[asiebel]

I go to Premier Medical and have not had this happen!

[asiebel]

I go to Premier Medical and have never had this happen!

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by asiebel

I go to Premier Medical and have never had this happen!

It does seem to happen to others

[PootleK]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

... If blatantly guilty, they can be banned from participating in Medicare for 2 years. I am appalled at this scenario and embarrassed for my profession.

No wonder the doctors try it on if the only punishment for fraud is to be banned from taking money from Medicare for only 2 years.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by PootleK

No wonder the doctors try it on if the only punishment for fraud is to be banned from taking money from Medicare for only 2 years.

That "punishment" is HUGE. Especially in Florida with an elderly population

Plus you have to pay back any disallowed charges and pay a fine

[Eg_cruz]

Originally Posted by Michael 61

I’d switch medical facilities. Sounds horrible. I had a referral to a specialist a year ago up in the Spanish Springs area - i too was placed in front of a TV Screen. The doctor was on screen in his sweatpants from his living room in a high rise apartment in Detroit. The doctor was previously retired and in his late 70s. I guess he thought he could do this easy gig and make some extra cash while retired. I was deceived, and never told ahead of time my appointment would be a teleconference- was my first and last visit with that practice. Now I ask.

Wow

[Velvet]

My only teleconference experience was in Yellowstone Park in 2010. My husband and I were traveling across the United States on a luxury touring motorcycle for 62 days in a row. Nothing to live out of except saddle bags. Many days we were riding 10 hours straight (stopping only to eat). Somewhere along the trip I caught a cold which was quickly turning into bronchitis. At the park near the entrance was a pharmacy. They asked me if I wanted to teleconference with a doctor. I said yes. He came on the monitor and talked to me for about 10 minutes. He then wrote a prescription which the pharmacy filled. Total cost of conference $50, prescription $22. I took it that night, within 18 hours I was well enough to continue our trip. On the back of the bike, in full sun, in August, on the highway etc. Now that guy, was worth every penny!

[tophcfa]

I don’t mind virtual medical appointment if it’s all that is necessary for a particular appointment, it’s disclosed up front, and I can do it from our home. But it’s totally unacceptable to go to a doctor’s office, wait an hour, and then have it jammed down your throat without any upfront disclosure. As far as PA’s go, based on our experience, I have absolutely no problem seeing one. The PA’s that work for our orthopedic practice are all great. We have never seen our listed primary care physician, only the PA that works directly with her. She is both incredibly knowledgeable and thorough and seems to spend more time with us than a physician typically would. I’m sorry the OP’s friend had to go through that experience, I would run away from that practice.

[KatieRN]

Originally Posted by Eg_cruz

Yesterday a friend went to Premier Medical at Santa Barbara Blvd. This was her first appointment with the doctor, she traveled from Ocala on a referral. She waiting in the lobby for over an hour. She was brought back into the examination room and put in front of a screen where the doctor pops up.

Yes her appointment at his office was over a computer screen. I have never heard of this it blew my mind.

Are we really at this point that you travel to see a in person doctor wait in his lobby for over an hour to talk to him on a tv screen. The big problem was his accent was very heavy and he spoke very fast so she walked out of there without knowing what was spoken about (part was she was so taken back) She couldn’t tell you what the doctor said it was beyond sad.

I found this way to operate your practice is shameful. Really what the point of traveling to the office to talk to a screen.

Has anyone had this happen to you? Do other doctors do this as well?

That needs to be reported to Medicare as Medicare fraud.

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by KatieRN

That needs to be reported to Medicare as Medicare fraud.

It's only fraud if they bill for a face to face visit, rather than a tele-visit...

That has yet to be determined...