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!!
2007-01-08 03:50:38 · 5 answers · asked by mommyof3 2 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Other - General Health Care
Welcome to modern healthcare.
2007-01-08 03:54:50 · answer #1 · answered by thomas 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First question is did your son see the doctor at that visit? if he did then giving the shot should have been part of the visit.
Actually, only time we charge for the administration of an injection is when Medicare told us how we had to file a flu or pneumonia vaccine....but they did not see the doctor....chg - vaccine, chg - administration
only time we bill the low office code, or ocm (office call, minimum) is when the nurse only sees the patient but then we have gov't guidelines as to when even that is charged and documentation is required.
Don't worry, if they are doing it illegally an audit will get it and a penalty of thousands of dollars will be paid...
Most of the public don't really know the true story of what goes on in a doctors office concerning the business end of it....the insurance and government controls it...even to tell us how long a patient can be kept in a hospital. Charges have gone up to pay for all the"sue" happy people out there just waiting to get free money....but sure do smile when he gets up at 3:00 AM to go to ER for them! Be Well and Smile
2007-01-09 21:52:01 · answer #2 · answered by Gypsygrl 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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.
2007-01-08 11:58:23 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Doctors with their own practice can charge whatever fee they want. They are just the same as a retailer who can change prices at will. It's irrelevant who provides the shot. It's still the doctors business/practice. If you are unhappy, you can always find another doctor.
2007-01-08 11:56:29 · answer #4 · answered by S H 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You are in a way getting ripped off. Small doctor offices do this a lot. Are you going to the health dept. for these immu's? It is way cheap there.
2007-01-08 11:53:24 · answer #5 · answered by yoko o 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