Yesterday, March 6, 2012, I had my monthly follow-up with my rheumy. I came prepared with my trusty little notebook in hand.
Each month I log my symptoms into my little notebook. Men have black books full of juicy details, I have a pink polka dot book full of medical symptoms and complaints. I mainly write in this little book because between my "Lupie Fog" and my "chronic fatigue syndrome" (which my rheumy doesn't believe in) I just can't seem to remember stuff. But, I have no problem remembering random stuff from when I was in high school or stuff I should forget from my past. It's weird how the mind works!
I've been so exhausted and have had so many migraines lately that I can barely function. I'm surprised I could drive myself to the doctor appointment to be honest.
When I arrived ad checked in, the receptionist told me that I have a previous balance of $40. This is how the conversation continued.
ME: I don't have a balance because we agreed I'd pay a flat $100 since I have medicaid
Receptionist: Weren't you informed of paying additional amounts for additional services?
ME: NO!
Receptionist: Let me get my manager then
Manager: don't you have insurance that can pay this?
(by this point there's a lobby full of other patients and I'm upset because they should have pulled me inside and talk to me alone.)
ME: No, we don't have health insurance through my husband's work, it costs $1300 and we can't afford that!
Manager: well, MY manager will call you.
ME: why? I'm not paying it. write if off as a bad debt! We agreed to $100 and I'm not paying any more than that.
So, after that debacle, I went and sat down in the lobby and was very embarrassed and upset by this.
Doesn't hi staff know that stress is not good for lupus patients? It throws them into a flare? Maybe I should send them a bill for putting me in a flare?
I was called into the doctors room and spoke to my doctor about all the issues that had been going on from the last follow-up; 1 1/2 pages worth....No joke! I think my bowel is the biggest issue along with my severe migraines right now. 27 severe migraines between February 2nd and arch 6th! That's insane. How's a person supposed to function? I barely can...At least my all over pain went from 19 last month to 13 this month. That's some sort of improvement.
By the end of the visit, my rheumy said, "well, I wanted to run labs today but I was informed I can't". Are you kidding me? I told him "you can run labs, just give me a script and I'll take it with me".
Off I went....
My rheumatologists office called me yesterday, March 8th, in regards to the additional fee they wanted to charge me on March 6th. The head manager kindly told me they would write it off and I was granted the $100 per office visit charge. I thanked her for her time....
Each month I log my symptoms into my little notebook. Men have black books full of juicy details, I have a pink polka dot book full of medical symptoms and complaints. I mainly write in this little book because between my "Lupie Fog" and my "chronic fatigue syndrome" (which my rheumy doesn't believe in) I just can't seem to remember stuff. But, I have no problem remembering random stuff from when I was in high school or stuff I should forget from my past. It's weird how the mind works!
I've been so exhausted and have had so many migraines lately that I can barely function. I'm surprised I could drive myself to the doctor appointment to be honest.
When I arrived ad checked in, the receptionist told me that I have a previous balance of $40. This is how the conversation continued.
ME: I don't have a balance because we agreed I'd pay a flat $100 since I have medicaid
Receptionist: Weren't you informed of paying additional amounts for additional services?
ME: NO!
Receptionist: Let me get my manager then
Manager: don't you have insurance that can pay this?
(by this point there's a lobby full of other patients and I'm upset because they should have pulled me inside and talk to me alone.)
ME: No, we don't have health insurance through my husband's work, it costs $1300 and we can't afford that!
Manager: well, MY manager will call you.
ME: why? I'm not paying it. write if off as a bad debt! We agreed to $100 and I'm not paying any more than that.
So, after that debacle, I went and sat down in the lobby and was very embarrassed and upset by this.
Doesn't hi staff know that stress is not good for lupus patients? It throws them into a flare? Maybe I should send them a bill for putting me in a flare?
I was called into the doctors room and spoke to my doctor about all the issues that had been going on from the last follow-up; 1 1/2 pages worth....No joke! I think my bowel is the biggest issue along with my severe migraines right now. 27 severe migraines between February 2nd and arch 6th! That's insane. How's a person supposed to function? I barely can...At least my all over pain went from 19 last month to 13 this month. That's some sort of improvement.
By the end of the visit, my rheumy said, "well, I wanted to run labs today but I was informed I can't". Are you kidding me? I told him "you can run labs, just give me a script and I'll take it with me".
Off I went....
My rheumatologists office called me yesterday, March 8th, in regards to the additional fee they wanted to charge me on March 6th. The head manager kindly told me they would write it off and I was granted the $100 per office visit charge. I thanked her for her time....
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