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More doctors are charging fees to respond to patient messages

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Re: More doctors are charging fees to respond to patient messages

#121

Post by medmunds »

JustBreath wrote: post #39
medmunds wrote: post #12

Every time my lawyer replies to my email, it costs me $35. At least. That's just for one or two line responses. Anything that requires research or (gasp) looping in a partner gets a lot more expensive, very quickly. This doctor sounds like a good deal.

This is a pretty privileged perspective. There's also quite a difference between the ethics of healthcare and legal services. Most of the time if you need a legal answer from a lawyer who charges like that, it's because you know you'll net more money from having the answer than it will cost to get a reply. With healthcare, you're not trying to make money you're just trying to live.

There are many situations in the ordinary course of life where, if not strictly required, an attorney is at least strongly advised. Things like immigration, adoption, divorce, disputes with your landlord, probate, personal bankruptcy, seeking power of attorney for a family member with dementia, etc.

You're correct that I'm in the privileged position of being able to afford my lawyer. (And my doctor and health insurance provider.) I'd just point out that not everything that involves a lawyer is about making money.

But you raise a fair point, and I apologize if my somewhat flip comment came across as insensitive.

Re: More doctors are charging fees to respond to patient messages

#122

Post by resource_waste »

BenFranklin100 wrote: post #98

People talk a lot about prescription drugs, but the real driver of costs are the hospitals, both public and private. Drugs account for 10-15% of total healthcare spending; it’s the hospital reimbursement & compensation framework along with private insurance that is driving the bulk of costs. It’s evolved into a patchwork, opaque, dysfunctional system where the end consumer has little view into the inner workings and…

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Re: More doctors are charging fees to respond to patient messages

#123

Post by skzv »

kergonath wrote: post #107
oefrha wrote: post #19

> Dr. Lauren Oshman, a family physician and associate professor at the University of Michigan Medical School, says she initially experienced some patient resistance and anger about the prospect of being billed for emails. > Now, she says, patients are typically pleased that they are able to get a direct response from her through a portal message. > “They’re thrilled when they get me directly,” she says. Geez, this co…

> Geez, this could make corporate PR people blush. Yeah, it’s embarrassing. I am not “thrilled” to talk to a doctor directly. I pay for it, and when I do it’s because I have a reason to, which kind of limits the thrilling aspect. I expect it, and I need it, sure. But it’s not being able to talk to my doctor that elicits an emotional response, and it tends to be anger.

I'm thrilled to be able to message a doctor, even if I have to pay for it.

In Canada I had no such option.

Re: More doctors are charging fees to respond to patient messages

#124

Post by stuckindoors »

CharlesW wrote: post #4

Here's American health care: • I needed refills for two prescriptions that I've been taking for years. This time, for opaque reasons, I needed to talk to a doctor first. • Fine, but I couldn't accommodate an in-person check-in. I chose a "video visit" that, due to logistics, I had to do while away from home. Because they were a half-hour late, I was effectively forced to do this from the couch of a Costco floor displ…

Just go to Mexico or an online pharmacy and get your meds at cost. /s

The US healthcare system is completely broken. Hospital systems and doctors offices in general lost a shit ton of money last year. There has been massive layoffs throughout this sector. There will continue to be this year. This year they all are going to try to survive by recouping their prior losses. Get ready for more fees.

In addition - there is consolidation in the physicians groups. Mom and pop groups are almost unfeasible at this point. Look for venture capitalists to scoop in. Guess what - you won't have better care with after those changes - I can promise that.

Lastly, the pharmaceutical industry is out of control. They hike prices on any and all medications that they are able to. They recently hiked flovent to a cost that no insurance companies or hospital will pay for it. There are limited alternatives at least for kids. This is medications that that has been out since the mid 80s. It is a controlled market, with high barriers to entry - you can either permit a wide west time of pharmaceutical environment or you can understand the need for a regulated marketplace and meet with with equivalent regulation in terms of pricing.

Finally the insurance companies are the worst. I don't know anyone with a good experience...the only ones that have a positive experience are those that don't use it. I try not to hate any single group but I hate insurance companies.

