit (we don't have insurance) I'm also wondering why I got billed for some thing the state offer's for free, especailly when I paid so much for his check up....I for one will not be paying this bill, and will e calling my medical group to dispute it.

Answer 7

Yeah, it's a normal fee. I agree with the previous answerer, that it's like paying for labor and materials. Sucks though.

Answer 8

yes it's normal. Think of it this way; you have your kitchen redone. You pay for labor as well as materials. You don't pay the laborer though. You pay his supervisor.

Answer 9

if you think that you are getting ripped, I hope you never need a lawyer. they even charge for the postage.

Answer 10

well with no insurance you probably r.