They charge the follow-up phone call as regular visit. I don't accept that.
The story began with a urgent care visit to check my soar throat, and I was only supposed to pay the $50 copay, but they wanted to charge me $150 and told me it was for deductible. I told them my insurance plan doesn't have deductible for visit, my family and I recently visited other urgent care providers, they all only charged us $50 for visit copay. The front desk lady compromised at that time, but the clinic sent me a $100 bill 1 month later. Except failed to count my payment in, one of the most ridiculous things in the bill was the item so called "expanded problem" happened the day after I visited them, the only contact I had on that day was a follow-up phone call from them to check how it was going. Apparently they counted as a regular visit, what a smart business plan.
update on 2/28/2023(per their clinic clerk's request), I called their billing department, pointed out that they should count in my copay I paid in their clinic, they fixed this issue rightaway. Also I told them they shouldn't charge follow-up phone call, but they told me they always charge follow-up call. and the billing lady told me to call the clinic because they couldn't make any changes, and I called the clinic again, they went through all the documents and treatment I had during the visit, they found that I didn't have any exam or lab test, so they shouldn't call me at all. So they decided to take out the "expanded problem" item from the bill.
To the clinic:
I don't believe Dr shall charge the follow-up phone call which only tell patients' test result, you have your reason, but I don't accept, I will go for the one that don't charge it. it is your responsibility and obligation to inform your patients' their test results. My son's pediatrician, 70yr old, gave me his personal cell#, so I can ask him question directly about any issue or doubt, PM pediatric care's follow-up call are always free, and no non-sense argument after visits, Cohen Children Hospital's ER is the same, no BS after all. you can keep your business model, that's your thing.
