So if one misses a session, my pdoc's office has your charge card on file and automatically charges it for $300.
These are for 20 minute appts. So you can only be 10 minutes late or you cannot be seen. I had an appt this afternoon.
The guy I have been dating and I were eating lunch upstairs at my place and were walking back downstairs so I could go to my appt. He slipped and fell down 3/4 of my stairs while carrying 2 plates (well, now one is broken...and a glass). He was in a crazy amount of pain, and I wasn't sure what to do (he has no health insurance at this time, although his best friend is a chiropractor and his brother an ER dr, but he is a few hours away.)
Anyway, he just kept saying "OW, DAMN that hurts", etc, and cursing and trying to move his back, and inside I am FREAKING because I am thinking "Cha-ching!" $300 on my card. Which was also annoying and made me feel guilty because my thoughts should NOT have been there, but I can't afford that!
I eventually got to my appt exactly 10 minutes late. I told my pdoc what I was freaking out about, and he said that, so I knew in the future, if something happens like that and he has to go to the ER, just bring in the dr's note (WTH? ) and they won't charge my card. I explained he had no health insurance so I didn't know what he was going to do, and my pdoc was just like, "Oh." So apparently telling them what happened isn't enough not to be charged $300 for a missed 20 minute appt. Seriously?
I have not missed any appt ever and have done everything my pdoc has asked me to do, as in, tried about 15 different antidepressents that have all made me feel worse and super sick with the side effects.
I am so damn irritated right now.
And I think the sorta boyfriend is entering the whiney phase so I can't tell how bad off he really is.
The whole thing is horrible and I hate my pdoc right now.

[WikidPissah]

I would look and see how much health ins. actually pays him. Is it $300? I get the rule, I have a minimum charge rule for my clients, if I come thru their door they pay me at least 2 hrs, whether I am there 10 min or 2 hrs. You have to protect yourself.

Originally Posted by WikidPissah

I would look and see how much health ins. actually pays him. Is it $300? I get the rule, I have a minimum charge rule for my clients, if I come thru their door they pay me at least 2 hrs, whether I am there 10 min or 2 hrs. You have to protect yourself.

His initial amount billed is only $155. Which breaks down to my $25 copay, my plan pays him $72.50, and the plan discount is $57.50. So back to wth on $300?

That is just a rediculous amount of money for a twenty minute appt. I understand that ts and pdocs have to charge to protect their income but $300 . You can't justify that amount. I hope you can find a way out of this, you have a good reason to have been late

[rainbow8]

I'm sorry this happened to you!!! I think it's totally unfair and ridiculous too! I can understand being charged if you miss an appointment for no reason, but really--doesn't anyone trust people any more? Aren't pdocs supposed to have compassion, especially if it's an emergency? Pdocs charge way too much for the time they see patients, in my opinion. I know other drs. do too, but my internist gives me a lot of time for an appointment, and he wouldn't charge anything if I canceled! My Ts have had that 24 hr. notice but I know they wouldn't charge if I had a valid reason to be late or to cancel.

$300 seems like an exorbitant fee, and taking it off your credit card doesn't seem fair, either. I think my allergist has a new rule that if you don't show up, you have to pay $50! I thought that was a lot!! The receptionist says they get a lot of no shows so I can understand the reasoning, but give people the benefit of the doubt, especially if it's the first time!!!!

Originally Posted by monalisasmile

That is just a rediculous amount of money for a twenty minute appt. I understand that ts and pdocs have to charge to protect their income but $300 . You can't justify that amount. I hope you can find a way out of this, you have a good reason to have been late

Thanks so much , and I am sorry if I made anyone misunderstand...I JUST made it since I was exactly 10 minutes late, so it was ok and there was no extra fee. But I agree, the amount is not justifiable.

Originally Posted by rainbow8

I'm sorry this happened to you!!! I think it's totally unfair and ridiculous too! I can understand being charged if you miss an appointment for no reason, but really--doesn't anyone trust people any more? Aren't pdocs supposed to have compassion, especially if it's an emergency? Pdocs charge way too much for the time they see patients, in my opinion. I know other drs. do too, but my internist gives me a lot of time for an appointment, and he wouldn't charge anything if I canceled! My Ts have had that 24 hr. notice but I know they wouldn't charge if I had a valid reason to be late or to cancel.

