Beware 441 Urgent Care

[paulat585]

I was sent by my PCP for stat bloodwork on Friday. Went to 441 Urgent Care at Buffalo Ridge. The provider told me to go to their office on Old Camp Rd. today to pick up the results. When I got there, they wanted to charge me a 2nd $40 copay for the provider to "review the results with me." They would fax the results to my PCP for free. I chose the latter and walked out.

[queasy27]

Convenience comes at a cost! I was at 441 for an infection recently and they wanted me to come in 3 days in a row for a shot of antibiotics. Yep, a new co-pay each time.

They were new visits so I can't really complain, but it does balance out the benefits of walk-in service and a 5 minute wait.

[Schneil]

When your title said: beware, it set off alarms like they are not competent medical providers vs a billing charge. I have found 441 Urgent Care on 44 to be over and beyond qualified, capable and knowledge. The majority of their DR are have additional emergency room/trauma training. This customer has been over and beyond happy with their services.

[Koapaka]

As a retired nurse, I need to ask.....WHAT part of going to the Dr expecting lab work and than AGAIN for results do you think was unreasonable? I PROMISE you when you sign in with your Dr that ORDERED that blood work, you will be required your copay.

[coffeebean]

As a retired nurse, I need to ask.....WHAT part of going to the Dr expecting lab work and than AGAIN for results do you think was unreasonable? I PROMISE you when you sign in with your Dr that ORDERED that blood work, you will be required your copay.
I had a primary care physician here in TV (will not say his name) who ordered lab work during my visit with him. He then required me to come back to his office to discuss the results which would require another co-pay. I could easily afford to pay a second co-pay but it was principle that I should not have to do that. I told him "no thanks". I can view my results on my portal and figure out what is abnormal. If there were any abnormal results then I would consider discussing with him. Needless to say, I found another doctor who did blood work in advance of my appointment and then discusses results at that appointment........as it should be done.

[Bay Kid]

It seems fair to require to be paid for each time you visit a doctor, even to talk. They have expenses and provide a much needed service.

[bilcon]

If you are that medically qualified to interpret your own blood work, then why should you even go to a doctor. A friend's daughter just finished medical school, and she owes $275,000 in student loans accordingly to her family. I don't understand your "matter of principle" response. I would think that you would want to have a medical opinion concerning your blood work results, especially when some of the test results are abnormal.

[Debfrommaine]

As a retired nurse, I need to ask.....WHAT part of going to the Dr expecting lab work and than AGAIN for results do you think was unreasonable? I PROMISE you when you sign in with your Dr that ORDERED that blood work, you will be required your copay.

Correct.

[graciegirl]

It seems fair to require to be paid for each time you visit a doctor, even to talk. They have expenses and provide a much needed service.

I very much agree, but twice here in The Villages, for the first time in our lives we felt that two PCP Doctors had someone come in to just add to their income, such as give tests on peripheral blood vessels to all patients and have a P.A. schedule everyone for a well person interview, (paid for by medicare) Or have done in their office what had been done by an outside provider before more expertly. ( I had a Holter monitor put on me in a doctors office by a tech who was literally reading the directions and said he hadn't done this before). Four leads detached themselves from me before the 24 hour period ended and that had NOT happened before and I was very careful.

Now that we have switched to The Villages Health Care...(luckily our company insurance switched to UHC) we have none of those issues. We really respect and are grateful for the care all three of us receive.

[retiredguy123]

I was sent by my PCP for stat bloodwork on Friday. Went to 441 Urgent Care at Buffalo Ridge. The provider told me to go to their office on Old Camp Rd. today to pick up the results. When I got there, they wanted to charge me a 2nd $40 copay for the provider to "review the results with me." They would fax the results to my PCP for free. I chose the latter and walked out.
I'm confused. I read this post at least 5 times and I still don't know what happened. If you need blood work, the blood can be drawn at any lab and most doctor's offices, and the results are available online to both the patient and the doctor who wrote the order. The doctor or nurse should explain the results to the patient either by phone on in person. But, in my experience the patient is rarely charged for more then one office visit copay unless the doctor needs to see the patient more than once. And, why would any office tell a patient to come in to "pick up the results", when they can be faxed to the PCP in a minute? If your PCP felt the need for "stat" blood work, he/she should have been available to receive the results and explain them to you immediately at least with a phone call. It sounds like the PCP wanted to pass the OP off onto the urgent care office because it was a weekend. So, the urgent care office told the OP to come pick up the results, and then refused to provide them without seeing a doctor and paying. If so, I think they should have told you that on the phone before you went there. Also, the PCP should have told you how and when you would be receiving the results. I am continually disappointed by the way patients are treated with disrespect and a lack of communication by medical offices.

[billethkid]

Inappropriate title for the thread!!
Misleading!!!

[dillywho]

I was sent by my PCP for stat bloodwork on Friday. Went to 441 Urgent Care at Buffalo Ridge. The provider told me to go to their office on Old Camp Rd. today to pick up the results. When I got there, they wanted to charge me a 2nd $40 copay for the provider to "review the results with me." They would fax the results to my PCP for free. I chose the latter and walked out.

Buffalo Ridge is not on 441. It is just off 466, close to Bonefish. Were you on 441 or 466?

[retiredguy123]

Buffalo Ridge is not on 441. It is just off 466, close to Bonefish. Were you on 441 or 466?
"441 Urgent Care" is the name of the urgent care facility. They have 6 locations and one of them is at Buffalo Ridge.

[Barefoot]

There is indeed a 441 Urgent Care in Buffalo Ridge.
Retired Guy, I didn't know that. So thanks for the information.

