[jrdonn]

I read many good reviews about Dr Kalpana Desai and a few bad ones.
My wife has been on bioidentical hormones for several years. The BC/BS insurance has always paid a portion of our cost up north.

After our visit with Dr. Kalpana Desai we were asked to pay $260.00 out of pocket, which we did, for the hormones she ordered from Tampa. I called back and asked if they are going to submit this claim to our insurance. They said insurance will not cover them. I called the pharmacy in Tampa that she uses, to get some information. They sent me an insurance form to take to her office. I called to ask if they could fill out the forms so we can submit it to our insurance. They said we need to make an appointment with the doctor.
I stopped by the office with the form that only needed, quantity and cost. Her staff refused to put in the quantity and costs. I asked to speak to the Dr. who was standing in the hall eating something. The doctor threatened to call the police if I didn't leave. The form is still there, I doubt we will hear from them again.
Ironically there is a compounding pharmacy in the same parking lot as her office. She does not use them, she uses a company in Tampa?

We will never go back to Dr Kalpana Desai as there is something very fishy about not allowing our insurance to reimburse us when we know they will, and using a pharmacy in Tampa for something we can get here in the villages.

[Happydaz]

It is possible that the hormones you got up north were commercial prescription hormones produced by a large pharmaceutical company. These products are FDA approved and would likely be covered by insurance companies. Other locally compounded versions may not be FDA approved and may not be reimbursable from your insurance company. So it is possible the doctor's office knew that their hormone versions may not be reimbursable and therefore they declined to fill out your insurance forms.

[MoeVonB61]

The Dr's name is Kalpana Desai. I have been on bio-identical hormones myself for years.....FACT: they are not covered by insurance I have been paying out of pocket. Perhaps your physician / Supplier "Up North" was using a billing code unethically to get you reimbursed?? This happens often. It is fraud. I pay $260 every 4 mths for my hormones but I am not on Medicare and my ADP flexible spending account reimburses me since Dr. Moffet writes a script.....BTW, Express Care Pharmacy and now Walgreens does compounding....

[gerryann]

Why not just file yourself? During the last year, I have filed for dentists, eye dr, md's for unusual charges, etc. Even if out of network, the claim forms are all on line. I have always been paid back. Some Dr's and office staff are just lazy......just do it yourself.

I have a suspicion that if the Dr threatened to call police, that the conversation was most likely disruptive...which doesn't help matters.

The bio identical compounded that I take have never been covered....but if you feel your wifes should be covered just send the claim in.

[gerryann]

Originally Posted by mrich61

The Dr's name is Kalpana Desai. I have been on bio-identical hormones myself for years.....FACT: they are not covered by insurance I have been paying out of pocket. Perhaps your physician / Supplier "Up North" was using a billing code unethically to get you reimbursed?? This happens often. It is fraud. I pay $260 every 4 mths for my hormones but I am not on Medicare and my ADP flexible spending account reimburses me since Dr. Moffet writes a script.....BTW, Express Care Pharmacy and now Walgreens does compounding....

Very true. I have never heard of this type of med being covered.

Also to add to your list of compounding pharmacies.....The Medicine Chest here in The Villages is also available.

[justjim]

Gosh, can't people have a "civil" conversation anymore? Was the doctor going to charge you to talk to him about the insurance situation---if not, I would have made an appointment and get to the bottom of my insurance situation. People do get stressed out during the Holidays----doctors too----but it's not up to the doctor to deny your claim---it's up to the insurance company.

[shcisamax]

I think Desai is a rip off. I went to her for a first appointment which was 20 minutes and she charged $520. Not even my endocrinologist in Manhattan charged $520 for a first appointment. I did a follow up and she gave me all of 6 minutes and I never got to ask a question. I tried to speak to her as I was leaving to get the information but she was on to the next and told me to make an appointment.
That was the end of my time with Desai.

[Boudicca]

I too had been a patient of Dr. K's, but quit in disgust after reading my patient visit summary notes following a particularly exasperating appointment. In this incident, I had been seated in an exam room when Dr. K came in, logged onto the computer and made pleasantries. No sooner had she logged on, when a nurse opened the door and said Dr. K was needed on the phone. I waited a considerable length of time before Dr. K reappeared. Unbelievably she left a second time with no explanation. When she eventually returned, she mistook me for another patient and began to ask questions about a condition I never had. I responded to that effect, and her response was irritation at ME. I cut the appointment short, realizing it was to no effect. I'd previously been reluctant to change to another practice for all the usual reasons we are more than familiar with. I also realized upon reflection that Dr. K was regularly summoned away from my exam room. I checked my old patient notes, and realized my insurance was being billed for extended consults, when in fact they were not. I'm glad I transferred as there were many other questionable incidents, and it made the switch to another practice all the easier.

[shcisamax]

Shrandell: I had the sense that she was over billing also.

[gerryh1943]

Fine another Dr. I did just check her out!!!!

[NotGolfer]

I too had a bad experience with this doctor. Saw her all of 3 times when I could see she was a ditz. The 1st visit was the meet and greet of going over my history etc. Then she asks what my ins was and I told her. She seemed exasperated and asks "do you like that company?" I told her so far I did. She shakes her head. Then she tells me that I should see a "specialist" that comes into her clinic 2X/week for some skin issues I have. So not knowing better I make that app't. It turns out to be an aesthetician and not a doctor or specialist. She goes through how she markets certain products (high priced too) then sells them to the patient...oh I didn't say, there were 4 of us in the room. This person also trys to up-sell everyone to go to a doctor she also works for who does face-lifts and other work. Dr. Desai comes in briefly as if to greet us all then leaves. The 3rd visit...is the followup on the 1st to go over labs she ordered etc. She comes in the room and asks why was I there. I told her it was a follow-up. She acted like she had no idea what the labs all were etc. She wanted to change my medications that I'd been on for some time. PLUS tried to sell me some of her supplements. (high priced too, I might add). She seemed distracted and rushed. As with the other statements here I felt like she wasn't listening to my concerns. When I left that day I'd resolved I wasn't coming back. Glad I didn't because when I saw the doctor I did end up going to, my original medications were all the correct doses and shouldn't have needed to be changed.

From what I'm reading on this thread and from my own experience, she gets paid for the number of office visits AND for any "extras" that she adds on to them.

[niftynanna]

Also bad experience with Dr. Desai. Changed meds to incorrect dosage and made me drop a few to have me buy her suppliments. When I read my office print out notes each time I was there, (3) they were incorrect re: my meds, and what we discussed. I just never went back, ditz isn't the only word, distracted, preoccupied, rushed, impatient and could think of others. Just moved here not happy with doctor situation, but I guess that's the turn in medical care!