General Medical issues thread

[cove]

My SIL is working on a hospital debtors list and she was pretty surprised that many did not pay up quickly. Our family pays professional services immediately as you never know when you might need that professional some time in the future. I wouldn't dream of leaving a surgeon or anaesthetist waiting as you might need them in the future.

 

[Pushka]

I did query an anesthetist bill recently as the health insurance company said that his bill would be covered in full as he was a preferred provider. But it wasn't by a stretch. The other specialist bills - no gap after Medicare and Health Fund. When I contacted them their response was along the lines - 'were you happy with the service?' Where do you go with that?

 

[cove]

Enjoy your return to better health and pay the bill is what I would do. If you can end up with 30,000 plus days of good health it is worth investing in making it happen.

 

[KitKat]

Had my pre-surgery appointment today. I'm expected to pay the full amount upfront now and claim it back from my health insurance after. They seem to assume that everyone can find multiple thousands at the drop of a hat

Not unreasonable to shop around if you have time but may end up paying for another consultation.
Just because you pay more does not mean that you would get a better service/more experience etc....

I know someone who charged a lot more than his colleagues because....drum roll.....he only worked two days a week!

 

[Princess Fiona]

Interesting offer:

View attachment 83257

For bookings up until 31 Jan 17 for flights up to 11 months in advance

Yeah that came out last year I think. Never used it myself but does look like it's worth pursuing.

 

[Princess Fiona]

That is true. I guess I consider it non-elective as I would like to regain full use of my nose. I only have one functional nostril currently. In medicare terms, its considered "medically necessary" which doenst really sound elective to me.

It's elective in medical terms. Only other categories are Emergency or Cosmetic and isn't either of those.

 

[Quickstatus]

I did query an anesthetist bill recently as the health insurance company said that his bill would be covered in full as he was a preferred provider. But it wasn't by a stretch. The other specialist bills - no gap after Medicare and Health Fund. When I contacted them their response was along the lines - 'were you happy with the service?' Where do you go with that?

Anaesthetist billing philosophy:
1) Going to sleep is free.
2)Invoice is only sent if you wake up.
3) Anaesthesia is optional

 

[Quickstatus]

I did query an anesthetist bill recently as the health insurance company said that his bill would be covered in full as he was a preferred provider. But it wasn't by a stretch. The other specialist bills - no gap after Medicare and Health Fund. When I contacted them their response was along the lines - 'were you happy with the service?' Where do you go with that?

You believed an insurance company

 

[Pushka]

You believed an insurance company

Well, health insurance companies should know how their preferred providers operate. Otherwise they shouldn't be accredited as such. They were interested to hear I had a gap and I don't know if they followed it up.

Enjoy your return to better health and pay the bill is what I would do. If you can end up with 30,000 plus days of good health it is worth investing in making it happen.

Of course I did but their gap should have been stated originally. I don't much like that they felt free to charge as they wish when the rules of being a preferred provider state otherwise. And the other providers, the surgeon, did the right thing.

 

[legroom]

As in Dr can't charge a gap and then send a bulk billing invoice to Medicare

That's correct.

While some may be doing it, it is technically a breach of the Medicare rules and you could face prosecution +/- penalties etc...

 

[Pushka]

Yay. Cholesterol ratio down. Still too much LDL but HDL makes up for it. Triglycerides ok now. No statins yet

Kidney function - slightly better but still flagged and with hematuria again. Consistent.

Nothing more needed for another month when I have around 5 vials drawn before follow up with rheumatologist appt.

Carry on.

 

[Quickstatus]

In spite of all this medical interventions the mortality rate of the human race is 100%

 

[Pushka]

In spite of all this medical interventions the mortality rate of the human race is 100%

So we need to stop those pesky doctors

 

[QF WP]

Quickstatus, seems that the measured approach is common one with Drs - just wish they TOLD the patient and family. Passed on the history to a cousins wife who is a GP in Sydney and her comment was similar to yours:

A tricky one – how to treat something like this can cause some wide ranging opinions. It’s great that [name] is getting better and the stone isn’t in their duct anymore, but of course it is nail biting as to whether it will happen again and when. Surgery is not without it’s risks, esp with a stone this size, so most doctors usually err on the side of conservative treatment initially (as per your doctor friend). {That would be you Quickstatus }

Lots of love to [name]. I’d probably get a 2nd opinion, though it will probably be a different opinion!

Okay, hasten slowly time

 

[drron]

So we need to stop those pesky doctors

It is the same with or without doctors.
guess I must not be needed.

 

[Pushka]

It is the same with or without doctors.
guess I must not be needed.

We need you to keep writing your trip reports!

 

[Quickstatus]

So we need to stop those pesky doctors

The medical merry-go-round. Hop on and never get off even if you want to!

 

[Quickstatus]

Quickstatus, seems that the measured approach is common one with Drs - just wish they TOLD the patient and family. Passed on the history to a cousins wife who is a GP in Sydney and her comment was similar to yours:



Okay, hasten slowly time

Never underestimate the body to heal itself. Medical intervention mostly is to assist the body in this process but in doing so interferes with the body's own processes.

I think this is where medicine is an Art as well. Requires insightful understanding of patient, their circumstances, their disease, the disease natural history etc etc.

Thats why a lot of Drs are up in arms about the chemotherapy underdosage saga. Its not all about a mathemetical model.

But totally agree. Its the patient's journey. Explain the junctions, turnoffs, distractions and potential pitfalls along the way. Sort of like a rally car navigator where the patient is the driver.

 

[blackcat20]

Not unreasonable to shop around if you have time but may end up paying for another consultation.
Just because you pay more does not mean that you would get a better service/more experience etc....

I know someone who charged a lot more than his colleagues because....drum roll.....he only worked two days a week!

I could but I really like the surgeon and he can fit me in this year between trips, which is rather critical. It's just a little frustrating to be required to hand over so much money up front when insurance and medicare will cover most of it.

 

[Pushka]

I could but I really like the surgeon and he can fit me in this year between trips, which is rather critical. It's just a little frustrating to be required to hand over so much money up front when insurance and medicare will cover most of it.

Pay by credit card and get points? Gotta find some joy in all this