Is paperwork required when seeing the doctor?

[nidena]

I recently started seeing a counselor and they haven't required me to fill out any paperwork -- flag #1
Before my second appt on Wed, they called me, asking if I had a cell phone (they had texted me before my first appt) -- flag #2
Today, they texted me, asking me if I could call them to give them my CC# (I gave them that info during the first appt) -- flag #3

Am I overthinking or would these things concern you, too?

[giramomma]

It depends. Are you doing appointments virtually or in person?

Is there recent front staff turnover?

I'm trying to think. In person, yes, we've had to do some intake forms. But, my insurance allows for 6500 worth of services a year for mental health, no questions asked. Meaning, you decide you need to see someone, you make the call and away you go.

This was also 1-2 years ago. About two years ago, I had to do intake forms. And last year, DS.

I think when I went, the first time I paid my co-pay, they didn't put my debit card on file. So I did have to provide it again, and specify that my card was to be kept on file. When I went, there was a bit of office turnover, as one of the receptionists was getting chemo treatments...so they either just went short staffed or got a substitute to fill in here and there for the time she was gone.

So, in short, if you are doing virtual appointments, AND depending on how your insurance handles mental health coverage, I would be less concerned about paperwork. If you were doing in person and depending on insurance, I'd be more concerned.

The cc thing would bother me, but I wouldn't jump to conclusions until I got the whole story.

[tskeeter]

Medical care providers are notoriously poor at business administration.  And they often do not hire administrative staff who are any better at administration than the Doc is.  I wonder if the same might be true of some mental health providers?  Great at the care but lousy at the paperwork.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

I have seen 2 new doctors....3 next week......in the age of COVID.  I have filled out no paperwork for any of them.

[oped]

Feb 12, 2021 20:42:03 GMT -5 nidena said:

I recently started seeing a counselor and they haven't required me to fill out any paperwork -- flag #1
Before my second appt on Wed, they called me, asking if I had a cell phone (they had texted me before my first appt) -- flag #2
Today, they texted me, asking me if I could call them to give them my CC# (I gave them that info during the first appt) -- flag #3

Am I overthinking or would these things concern you, too?

No. Therapists don’t have the same paperwork as say a medical doctor who might be assessing acute and chronic illness and prescribing treatment.

I started seeing someone during covid. I’ve never met him in person or been to their office. I gave them my medical card numbers and my cc number and basics like address over the phone. That’s it.

[oped]

Are you seeing a psychologist, a talk therapist... or a psychiatrist, who is a medical doctor?

My therapist works from home. He uses the company software on his computer but isn’t in office so might not have all of the same access? I don’t know it seems maybe a little odd about the phone number and cc being repeated. Some places don’t retain cc numbers though? And sometimes it takes time to get things set up smoothly. Especially in remote, fractured times.

Is the therapist helpful/ a good fit?

[resolution]

I have had two zoom doctor appointments with my regular doctor. The first appointment there was no paperwork, but the zoom thing was brand new. The second appointment was six months later and they had some e-forms I had to fill out before I could see the doctor. I have to give them my credit card number every time, because they don't keep it on file. They prefer to mail out bills but they will let me pay with the card over the phone if I call them.

[buystoys]

I had no intake paperwork when I started with my new therapist.  She asked questions and took notes.  Some of my health was covered as my pain exacerbates my emotional issues.  And vice versa.  She did ask for a list of meds I'm on.  These were/are face to face meetings.

I expect to have other things come out that will require more medical questions.  For me, it's kind of a given as medical care is tied up with one of my major PTSD events.  There's also the lack of therapy at that time which still raises it's ugly head on occasion. 

My therapist hasn't asked for payment from me yet.  I expect she's billing my insurance and will then balance bill me.  I've only seen her three times so far.  I'll probably have to cancel Monday's appointment due to the weather.  So I don't have a lot of experience to go by here.  My previous therapist collected my portion every meeting.  She didn't keep my CC on file, I presented it each time.

[TheOtherMe]

My doctor's office has never kept a credit card on file.  If I have a co-pay, when I went in person, it was expected to be made at the time of the appointment.  Now between Medicare and BCBS, I have no co-pays.

Neither my eye doctor or dentist keep my CC on file.  I would not want them too.

I have had to complete paperwork, but I haven't seen anyone in person in the age of virtual appointments.  

Most of the paperwork was financial responsibility and HIPAA

[oped]

My therapist does keep my cc on file, so do the kids’. They’ve been seeing theirs since pre-Covid. It may be different because it’s more routine? Or just because it’s a different kind of service? Might vary. This is all anecdotal.

[nidena]

They're a LMHC.  They told me on the first visit that I had a copay--which I knew about because I've seen counselors in the past, using this same insurance--but didn't charge me then even though they took down my CC info.  Yesterday's text said I owed both copays.  I'm willing to pay.  It was just odd that they didn't charge me two weeks ago.

Nobody should be using COVID as an excuse for having not adjusted their business.  It's been almost a year since the pandemic started and more than six months since Indy opened up fully.

I have an appt with a holistic chiropractor in a couple weeks and they emailed me paperwork to fill out, mostly contact info and a health profile.

I'm just used to having to fill out numerous forms, asking about my mental health history when it comes to MH providers.

[thyme4change]

Maybe ask them why they are taking the info twice? If they have a reasonable explanation, okay. If they have a super slick explanation- problem. If they stammer about with no explanation, you are where you are now - wondering if something surly is happening or you are just dealing with incompetents.