$300 seems like an exorbitant fee, and taking it off your credit card doesn't seem fair, either. I think my allergist has a new rule that if you don't show up, you have to pay $50! I thought that was a lot!! The receptionist says they get a lot of no shows so I can understand the reasoning, but give people the benefit of the doubt, especially if it's the first time!!!!

Thanks, sorry if I was unclear, but I got there RIGHT at the 10-minute late mark so I just made it with no extra fee.
I agree about compassion and hey, how about benefit of the doubt at least once, esp. for a 20-minute appt??
Plus with a pdoc you know some people who are having terrible issues have to go there for appts and probably have trouble with such things, so it seems to me like taking advantage of the situation...esp. since my dr. never made that much money when I DID show up.
I'm not sure how to justify this in the future (in my head as being "ok")...I am filing for disability very soon so it's a terrible time to switch pdocs; I just can't right now. Sigh.
And I think another dr. of mine has that 50$ rule, but now I can't remember which...

[sunrise]

Originally Posted by sorta_fairytale

His initial amount billed is only $155. Which breaks down to my $25 copay, my plan pays him $72.50, and the plan discount is $57.50. So back to wth on $300?

Can you ask him? That seems outrageous to charge so much more than his regular fee. It would bug me if he doubled his fee like that--it almost feels like a kind of punishment. And kind of insulting that he would make you bring a doctor's note to excuse an emergency instead of just believing you. On the other hand, I work in community mental health that serves patients on Medicaid/Medicare, and we cannot charge people for not showing up. As a result, they don't show up frequently! Every day there are at least a couple of no shows per provider.

This is a separate issue, but FWIW, I don't give my credit card number to any of my providers. They bill me and I pay by check. That doesn't change the fact of owing for a missed appointment, but at least one doesn't feel so helpless to have unauthorized charges made to the card. With a check, at least you control when you pay the bill and can wait until the end of the billing cycle, etc. Also, my providers' billing people make mistakes all the time. I don't want to pay until I see the bill in my hand and make sure it is correct. If they just went ahead and charged my card, there would be times I am paying them money that is not due to them. Also, I tend not to share my credit card number with too many merchants for identity theft precautions. A doctor does not need to have a person's credit card number on file. None of my health care providers has ever asked for a credit card number.

[A Red Panda]

I can understand if you had to pay whatever the fee is if someone had been to the appointment.. and not charging them less due to not showing.

But to charge MORE money than what the actual appointment costs? That's ridiculous.

[healingme4me]

Did you ever have to sign a form, when you signed up to go there, saying that this is their cancellation policy and you agree to it?

The cancellation fee, to not just my Pdoc's office, but all my other drs, is the price of the co-pay. Same day, can be 'rescheduled' to avoid that fee.

And charging your cc, immediately?! That's suspect, at best. I receive bills, in the mail, if that happens, is that even legal, to charge your cc?

[Perna]

It sounds to me like your pdoc and his office want you to show up

I would not pay a whole lot of attention to the $300 charge, it's a little like the car insurance "vanishing deductible" you get for not having an accident; you only pay the deductible if you have an accident so having $100 subtracted from nothing does not cost them anything but sounds good; they just have to charge you a mere $8.50 more a month than the other guys (and there's really no way to "compare" rates one company to the other, the rates are based on the individual company's experience with accidents in your neighborhood; one company may have a lot of people who drive poorly in your neighborhood whereas another company may have fewer, so not have to spend as much money) and they'd get their "vanishing deductible" back if you had an accident. If you get your deductible down to "zero" they'd still keep collecting the extra $8.50 so. . .

Don't be late and/or call and cancel/change appointments appropriately or get notes for legitimate excuses (many people have to get notes from doctors for their work, "prove" they are sick) and it becomes a non-issue. If you don't like the thought of it, find another doctor whose policies you prefer? I don't think the amount is that ridiculous; when they see you, they are prepared to see you; if you do not show up they still have to pay their staff who will, presumably, be doing "nothing" and reorient their schedule, etc. It would be an additional handicap to them, causing work for "nothing".

Originally Posted by healingme4me

Did you ever have to sign a form, when you signed up to go there, saying that this is their cancellation policy and you agree to it?

The cancellation fee, to not just my Pdoc's office, but all my other drs, is the price of the co-pay. Same day, can be 'rescheduled' to avoid that fee.

And charging your cc, immediately?! That's suspect, at best. I receive bills, in the mail, if that happens, is that even legal, to charge your cc?