The system needs to be burned to the ground. It is fragmented and burdensome for healthcare providers and for patients. It benefits no one at this point. It creates additional workload for providers hospitals and patients alike.

I am afraid of what will come in it's place but can't we worse that this shit.

Re: More doctors are charging fees to respond to patient messages

#125

Post by gnicholas »

JTbane wrote: post #111
CharlesW wrote: post #4

Here's American health care: • I needed refills for two prescriptions that I've been taking for years. This time, for opaque reasons, I needed to talk to a doctor first. • Fine, but I couldn't accommodate an in-person check-in. I chose a "video visit" that, due to logistics, I had to do while away from home. Because they were a half-hour late, I was effectively forced to do this from the couch of a Costco floor displ…

Call me old-fashioned but I really hate the idea of telemedicine.

It can be good for some things, and is more convenient to schedule (don't have to drive there, no risk of getting sick from other patients). Plus, there's a chance that in the future it could enable people in HCoL areas to get medical care from providers in LCoL areas, which would lower costs dramatically. I think for now the state-by-state cartel is still quite strong though.

But I agree that for some appointments it obviously doesn't work because you can't examine the patient or take vitals the same way/at all.

Re: More doctors are charging fees to respond to patient messages

#126

Post by Libcat99 »

anon-sre-srm wrote: post #76
bachmeier wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Back in 2020, my son needed a Covid test for some event related to school. We called his doctor's office and made an appointment for the test. We showed up for the appointment, and we had to wait an extra 20 minutes because the doctor was late, only to be told "we don't do that testing". Then got a bill for $100 for a doctor's appointment.

Change doctors. Don't reward abuse or failure.

I'd go further and not pay the bill, document why (failed to provide the agreed service?) and send them a notice of it. At least.

It's effectively a scam, don't give in to scammers.

Re: More doctors are charging fees to respond to patient messages

#127

Post by Workaccount2 »

BenFranklin100 wrote: post #98

People talk a lot about prescription drugs, but the real driver of costs are the hospitals, both public and private. Drugs account for 10-15% of total healthcare spending; it’s the hospital reimbursement & compensation framework along with private insurance that is driving the bulk of costs. It’s evolved into a patchwork, opaque, dysfunctional system where the end consumer has little view into the inner workings and…

"Non-Profit" hospitals with incredibly bloated administrations paying a CEO $10MM a year to order constant hospital expansions and ever growing outpatient care so they can reliably spend off any possible profits.

Re: More doctors are charging fees to respond to patient messages

#128

Post by resource_waste »

moal wrote: post #35

Doctor-patient written communications (email, whatsapp whatever) can put doctors in legal risk whether they answer or not. Answering in a meaningful way also takes from the physician's time, much of it during their after-hours. The clinic where I practice requires making a telephone number and email available to patients. A lot of patients might use them sensibly but some patients just abuse this. If it were up to me…

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Re: More doctors are charging fees to respond to patient messages

#129

Post by resource_waste »

tonymet wrote: post #9

I worked for a mature healthcare company and much of our marketing centered around healthcare provider surveys of doctors and nurses. The results were unsettling. Extremely high rates of burnout, typically due to administrative overhead. Horrifying medical error rates. Doctors should be compensated for the amount of time to send an email. Every other industry is capable of restructuring support to satisfy demand. It'…

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Re: More doctors are charging fees to respond to patient messages

#130

Post by Libcat99 »

JTbane wrote: post #111
CharlesW wrote: post #4

Here's American health care: • I needed refills for two prescriptions that I've been taking for years. This time, for opaque reasons, I needed to talk to a doctor first. • Fine, but I couldn't accommodate an in-person check-in. I chose a "video visit" that, due to logistics, I had to do while away from home. Because they were a half-hour late, I was effectively forced to do this from the couch of a Costco floor displ…

Call me old-fashioned but I really hate the idea of telemedicine.

My son takes ADHD meds and it would be great if we could do the med checks (which are almost entirely questions for the parents) remotely, instead of taking him out of school and one of us out of work for several hours.
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