I really don't want to write this diary, but since I shared my stupid doctor/insurance problem previously here, and was given some advice, I thought I'd update what resulted.
Briefly, I called to make a gyn appt and was refused BY THE DOCTOR because my husband has an outstanding disputed amount with his eye doctor. (a whopping $162.00) The billing dept insisted it was the doctor's decision not to see me, NOT the clinic's practice. I posted a comment here and some offered that I should contact the state Med Board. So I did.
This week I received a reply that the doctor was NOT the one to refuse me service, but the clinic. Since they don't handle that type of dispute, they can't help me.
Today, I called back my gyn to try again. Her sec had the Risk Manager call me back to say the doctor will never see me again because I hurt her feelings by filing a complaint with the state med board. (Boo 'effin hoo, How does she think I feel being refused medical care because of someone else's bill?) Since that's her livelihood, I should have tried other avenues like calling the clinic manager before filing a complaint with state. I asked how was I supossed to know who to call when her co-worker told me it was the doctor who refused me service (a lie). She basically said too bad, SHE would have done it differently, and because I did this, I am out of luck now. She told me to look in the yellow pages to find a new doctor.
I called the doctor back and left a message that I was sorry I hurt her feelings but I wouldn't have called the state med board of the lacky in billing didn't LIE to me.
So now, I'm gyn shopping.
So, I just wanted to let y'all know that despite the Hypocratic Oath, some doctors are just as bad as the profits before people insurance scam companies.
Good luck to all of us.
OBAMA '08 - can't come soon enough.