[paulat585]

I'm confused. I read this post at least 5 times and I still don't know what happened. If you need blood work, the blood can be drawn at any lab and most doctor's offices, and the results are available online to both the patient and the doctor who wrote the order. The doctor or nurse should explain the results to the patient either by phone on in person. But, in my experience the patient is rarely charged for more then one office visit copay unless the doctor needs to see the patient more than once. And, why would any office tell a patient to come in to "pick up the results", when they can be faxed to the PCP in a minute? If your PCP felt the need for "stat" blood work, he/she should have been available to receive the results and explain them to you immediately at least with a phone call. It sounds like the PCP wanted to pass the OP off onto the urgent care office because it was a weekend. So, the urgent care office told the OP to come pick up the results, and then refused to provide them without seeing a doctor and paying. If so, I think they should have told you that on the phone before you went there. Also, the PCP should have told you how and when you would be receiving the results. I am continually disappointed by the way patients are treated with disrespect and a lack of communication by medical offices.

This is an appropriate interpretation of what happened. I wouldn't have complained had the original Urgent Care person told me the "pick up" would be charged as an office visit. The PCP wanted me seen--did not issue any orders.

[Schneil]

Inappropriate title for the thread!!
Misleading!!!
Exactly, this was not a medical problem but a billing issue!
:bigbow:

[John_W]

This is another reason to sign up for the Villages United Health Medicare Advantage Plan. You never pay a co-pay for a doctor visit, only when you see a specialist. Lab work is done in-house and is usually ordered a week before your visit so you can incorporate your labs and normal visit all together. There is also no premiums and MVP Health Club is free. To me, it's a no brainer if you're over 65 and need medical care. They also have several offices so you don't have to travel far, I believe it's nine offices. I go to the Brownwood location which is only about a year old.

https://thevillageshealth.com/wp-content/themes/tvh-website-2018/assets/images/tvh-ws-colony-care-center-sidebar.jpg

[bmit16]

It has been my experience that insurance providers consider that a follow-up visit therefore a co-payment does not apply. I have been refunded when this occurs, but you should check your policy then notify the ins company if this happens. Reimbursements can take awhile.

[cathiehines]

I had to go to them two years in a row for respiratory/flu-type symptoms. They did have me return three times in a row and gave me a shot each time, plus they prescribed antibiotics. They certainly took care of my problem. I had been to my primary care doctor who gave me cough medicine. I highly recommend them.

[dillywho]

"441 Urgent Care" is the name of the urgent care facility. They have 6 locations and one of them is at Buffalo Ridge.

Thank you for the clarification. I did not realize that. I hope the name "441 Urgent Care" does not confuse others when mentioning another location that is not on 441 proper.

[NavyVet]

I use Paramount for Urgent Care, always been treated very well there. I thank my lucky stars every day for my VA benefits; no copays, free meds, and free dental. For anything outside of VA purview, I also have Medicare/Tricare for Life. Spouse getting kicked out of Villages Health System turned out to be a good thing. Why on earth would we switch to a United Health Advantage plan when we have the holy grail of insurances? We like our current PCPs and all our specialists outside the compound, never have to deal with copays. Also, I will never leave Florida; the state's disabled Veteran benefits are better than any of the neighboring states.

[yankygrl]

First of all WHY didn't your PCP office draw the sample needed or better send you to Quest or Alliance? Second the results should have been sent to your PCP automatically and have you follow up with them NOT THE URGENT CARE who don't know you or your medical history

[Koapaka]

I had a primary care physician here in TV (will not say his name) who ordered lab work during my visit with him. He then required me to come back to his office to discuss the results which would require another co-pay. I could easily afford to pay a second co-pay but it was principle that I should not have to do that. I told him "no thanks". I can view my results on my portal and figure out what is abnormal. If there were any abnormal results then I would consider discussing with him. Needless to say, I found another doctor who did blood work in advance of my appointment and then discusses results at that appointment........as it should be done.

OK, not trying to be difficult, truly trying to understand the situation. Most Dr's ALWAYS order ROUTINE labs before the apt, and if the patient complies, you are correct, they can discuss with you at the time of your apt....the ISSUE I see with your post this is that you stated your Dr ordered "STAT" bloodwork, which tells me there was an indication of a medical issue that potentially could require medical intervention...so two different animals completely. Urgent/problematic/complaint initiated medical care is TOTALLY different from "routine" labs and care. HOW would you expect your medical care team to be able to "preorder" STAT bloodwork that was based on your complaints/symptoms as a patient?? WHAT did you present with at the initial Dr office visit that caused him to order STAT bloodwork that required this visit? This does not sound at all like "routine" healthcare maintenance scheduled apt procedures.

[Denbal82]

Thank you for posting this thread regarding the 441 Urgent Care Centers.
I too went to them (Brownwood) about 5 days ago and got bloodwork for medical problems I was having. I just moved here and currently do not have a Primary Care Provider. After waiting 1.5 hours plus them taking patients that arrived after me, i finally saw a provider. The provider told me the results would be back tomorrow. I returned the next day and they told me I would have to pay ANOTHER co-pay just to get my results. I told the lady at the counter that this was a follow-up just to get my results of MY BLOODWORK and that I already paid my co-pay yesterday. She said your not going to get your results unless you pay again. I told her that was ridiculous and walked out. I then called my health Insurance (BCBS) but it was late Friday and didn't get back to me yet but he said that what I'm saying doesn't sound right and that he would call after speaking to 441 UC.

I could be walking around with a contagious condition or a life threatening condition and I can't get my results. So you are right, Beware of 411 Urgent Care. I will avoid them at all costs.