Thanks for your response. Probably...I am sure it was one in many of the forms (I have been seeing him for years so I don't remember exactly), and I just did it without thinking much about it....something I won't ever do again.

I do know you have to give 24 hours notice to cancel, but that is the same with all my drs. I have never missed ANY drs appt before, except for one (not a T or pdoc) where 1-40 was closed in both directions for an entire afternoon/evening due to a horrible accident...I did not get a bill for that appt. because without a helicopter on hand, I never could have gotten there.

I assume it must be legal once you give them your card number...I do remember it being the first thing they asked me for when I scheduled my first appt (I remember that much), gently explaining they keep it on file should I miss an appt, and then they will just charge it.

[iGottaBme]

More providers, doctors, dentists, etc. are asking for a credit card up front and will charge it in the event that you fail to show.

It is difficult to find a psychiatrist who is accepting new patients. The exorbinant fee may be charged because the doctor has a waiting list and he could have accomodated someone else if he had known that you would be late or fail to show. The Pdoc can charge whatever he wants since no shows are not covered by insurance. The contract with your insurance company does not come in to play so he does not have to consider the contracted price.

I think that it is reasonable for your Pdoc to ask for a note from the doctor stating that you were there with your boyfriend. There is no reason not to get it if you are already there.

I have been in this spot and called immediately to say what happened and let them know that I was going to be a few minutes late and could they still accomodate me without an extra charge. I haven't been denied yet.

It is a business and they have to have a policy in place because there are people who take advantage. Even though that isn't the situation with you, your Pdoc has to have a formal policy in place.

Originally Posted by sunrise

Can you ask him? That seems outrageous to charge so much more than his regular fee. It would bug me if he doubled his fee like that--it almost feels like a kind of punishment. And kind of insulting that he would make you bring a doctor's note to excuse an emergency instead of just believing you. On the other hand, I work in community mental health that serves patients on Medicaid/Medicare, and we cannot charge people for not showing up. As a result, they don't show up frequently! Every day there are at least a couple of no shows per provider.

This is a separate issue, but FWIW, I don't give my credit card number to any of my providers. They bill me and I pay by check. That doesn't change the fact of owing for a missed appointment, but at least one doesn't feel so helpless to have unauthorized charges made to the card. With a check, at least you control when you pay the bill and can wait until the end of the billing cycle, etc. Also, my providers' billing people make mistakes all the time. I don't want to pay until I see the bill in my hand and make sure it is correct. If they just went ahead and charged my card, there would be times I am paying them money that is not due to them. Also, I tend not to share my credit card number with too many merchants for identity theft precautions. A doctor does not need to have a person's credit card number on file. None of my health care providers has ever asked for a credit card number.

I can certainly ask him. And yes I feel both punished and insulted at the idea of being charged DOUBLE and then the idea of needing a dr's note, like I am a little kid. Both good words. And I do understand completely the idea that people don't show up and they need to collect somehow or else their time is wasted.

As for the credit card number, it's also part of their office policy to keep your CC# on hand in case you cancel....it's the first thing they asked for when I made an appt. At the time I was just desperate for an appt...now I would NOT do it, so I completely agree with your analysis. I would not ever do it again but hard to fix now...I could always switch my check cards out, ha. But now I am thinking I might.

Another place recently asked for my credit card # to charge my balance to once it was determined...the place taking my blood for testing, and I refused and told them to bill me...as in the past they have liked to send me a bill before it even goes through insurance.

Thanks for your response!

Originally Posted by iGottaBme

More providers, doctors, dentists, etc. are asking for a credit card up front and will charge it in the event that you fail to show.

It is difficult to find a psychiatrist who is accepting new patients. The exorbinant fee may be charged because the doctor has a waiting list and he could have accomodated someone else if he had known that you would be late or fail to show. The Pdoc can charge whatever he wants since no shows are not covered by insurance. The contract with your insurance company does not come in to play so he does not have to consider the contracted price.

I think that it is reasonable for your Pdoc to ask for a note from the doctor stating that you were there with your boyfriend. There is no reason not to get it if you are already there.

I have been in this spot and called immediately to say what happened and let them know that I was going to be a few minutes late and could they still accomodate me without an extra charge. I haven't been denied yet.

It is a business and they have to have a policy in place because there are people who take advantage. Even though that isn't the situation with you, your Pdoc has to have a formal policy in place.

