When it comes to medical services, most people know that they should schedule an appointment with a Doctor Near Blackburn South or other healthcare providers in order to receive treatment. However, the cost of that visit may be more than you realize. Depending on where you live and your income level, you could be faced with paying far more for the same medical services than is necessary. That’s because overcharging on doctor visits can occur at any stage of the process. From simply scheduling an appointment to billing insurance companies and patients, unscrupulous practitioners may try to profit from every visit by padding costs, over-prescribing drugs or putting patients through unnecessary tests or procedures. Here are some ways to tell if you’re being overcharged on your doctor's services:
The Prescription Is Too High
Some physicians over-prescribe controlled substances like opioids and benzodiazepines, thereby putting their patients at increased risk of overdose. Others over-prescribe non-controlled substances like antibiotics and anti-histamines, putting you and your loved ones at risk of bacterial and fungal infections. Over-prescribing any medication is a serious problem and can lead to over-medication which can have serious health consequences. A high percentage of physicians are harbingers of over-prescription, so be very on the lookout for signs that your doctor is over-compensating for a limited supply of supplies in an unbalanced patient load.
The Appointment Time Stalls
Have you ever found yourself waiting for an appointment for a routine check-up or a follow-up for a pain doctor? Chances are you’ve been assigned to a patient whose visit schedule didn’t allow for it. This is usually the case when the doctor or other healthcare provider works from an out-of-city or out-of-state location and can’t see you in your neighbourhood. Waiting times are always a concern with medical services. However, they are especially harmful when they are caused by a practitioner who is over-prescribing drugs or putting you through unnecessary tests or procedures. Wasting time waiting for a doctor to see you can be extremely stressful and can lead to miscommunication, resentment and even a delay in care.
You’re Given More Than One Choice
You may have to choose between two or three providers for a single service or procedure. In these cases, you may be given the option to choose from a variety of providers or pay a higher fee for the service or procedure that you want. Some providers will only see patients one at a time, so if you have to choose between a few appointments, you might be given the option to pay a higher fee for the privilege of having your medical services selected by a single provider. You also might be given the option to choose a preferred doctor or pay a higher fee for the privilege of seeing a particular doctor. While you should always speak with your doctor before making a medical decision, these kinds of procedures can be used as a guideline to help you decide who to see next.
The Doctor or Other Healthcare Provider Overcharges
It’s natural and understandable to be wary of doctors who overcharge. However, some practices are more sketchy than others. Practices that overcharge on doctor visits are almost inevitably going to be sketchy in another way — in terms of over-billing patients or under-billing insurance companies.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve been billed for services that you think should have been included in your visit schedule, try the following: - Ask the receptionist or other staff members if they could call the Doctor Near Seabrook or other healthcare providers who scheduled your visit and ask if they heard back from them. If they say yes and the doctor or other healthcare provider is late, you should ask why the visit was rescheduled. Be especially concerned if the receptionist or other staff members are not immediately available to help you. - If you still can’t get answers to your questions or the doctor is late in returning your call, file a complaint with the appropriate agency.
