Originally Posted by Heartnsoul (Post 1873524)

I had a Dr appt for thursday but received call from office that DR wants to do a video call. I'm not interested as dont even know how to do that. So she said we can do telephone call then. Although I wasn't happy I said ok but wondering how everyone is feeling about this. Wonder if DR charges insurance co same price for phone as office visit? Am I the only one not happy over this?

Originally Posted by Girlcopper (Post 1873587)

Theres a pandemic going on. Remember? Why would a dr want you in their office just to talk to you. This is convenient and easy and if you dont know how to do it, it doesnt make it bad. Learn how. What do you care what the insurance pays for it? Let them dispute it. Even after the pandemic, Im sure this will be a regular practice. Get used to it

Originally Posted by courtyard (Post 1873713)

I have TV Health also, and since I don't have to take any meds, I canceled my yearly visits, and they canceled me. Now I don't have any doctor. Just try and cancel your yearly Wellness Visits and see what happens.

Originally Posted by ken.yotz (Post 1873748)

Most of these docs are not in private practice. They work for an "employer" who sets the rates. They charge what they do because they can. They have bought up much of the competition. I say this even though my son is in med school.

Originally Posted by DAVES (Post 1873774)

I am far from a computer nerd. Fortunately, I get away with sticking it on my wife-published secrets?

Far as tests, if you've never seen them, you can see your tests on line. It is easy to read and to understand. Your result was xxxx, normal range is xxxx. If, you result is higher or lower than the normal range, something is wrong. Your doctor then decides what to do about it. More tests? Drugs? Or possibly do nothing. Watch it over time etc.

Originally Posted by Heartnsoul (Post 1873524)

I had a Dr appt for thursday but received call from office that DR wants to do a video call. I'm not interested as dont even know how to do that. So she said we can do telephone call then. Although I wasn't happy I said ok but wondering how everyone is feeling about this. Wonder if DR charges insurance co same price for phone as office visit? Am I the only one not happy over this?

Originally Posted by Bertram00 (Post 1873875)

I am okay with some follow up visits by phone especially if the main thing is to review lab results. I don't like the fact that some doctors seem to be using the health crisis as an excuse to get paid for a phone call with little work from them or their staff. For example, I had an appointment scheduled for December 3 and the same day they called to tell me the doctor no longer was in that local office on that day of the week and wanted to know if a phone visit was okay or if I wanted to reschedule. Mind you there were no labs to discuss so this visit normally would have involved my vitals and possibly other testing. I was aggravated that knowing he had changed his office schedule they hadn't notified me sooner, and so I asked to reschedule. This was on a Thursday and they scheduled me for the next Monday. The very next day or maybe even later that day, I received another call from the office saying that the doctor wanted to know if I could make it a phone visit. You can imagine my attitude as I told them in not so polite terms that they could shove the appointment. I will be looking for another specialist to replace this one!

Originally Posted by jimjamuser (Post 1873908)

The COVID Pandemic has shown a light on the WEAKNESS of the US Medical and Health Care System - CV has stressed out a system that was BARELY functioning BEFORE the pandemic and these posts prove that point. It is further PROVED by the fact that the US spends the most per person on Health Care in the World but, is around 30th in positive outcomes for its citizens. That is BEFORE CV, so the system IS broken. ........Doctors and their overworked staff have come under the thumbs of the greed of the CEOs of the Corporate Insurance Companies. The Doctors and staff are forced to fill out reams of paperwork designed to allow the Insurance Companies to avoid paying out as many claims as possible. They both spend most of their time on their keyboards while NOT listening to the needs of the patient, which are secondary. The US Health system is run by NEITHER Doctors or patients, but rather by overpaid INSURANCE CEOs and management.

Originally Posted by golfing eagles (Post 1873923)

Solution is easy---move to your socialist paradise of Venezuela:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

Originally Posted by jimjamuser (Post 1873805)

True that CV "lightning" may not have struck either you or your Doctor for that particular visit. But, CV like "lightning" does strike SOME people. You and your Doctor did have RISKS - he more than you because you see 1 Doctor - he sees multiple patients day-after-day. He has a problem of BIG risks. He is dealing with an elderly population, many with pre-conditions that pre-dispose them to having weak immune systems.

I wonder how that appointment went? You were inside in non-moving air, which is 15 times worse for CV than outside. That doesn't change just because someone has a "Doctor" title in front of their name. He or she is a human and you are a human - so you 2 needed to be separated by a MINIMUM of 6 ft. To minimize the risk you BOTH needed to have on an N-95 mask AND a clear visor - gloves and a PPE jacket would have also reduced risk. The US is deficient in PPEs compared to other countries. So, I DOUBT that you both were properly equipped for that encounter. And temperatures needed to be taken 1st. - and office surfaces wiped down with disinfectant. I can see why both Doctors and Patients (especially among predominantly older patients) would PREFER telemedicine.

For those who believe that I am overstating the precautions and the risks, many Doctors and experts on TV have stated that, "it is best to treat any person that you encounter as IF they had the CV".

Originally Posted by jimjamuser (Post 1873931)

No comment. I stand by the message in my post.