billing doctor for making you wait

[lazysundays]

www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/06/30/time.worth.money.cohen/

apparently people do it, and get $ back. Have you tried this?

[zibazinski]

That's why offices collect co-pays now because people will get mad and leave. I told DF to make sure his insurance company wasn't billed and I waited right there and made sure they credited back the charge they put on his cc for the co-pay. They were NOT happy but they also flat out lied and said the doctor was there(which he wasn't)and that he was only running a "little behind." We waited 45 minutes then I trurned into a shrew, a loud one. The doctor himself called and apologized. I hope DF told him to F OFF!!!

[JustLurkin]

My doctors never rush me during a visit, answer all my questions, and have even taken out picture books to show me things.

My last doctor visit involved my doctor calling another doctor of mine, having a conversation with her, explaining the conversation to me and reviewing treatment.

My doctors have even taken my phone calls over the years.

I don't mind the wait--sometimes I'm the cause of the wait.

[zibazinski]

As long as your doctor realizes there's an issue and schedules you accordingly, I have no issue with it. I have an issue with staff being told to lie and to collect the copay so that patients will sit there for hours because someone who thinks they are GOD keeps you waiting.

[achelois]

We had a patient in the holding area, scheduled and waiting for elective surgery, when the patient's surgeon was needed to assist in a trauma case that was wheeled into the OR. The patient was told this and told that we did not know how long the delay would be.


Patient ranted and cursed at the nurses, but waited. Eventually, patient's surgeon finishes his part in the trauma case and comes to see the elective patient, apologizes for the wait, again explaining it was an emergency.

Patient yells and curses at the surgeon, says he doesn't care about the an emergency or if the emergency patient had died--he stated out loud that he only cared about himself and his family and that the surgeon had made them wait two extra hours.

The surgeon turned around, walked away and canceled the surgery on the elective patient.

[Gardening Grandma]

Jul 2, 2011 8:58:51 GMT -5 achelois said:

We had a patient in the holding area, scheduled and waiting for elective surgery, when the patient's surgeon was needed to assist in a trauma case that was wheeled into the OR. The patient was told this and told that we did not know how long the delay would be.


Patient ranted and cursed at the nurses, but waited. Eventually, patient's surgeon finishes his part in the trauma case and comes to see the elective patient, apologizes for the wait, again explaining it was an emergency.

Patient yells and curses at the surgeon, says he doesn't care about the an emergency or if the emergency patient had died--he stated out loud that he only cared about himself and his family and that the surgeon had made them wait two extra hours.

The surgeon turned around, walked away and canceled the surgery on the elective patient.

Love it!

[zibazinski]

I think most people realize there are emergencies and if told that there is one, can re-adjust THEIR schedules accordingly. Being lied to and with that the implication that your time isn't as valuable as their time is the issue.

[TheOtherMe]

I understand emergencies, but a doctor I used to go to almost always kept me waiting for a minimum of 2 hours. Oh how I wish I had billed him as they had the policy of charging if you didn't cancel within 24 hours.

[Deleted]

Personally, it depends on the situation, is it the normal business practice, etc.

My Dentist was late by 30-40 minutes one time, apologized and it was a 1 time oddity. Ironically, after that she realizes I can show up on-time for the 1st visit and seems to keep offering those to me. Never was a problem before, never was after. So professionalism is to just accept the apology.

I hate when the staff already knows things are delayed and don't either tell you when you check in, or don't call you when it is going to be longer than 1 hour. This is just good customer service.

[zibazinski]

They are told not to because then people will cancel/reschedule and that is not what a doctor wants.

[busymom]

If I had a dollar for every 15 minutes I've had to wait for a doctor to see me, I could retire by now.


My record wait was 4 hours in the ER, after I'd gotten a "room". Stupid ER had only one doctor, and 2 heart attacks. So, of course I had to wait. I was in a tremendous amount of pain, but they wouldn't give me any painkillers until the doctor could see me. Turns out I needed emergency surgery, and my surgeon told me later I could've died.

