artme
31st May 2011, 08:10 PM
How many of us bother to check what and how we are charged for some medical services?
Today my wife had some calcification removed from her left shoulder.Before having this done we checked several places run by the same radiology firm to which we were referred.The prices differed quite dramatically, from $350 at one facility down to $174 at the lowest priced facility. This was for exactly the same procedure.
We chose the cheapest facility - partly due to price, partly due to convenence and partl due to timing.
When we went to pay the bill we were asked what was done and were then going to be charged for two separate procedures!! One for the injections and one for the removal of the calcification using a syringe and under the guidance of an ultrasound.
We questioned this and the staff member very graciouslty decided to check with a superior. Often the only response is a fairly assertive "Im' right and you're wrong type attitude, so this was apleasant surprise.
The chasrge was the figure we were originally quoted and the Medicare refund was over half the gap.
Now how can this confusion or lack ok knowledge arise? The two ladies who dealt with us had a manual that they consulted to find out what to charge. Doesn't this manual exist for all providers/ If it does, why were we quoted different prices for exactly the same procedure/
There are also other anomalies we have encountered in the mMedicare system.
Today my wife had some calcification removed from her left shoulder.Before having this done we checked several places run by the same radiology firm to which we were referred.The prices differed quite dramatically, from $350 at one facility down to $174 at the lowest priced facility. This was for exactly the same procedure.
We chose the cheapest facility - partly due to price, partly due to convenence and partl due to timing.
When we went to pay the bill we were asked what was done and were then going to be charged for two separate procedures!! One for the injections and one for the removal of the calcification using a syringe and under the guidance of an ultrasound.
We questioned this and the staff member very graciouslty decided to check with a superior. Often the only response is a fairly assertive "Im' right and you're wrong type attitude, so this was apleasant surprise.
The chasrge was the figure we were originally quoted and the Medicare refund was over half the gap.
Now how can this confusion or lack ok knowledge arise? The two ladies who dealt with us had a manual that they consulted to find out what to charge. Doesn't this manual exist for all providers/ If it does, why were we quoted different prices for exactly the same procedure/
There are also other anomalies we have encountered in the mMedicare system.