Why are so many doctors dumb AF about COVID-19?

[UpTheMiddlex3Punt]

Wife has a doctor's appointment tomorrow. No exam, just a conversation with the doc about how things have been since the last appointment and get her new prescriptions. Doctor refuses to do the appointment over the phone because she hasn't met the screening criteria (fever, travel, been around a known positive case).

Why, of all people, are doctors being unreasonable during this time?

 

[msstate7]

Will insurance pay if the above criteria isn't met?

 

[Ozarkdawg]

Gotta get that office visit fee?

If just a routine followup, I think they want the fee.

If the followup is for something that was somewhat serious in the last few months, I could see an in person follow up to confirm no issues arising.

 

[johnson86-1]

Wife has a doctor's appointment tomorrow. No exam, just a conversation with the doc about how things have been since the last appointment and get her new prescriptions. Doctor refuses to do the appointment over the phone because she hasn't met the screening criteria (fever, travel, been around a known positive case).

Why, of all people, are doctors being unreasonable during this time?

They got bills to pay too. And at least among bankers and investment advisors, doctors are notorious for being bad with money. So he/she may not be able to make it 8 weeks of being shutdown if insurance won't pay for televisits.

 

[blackjackdog3]

I wouldn’t go. There is no reason for her to expose herself unnecessarily. The physician should either provide her with a telehealth visit or call in her prescriptions. If necessary the appointment can be rescheduled monthly until the pandemic is under better control. She can always contact another physician who’s able to perform her appointment as a telehealth visit.

 

[UpTheMiddlex3Punt]

They got bills to pay too. And at least among bankers and investment advisors, doctors are notorious for being bad with money. So he/she may not be able to make it 8 weeks of being shutdown if insurance won't pay for televisits.

I've always wondered how most of them can afford such lavish lifestyles. I've run the numbers on how much more a month I would make if I were an average doctor in each specialty and realize there's no way I could afford to live the way they do and still save up for retirement and not go into crazy levels of debt.

 

[Dawg1976]

I was to have a follow visit last Monday but I cancelled. Fortunately no prescriptions needed to be refilled. My annual blood work and prescription refills is due for early October. Hopefully things will be some better by then. Btw....it's my understanding there are some doctors in various parts of the country doing skyping type of appts.

 

[SirBarksalot]

Wife has a doctor's appointment tomorrow. No exam, just a conversation with the doc about how things have been since the last appointment and get her new prescriptions. Doctor refuses to do the appointment over the phone because she hasn't met the screening criteria (fever, travel, been around a known positive case).

Why, of all people, are doctors being unreasonable during this time?

Where are you located. That’s bizarre actually.

 

[Daddy Rabbit Dawg]

Below is the email I received from North Ms Medical Center:

Exciting New Virtual Care Options
Dear Valued Patient:

As the COVID-19 outbreak unfolds, our commitment to providing high-quality care has never been stronger. In these unpredictable times, our providers and care teams are here for you, working tirelessly to deliver the best care and service to you—in person or virtually.

In keeping with this commitment, North Mississippi Health Services and North Mississippi Medical Clinics are proud to announce two exciting new visit options—services which can deliver an in-clinic experience online and via telephone—at participating locations. Virtual care is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as a way to get care and advice from your trusted health care provider. Simply call your clinic to set up a virtual appointment at participating locations.

Virtual Video Visits - An In-clinic Experience Online:
Virtual Video Visits allow you to connect with your Primary Care or Urgent Care Provider through any video capable device. If you have a computer, smartphone or other mobile device, you can have an appointment. How easy is that? You can have follow-up for conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes from the convenience of your home. There are also many new complaints like sinus problems, cough, back pain, headache, red eye, heartburn, urinary problems and others which a physician or nurse practitioner can evaluate and treat through a simple video visit. A nurse will call you before your Virtual Video Visit to verify information such as your medication list, health history and allergies. This allows your health care provider to treat your conditions in the best way possible. You can stay safely in your home without concerns for exposure to illnesses which could impact your health.

Virtual Video Visits are currently covered by all major insurers.

Telephone Visits:
If you are unable to complete a virtual video visit and you have a simple medical problem—whether new or a pre-existing condition that needs ongoing management—you can reach out to any of our clinics for a personal telephone visit with one of our providers. The doctor or nurse practitioner can evaluate your condition to see if it can be treated adequately over a phone call or if it needs further evaluation.

Telephone Visits are currently covered by all major insurers.

We're Here for You:
If you desire a traditional in clinic visit, we continue to be here for you. Please call and let us serve you today. And remember for a connection to our team 24 hours a day, seven days per week, just call Nurse Link at 1-800-882-6274. Using computerized medical protocols, nurses direct callers to the most appropriate medical treatment. This service is available in Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee and is supported by local physicians as needed. Our team members will be glad to help you and make an appointment for you with any of our providers across the region.

As we continue to roll out new ways to serve you, MyConnection is your secure, online connection. Coming soon, we'll be announcing e-Visits, yet another exciting care delivery option, which will be available exclusively to MyConnection users. Stay tuned!

Sincerely,
Your North Mississippi Health Services Care Team

 

[dawgdr]

As a physician we are doing med refill’s through phone/ video as we can. Medicaid does not cover phone visits is the information we received last week. They will video however. I am sure her MD has their reasons. Type of visit would help to know. As an ob/gyn med refills no biggie. Getting fetal heart beat have to come in. As others have stated. Cancel if do not want to go.

 

[woozman]

Tell your wife to find a new doctor. My mom had two dr appointments last week. One with her cardiologist and one with her urologist. They both set up video calls so she could stay at home.

