Doctors WTF?

[007]

My son broke his foot last month playing football. We just started seeing some of the bills for this. One of them in particular was the bill for the orthopedic surgeon who DID NOT perform a surgery. This bill lists $58.75 for the office visit and $1695 for a surgery that was never done. They never invaded his skin. Not even for shot. All he did was look at his foot take an xray and put a walking boot on. WTF!!!???

[Chiefshrink]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

If mememe slithers out here, it's on you.

You started it!!

[DanT]

Originally Posted by Guru

And this is on top of an ER bill that was only $851. The ER did more than this doctor did and charged less.

My colleagues and I just published a study on the wide variation in compensation among various physician specialties. The orthopedic surgeons are among the most lucratively paid, while primary care doctors and many other specialists make quite a bit less on average.

Here's a link with more details on our article:
http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/welcome...ician_pay.html

Part of the differences in pay have to do with decisions made by a little-known group that advises Medicare on how much they should pay for various procedures and services. An interesting story on that group can be found here:
http://www.publicintegrity.org/articles/entry/2571/

[007]

Originally Posted by DanT

My colleagues and I just published a study on the wide variation in compensation among various physician specialties. The orthopedic surgeons are among the most lucratively paid, while primary care doctors and many other specialists make quite a bit less on average.

Here's a link with more details on our article:
http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/welcome...ician_pay.html

Part of the differences in pay have to do with decisions made by a little-known group that advises Medicare on how much they should pay for various procedures and services. An interesting story on that group can be found here:
http://www.publicintegrity.org/articles/entry/2571/

I can understand a specialist getting more pay than a family practice physician but $1700 for 10 minutes of time? We have been to two followups with this specialist and each one of them was exactly like the first visit and the cost was only $150 each. How do you go from $1700 to $150 and do the same thing in both visits?

[Chiefs=Champions]

I had an X-ray the other day. Paid $100 and will get $68 back through my insurance...

[007]

Originally Posted by Chiefs=Good

I had an X-ray the other day. Paid $100 and will get $68 back through my insurance...

Sounds about right for an xray.

[DanT]

Originally Posted by Guru

I can understand a specialist getting more pay than a family practice physician but $1700 for 10 minutes of time? We have been to two followups with this specialist and each one of them was exactly like the first visit and the cost was only $150 each. How do you go from $1700 to $150 and do the same thing in both visits?

That's a great question. I would definitely pose it to the doctor. If you challenge it, they'll either recognize it's a mistake or they'll provide some sort of explanation as to why it isn't. Either way, you'd be in a better position to correct it through further challenges.

[Cntrygal]

When I saw an orthopedic surgeon for a consultation, that's what showed up on the bill. His office did not charge for surgery when it was just an office visit.