First off, where I live there is a ridiculously large number of pdocs (even those who take my insurance) and no waiting lists...perhaps because there are tons of colleges and universities here. So your generalization is inaccurate, and it kind of made me laugh. We need LESS here, seriously.

As for his "exorbitant fee" he charges for no shows, it's ridiculous because it's DOUBLE what he charges in the first place. So I think the person/people taking advantage of a "no-show" situation is him and his office, not the person not showing up.

And I never once said my boyfriend and I went to the doctor...he was laid off and has no insurance. I was late because he was in so much pain (and he couldn't get up right away), and he was trying to figure out if he needed to be taken to the ER regardless of no insurance, a nightmare in itself.

I also did call and say I was going to be a few minutes late, but if the appt is only 20 minutes, you can only be so many minutes late before the "late fee" kicks in.

And the more I think about it, the more I agree with others...no dr is going to have my CC# on file, that is what a bill is for. I can go elsewhere if they refuse to give me an appt w/out it.

Originally Posted by Perna

It sounds to me like your pdoc and his office want you to show up

I would not pay a whole lot of attention to the $300 charge, it's a little like the car insurance "vanishing deductible" you get for not having an accident; you only pay the deductible if you have an accident so having $100 subtracted from nothing does not cost them anything but sounds good; they just have to charge you a mere $8.50 more a month than the other guys (and there's really no way to "compare" rates one company to the other, the rates are based on the individual company's experience with accidents in your neighborhood; one company may have a lot of people who drive poorly in your neighborhood whereas another company may have fewer, so not have to spend as much money) and they'd get their "vanishing deductible" back if you had an accident. If you get your deductible down to "zero" they'd still keep collecting the extra $8.50 so. . .

Don't be late and/or call and cancel/change appointments appropriately or get notes for legitimate excuses (many people have to get notes from doctors for their work, "prove" they are sick) and it becomes a non-issue. If you don't like the thought of it, find another doctor whose policies you prefer? I don't think the amount is that ridiculous; when they see you, they are prepared to see you; if you do not show up they still have to pay their staff who will, presumably, be doing "nothing" and reorient their schedule, etc. It would be an additional handicap to them, causing work for "nothing".

I rather HAVE to pay attention to the $300 threat since it could happen to me (or anyone else), let's say if I walk out one day and my car won't start, and I can't get a magic carpet to take me there.

So, right. It's only a non-issue as long as I manage to control my environment and things around me that I have no control over. That makes good sense.

And I would find another dr. but I need his notes for my disability claim...or else I would be out of there. But I have been seeing him for awhile and I need his support.

The $300 amount is ridiculous because he charges half as much for me to see him. I suck at math, but I am a very logical person, and this adds up to nonsense.

[bluemountains]

Because of a new insurance plan, I now have to pay out of pocket for my pdoc. I pay $150 for an appointment. I don't know where you are located, but I can't imagine that your pdoc's time costs twice as much as mine. Something sounds unethical about such a high charge for a missed appointment. Also, there is no policy of keeping a credit card on file with my pdoc's group. One time I was 30 minutes late due to traffic problems. I called en route and the office staff was very nice, telling me to get there when I could. The practice you deal with sounds very impersonal. I am sorry that you deal with this!
Bluemountains

Originally Posted by bluemountains

Because of a new insurance plan, I now have to pay out of pocket for my pdoc. I pay $150 for an appointment. I don't know where you are located, but I can't imagine that your pdoc's time costs twice as much as mine. Something sounds unethical about such a high charge for a missed appointment. Also, there is no policy of keeping a credit card on file with my pdoc's group. One time I was 30 minutes late due to traffic problems. I called en route and the office staff was very nice, telling me to get there when I could. The practice you deal with sounds very impersonal. I am sorry that you deal with this!
Bluemountains

Yikes, I am sorry you have to pay so much out-of-pocket. And somehow I don't think my pdoc is twice as good as yours, ha ...he is quite young actually, younger than I am, which I am not so sure about since he keeps prescribing me drug after drug that I can't handle because of the side effects.
Anyway, I talked to my therapist this afternoon (well, 1 of 2 Ts I see) and told him about the charge amt and how they charge your card STAT, and he was like "Whoa!" HE said he had never heard of such a high fee for a missed appt either...and he thought I should get a new check card as well so they can't do that to me even if I am late. He was very supportive. Come to think of it, my pdoc's office is rather cold now that you mention it. Thanks for your support and kind post!