How about trying something radical like additional staffing, rather than "minimal" staffing?

[Deleted]

Can I bill my HAIRDRESSER? She constantly overbooks. An hour wait (or more) is nothing. I actually hate going to her . . .

Except she does give incredible $20 haircuts including blowouts. You look awesome when she is finished.

But still the wait drives me nuts.

[zibazinski]

Show up an hour late?

[The Home 6]

The last two times I have had to take my younger daughter to her doctor in Atlanta~total nightmare. We live about a 2 hour drive away, factoring in the traffic, one way. Last time we went, I had put my older daughter in the day care, so I could focus more on DD2. When we walked into the waiting room, it was PACKED. One lady said that she had been in the waiting room for 2 hours already past her appointment time. I didn't even bother to wait, just went up to the front desk and told them I would have to change the appointment. To 3 months in the future. And it's not an ER or anything, it's a daggone PLASTIC SURGEON!

What a waste of 4 hours of my time.

[zibazinski]

I would tell you to call ahead but staff lies.

[xia]

Jul 2, 2011 8:58:51 GMT -5 achelois said:

We had a patient in the holding area, scheduled and waiting for elective surgery, when the patient's surgeon was needed to assist in a trauma case that was wheeled into the OR. The patient was told this and told that we did not know how long the delay would be.


Patient ranted and cursed at the nurses, but waited. Eventually, patient's surgeon finishes his part in the trauma case and comes to see the elective patient, apologizes for the wait, again explaining it was an emergency.

Patient yells and curses at the surgeon, says he doesn't care about the an emergency or if the emergency patient had died--he stated out loud that he only cared about himself and his family and that the surgeon had made them wait two extra hours.

The surgeon turned around, walked away and canceled the surgery on the elective patient.

Ouch! That person was not only rude but must have been legally insane. There’s no way in bloody hell I would purposely try to piss off a guy who’s just about to wield sharp instrument on my body. Talking about tempting the fates lol

As for overbooking, hate it hate it hate it and will walk out after 30 mins of wait maximum. But instead of raving like a lunatic I will just politely let the receptionist know I had other arrangements and to reschedule to time the doc will be able to actually see me. No one tried to charge me for doing it yet and in all honesty I’ve only had to do that about 3 times in my life.

[zibazinski]

They charge you the co-pay the instant you sign in. I make DF put it on CC so we can not pay it if we leave. Also, to call his insurance company to make sure they are not billed for an office visit.

[cpadvisor]

Jul 4, 2011 18:56:52 GMT -5 @southernsusana said:

Can I bill my HAIRDRESSER? She constantly overbooks. An hour wait (or more) is nothing. I actually hate going to her . . .

Except she does give incredible $20 haircuts including blowouts. You look awesome when she is finished.

But still the wait drives me nuts.

I see why she's so busy. Tell her to raise her prices... work half as much and make the same money.....hmmmmmmm

[hockeygrl]

The first time I saw my back surgeon, he kept me waiting for 2 hours in the waiting room. I was so desperately in pain I waited, because he was the only one who would schedule an appointment so quickly after I had called around. I politely explained to him that, while I was not a Dr, my time was valuable and I would appreciate it if he would not keep me waiting so long next time. Every subsequent appointment, I waited a max of 15 minutes.

I was sooo happy with his care and the results of surgery that I recommended him to three people (including my MOM). I advised everyone that they would probably have to wait a long time on their first visit, but the quality of care was worth it. Sometimes, good things come to those who wait.

[zibazinski]

Amen to that. 10 LONG years.....

[8 Bit WWBG]

I was kept waiting 45 minutes by a doctor recently, and even the receptionist said "I don't know WHY he schedules appointments so early when he's never here".

The ONLY reasons I did not send him a bill (and I would have done it, and hired a collection agency if he hadn't paid) was because when he finally did show up, he was attentive and didn't rush me -- and the appointment was $0.00 out of pocket for me anyway.

But I'm glad to hear this is becoming more established, and I will do it.