OT August Chit Chat

[agate]

It's often the office staff who are responsible, while the doctors themselves stay friendly.

Maybe the office personnel get in-service training that the doctors aren't aware of, where they learn how to identify less "profitable" patients and learn techniques of discouraging them (us).

One technique might be to say you've notified a patient of something when you haven't. It would be the employee's word against yours.

When I went to the new neurologist last fall--the one whose bill I'm working on settling--I'm almost sure I gave them my Medicaid card in addition to the Medicare and United Health Care cards. I always do that. I find it hard to believe I forgot to do that with a new doctor, and the billing procedure a question at that point.

They're telling me now that they weren't aware of my Medicaid coverage at the time. Who can say whether I showed them that card and they copied it? They could easily have copied it and "lost" it.

They don't want to send the bill to Medicaid because it's a nuisance for them. I don't see arguing with them about whether I showed them the card last October because there's no way to win that argument unless I'd had a witness with me or taken pictures.

I've heard of patients doing this--recording their conversations with their doctors, anyway.

[Howie]

I got my beer, and ate, and am just waking up. What a life. I hope TV is better tonight.....ALL night. Universal Soldier is on, and I've already lost interest in it, so I turn on the ol' laptop.

Agate, I got out my Medicare and Medicaid cards this morning, and put them in a compartment in my billfold together, so I could easily show them first thing when I signed in. I was ready!

I think I'm going to have some ice cream. I have a big tub I just opened last night. Chocolate. Then again, I might fix some coffee. These late night decisions are tough, aren't they?

Sleep well sleepyheads.

[agate]

Howie, I realize you and your doctor probably get along well enough and you wouldn't want to change, but it was mighty careless of them not to let you know about the address change.

These mistakes happen a lot. There are all too many people who are doing slipshod work, and it's usually not the doctor who is at fault but some idiot in the office.

By all means, chocolate ice cream.

[SuzE-Q]

Will you be charged for the appointment as a no-show, Howie, if you actually were listed as having an appointment with him and not cancelling it?

That is really careless, IMO, not to be certain to let people who have appointments know that the doctor has relocated!

Despite being low on funds, sounds like you've got enough supplies for yourself, Howie!

Glad you are enjoying having some creative juices flowing, Virginia, your ideas sound wonderful! It's a nice way to spend time lost in your imagination!

[stillstANNding]

On the Cape! Not there yet, about one more hour. ;-)

The grocery store we stop at on the way was so cold I was turning purple. I never thought I'd ever me too air-conditioned.
ANN

[Howie]

I called them when I saw they had moved, and I had returned home, and made another appointment. I was never told they had moved, and they knew it. So we will see how it goes when I do see them.

My sister is probably going to take me. She has GPS, and already told me it's no problem. Once I go, I will know how to get there. It's Thursday, the 31st. And Friday will be payday thank goodness.


Hi Ann!!!

[Virginia]

Howie, sorry about your appointment being messed up by the Doctor's office. Like Vicky I have gotten to an appointment and been told I didn't have one, when I knew darn well I did. I have also gotten to an appointment and found the office closed for the day without being notified, and I had an occasion where I showed up only to be told the Doctor had taken the day off. Now why didn't they tell me?

Nuthatch, love that site. That is where I have been ordering from. I ordered a new rug for my foyer and liked it so much I decided I would get a short runner for the hall to match, but found they didn't make the size I want. I can get one that will fit, but will cover much more of the floor than I want to cover. I also ordered knobs for my kitchen. They came yesterday and I put them on last night. I like them. I have a 5 ft round area rug for living room ordered. I ordered it on 8/13, and it still has not shipped, so I am disappointed. They are selling it for an individual. The thing about that site is you can get hung up and spend hours on there. I love it. Thanks for mentioning it.

Suze-Q, it is fun to think of different things to do to the house, but I have to try and stay within a budget so I am trying to be careful with
my imagination.

Ann, you and Peter are so good to MILs. It is a joy to see two people like you. I hope both of you have a great time at the Cape. I was only there one time for a week, but it was very nice except that it was during tourist season and traffic was heavy.

Howie, please eat some chocolate ice cream. Sooooo much better than coffee!!!!

Jendie, I am glad you can make a fun day of going to the Doctor in Seattle. As long as you can do that, it might turn out to be really good thing. Eating at a special restaurant and shopping some would make for a nice day trip.

Agate, do you not keep your Medicaid cards for a couple of years after they expire. If so, if anyone has a copy machine close by you maybe you could make a copy a send it to them.

[Howie]

I scream, you scream, we all scream, for ice cream....choc..o..late!

[agate]

Agate, do you not keep your Medicaid cards for a couple of years after they expire. If so, if anyone has a copy machine close by you maybe you could make a copy a send it to them.

My Medicaid "card" is actually a piece of paper I was issued 8 years ago. It doesn't expire so long as I'm still eligible. It was getting so ragged that I cut it into a card size and fixed it so it looks like a card, and I keep it with other cards.

I've given the doctor's office my Medicaid number, and that's usually good enough. In this case I'm in trouble because I didn't know I had to have pre-authorization by the PCP because the neuro was out of network.

It says on the denial document I got that he's in network but that's not what everyone else has been saying. The health system is much too complicated for somebody with a shrunken brain.

I've made an appointment with the in-network neuro and asked for a copy of my records from the neuro who may be in network but is probably out of network.

[Virginia]

I am sorry this is happening Agate. I went to the NP at my Neurologist on the 17th of this month and a thyroid test was done. I got a notification that it was ready, but have been unable to access it from my patient portal. I have notified two different people and still do not have the information. Anyway, I can kind of empathize with you. It is driving me crazy. I had to sign a paper that I might owe $182.00 due to the fact that this test is not authorized for my condition. I have never had to do that before. They have checked my thyroid every time because the Rebif I am on can cause thyroid problems.

[agate]

That's the kind of thing, Virginia, that drives me up the wall. There's always some little rule hidden somewhere in the insurance world's rules, and suddenly you get hit with a big bill you weren't expecting.

It might take a special letter from your doctor to get your thyroid test authorized.

Insurance companies are unhappy every time it looks as if they might have to pay something out. They probably realize that if they require enough red tape and paperwork, patients and their doctors are going to give up.

I hope they'll straighten this out for you.

[stillstANNding]

Officially on vacation. We watched the sun set in the bay.

Relaxing to Miles Davis.

[Virginia]

Have a great vacation.

[Sunshine]

I went over to msworld to learn more about swallow problems and I am surprised at how inactive the forum has become compared to before?

[Howie]

I'm surprised at how inactive THIS forum has become compared to how it used to be. I guess many are looking for info, find what they are looking for and gone.

There was one new poster here recently, posted once. Everyone here welcomed them and had good, supportive things to say to them. Everyone but me. I KNEW we would never see them again. Had they returned, I would have posted a reply, but I never had to.

I like this forum as a place to socialize, and share our ups and downs, and maybe a laugh or two. I love every one that shares here. We all fight the good fight by being normal, and not letting MS run our lives. I thank you all.