 

[Ddawg69]

Outpatient based practices are going to be squeezed very hard the next couple of months. Most practices have quickly converted to video telehealth format which can be billed as good as an in person visit. Sounds like she may either have an old school doc, or a small private owned practice that doesn't have the resources or skills readily available to convert everything to video. Not saying its right, but its a tough situation for that doctor as well. It is always your decision to not go and that should be respected.

 

[paindonthurt_]

I’d love to hear some of your numbers. We talking abt a general practitioner?

 

[BossDawg78]

That's weird. I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow too under the same scenario (no exam, just discussion and meds), but my doctor will be calling all his patients on the phone....regardless if we have symptoms or not. He ain't seeing anybody.

 

[SirBarksalot]

I've always wondered how most of them can afford such lavish lifestyles. I've run the numbers on how much more a month I would make if I were an average doctor in each specialty and realize there's no way I could afford to live the way they do and still save up for retirement and not go into crazy levels of debt.

What’s your estimate of a neurosurgeon income?

It’s counterintuitive, but started hearing reports last week of Dr.’s staff being laid off. Nurses, PAs, obviously office staff. Not doing normal clinics, elective procedures, etc.
Its crazy to think that in a medical crisis, people in the Medical industry being let go. But...it’s all focused on acute care of one problem. All in.
It’s gonna be kicking my *** for sure.

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

Here you go.

https://www.teladoc.com/

Since it's hard to go out and find a new doc these days until the shutdown ends, give whatever version of telemedicine your insurance provides a call. I have a primary care doctor, wife has her doctor, and kids have pediatricians, and we all have specialists. Yet we still use Teladoc a dozen times a year. Saved a lot of time and money.

It's really great for dermatology... Take a pic of that rash and send it in... Meds will be at CVS before you can get there. Both kids got strep, wife and I called in a few days later when our threats got hurt and got the antibiotics early without having to go in to get a test. I woke up in the middle of the night with a heart rate over 100 called Teladoc to see if it could be new meds I started that day and Dr told me it was a potential side effect even though it wasn't listed and that it was safe to not take it without weening. Saved me an emergency room visit and worked like a charm.

My doctor loves that I use Teladoc for the silly **** and he can focus on the big picture. So does my wife's. The pediatrician not so much, so we fired him and got a new one and she loves it.

There are many things a doctor does that can't be performed over the phone, but for the things that can they should be... Especially right now. Dr's work for you just like anyone else. You would fire a painter that only uses lead paint, an accountant that won't use a computer, and a tailor that pokes his needles in your dick a few times when fitting your pants, right? Fire that doctor.

 

[Go Budaw]

Gotta get that office visit fee?

If just a routine followup, I think they want the fee.

If the followup is for something that was somewhat serious in the last few months, I could see an in person follow up to confirm no issues arising.

Our doctor charges the normal office co-pay for Telehealth visit. We’ve done it with our kids for non-COVID related things (allergies, etc.).

 

[Leeshouldveflanked]

I have to take my son to an appointment tomorrow... when I get there, I call and give them credit card for Co-pay, then someone will bring his script out...

 

[Herbert Nenninger]

Sorry they’re being this way. I’m a doc and we have been slashing our schedules, especially with any older folks. And we aren’t encouraging any basic check ups. Refilling meds freely. Even some of the controlled medication regulations are temporarily relaxed. Some issues do warrant a close up exam or some sort of in office test. And some folks have delicate labs to follow up on. This reduction in nonessential office visits was a strong suggestion by the state health dept. plus it’s hard to see a lot of patients when you’re dressed out in hazmat gear for half the patients. hopefully this isn’t his or her incentive, but we get reimbursed a paltry amount for these telephone visits. But we accept the way things are right now. I can’t imagine it would be good for business to have your clinic initiate a COVID hotspot.

 

[idog]

only emergency visits are recommended by the MS dept of health at this point. that's what we have been widdled down to and i have been informed that our liability insurance coverage will be likely be limited to cover emergency cases at this point. so, if you see someone that isn't considered an emergency case and get sued related to that case then you'll likely have zero coverage and should expect for them to dip into your 401k and whatever else they can get their hands on. not worth a $65-110 office visit.

 

[jethreauxdawg]

Teladoc is awesome

Saves a ton of time and money.

 

[Tin Cup Cowboy]

So much for that "Do No Harm" and "I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure"

 

[EagleDawg97]

My wife is a provider. Only some insurances will pay for a telemedicine visit. I don’t think Medicare / Medicaid allow for telemedicine visits under the current model either. Sounds like the doc is trying to keep his bills paid.

 

[BlueRidgeMtns]

I had to do this about 2 weeks ago... even back then I was the only one in the waiting room. They had stopped seeing all "sick visits" and were only open for follow-ups/prescription refills.

 

[johnson86-1]

I've always wondered how most of them can afford such lavish lifestyles. I've run the numbers on how much more a month I would make if I were an average doctor in each specialty and realize there's no way I could afford to live the way they do and still save up for retirement and not go into crazy levels of debt.

You are probably getting wrong numbers on how much they are making depending on where you live. General practitioners supposedly make an average of around $200k, but that's what hospitalists start out at where I live and the general practitioners I know of make around $500k (granted those are probably outliers to the high side, but I think the average ones are still probably making $300k). I think thte ones with large medicaid practices may even come close to hitting $200k although that's more of a guess.

All I can guess is those averages are brought down by doctors practicing in large MSA's b/c their expenses go up a lot without them getting the ability to demand as much in reimbursement from third party providers.

 

[UpTheMiddlex3Punt]

Update: The doctor agreed to do a zoom appointment. Thank goodness.