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What can we expect from the office staff of a specialist or PCP?
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What can we expect from the office staff of a specialist or PCP?
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Hi, I am the daugher of Gay, but I find the office staff of most specialists I see within their private practices, are unwilling to help patients get copies of test results and obtain test results fro
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Cat:7c09aa80-efe3-4033-8728-c6281fe91054Forum:89e46273-ad44-4158-94d7-a400f3668255
Cat:7c09aa80-efe3-4033-8728-c6281fe91054Forum:89e46273-ad44-4158-94d7-a400f3668255Discussion:418d6062-4bb4-4b2d-8b77-729d1181da1c
Forums » Giving Back » Advocacy » What can we expect from the office staff of a specialist or PCP?
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What can we expect from the office staff of a specialist or PCP?
posted at August 8, 2011 10:12 PM EDT
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Posts: 5
First: January 30, 2010 Last: August 8, 2011 |
Hi, I am the daugher of Gay, but I find the office staff of most specialists I see within their private practices, are unwilling to help patients get copies of test results and obtain test results from other providers. I was also surprised the actual specialist condones this behavior. They hold the patient responsible to get test results from previous providers and forward to the current doctor for review. I have experienced this in 2 different doctor's offices, with board certified specialists in the new york tri-state area. I have also discovered, the patient has very little recourse for reporting complaints for professional providers not located in a hospital facility. The Patient bill of rights I believe is not applicable to a private doctor's office. What agenices or entities are available to report poor practices by office physicians and their associated staff? thank you. |
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Re: What can we expect from the office staff of a specialist or PCP?
posted at August 16, 2011 10:22 PM EDT
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Posts: 660
First: March 7, 2012 Last: October 12, 2012 |
In Response to What can we expect from the office staff of a specialist or PCP?: Hi, I am the daugher of Gay, but I find the office staff of most specialists I see within their private practices, are unwilling to help patients get copies of test results and obtain test results from other providers. I was also surprised the actual specialist condones this behavior. They hold the patient responsible to get test results from previous providers and forward to the current doctor for review. I have experienced this in 2 different doctor's offices, with board certified specialists in the new york tri-state area. I have also discovered, the patient has very little recourse for reporting complaints for professional providers not located in a hospital facility. The Patient bill of rights I believe is not applicable to a private doctor's office. What agenices or entities are available to report poor practices by office physicians and their associated staff? thank you. Posted by gbarkan75 GBARKAN75: A doctor's job is to keep you healthy or make you healthy. That can't happen if you're not kept well informed, including access to other doctors' records, for you and your doctor or specialist. Formal requirements vary between states but it is certainly easier for a doctor to get your records (by fax, for example) than for you to have to make phone calls or appointments with doctors just to request records. Doctors' offices usually have an Office Manager. That person's job is to make sure your needs are met, whether it's setting a workable appointment time, getting a proper prescription, redoing a blood pressure reading that might have been wrong, and so on. If this Manager or your doctor fail to act in your interest, try these: a) Doctors may not be independent. Find out who they're with and bring your gripe to that organization. b) A county-level chapter of the AMA? c) A state medical board? d) Your doc may not be with a hospital, but s/he needs hospital privileges somewhere. Talk to those folks. e) Around New York State there are probably many PCP's and specialists focused on the health issue you need, only a few miles away. Try them, and talk to their Office Manager first. If they say you have to obtain records, move on. f) It's not worth much, but I've seen websites that ask you to rate specific doctors. If you're comfortable making a public assertion that the doc did something wrong, go for it. g) You use the terms PCP and provider, so I'm guessing you have an HMO. Bring the problem to them, in writing. Their in-house complaint process is likely to be superficial, but ask them what federal agency monitors them. Go to the office of the doctor of concern to you, and make sure s/he knows it is a burden or an unfair cost for you to have to obtain records, and make sure they know that if they won't obtain the records, you won't continue under their "care." |
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Re: What can we expect from the office staff of a specialist or PCP?
posted at September 25, 2011 11:11 PM EDT
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Posts: 2
First: September 25, 2011 Last: October 4, 2011 |
In Response to What can we expect from the office staff of a specialist or PCP?: Hi, I am the daugher of Gay, but I find the office staff of most specialists I see within their private practices, are unwilling to help patients get copies of test results and obtain test results from other providers. I was also surprised the actual specialist condones this behavior. They hold the patient responsible to get test results from previous providers and forward to the current doctor for review. I have experienced this in 2 different doctor's offices, with board certified specialists in the new york tri-state area. I have also discovered, the patient has very little recourse for reporting complaints for professional providers not located in a hospital facility. The Patient bill of rights I believe is not applicable to a private doctor's office. What agenices or entities are available to report poor practices by office physicians and their associated staff? thank you. Posted by gbarkan75 Hi daughter of Gay: I am a healthcare professional from Maine. I have never encountered difficulties regarding my medical information being shared with me or with other medical providers I have consulted. One request is you sign a 'release of information'. Your post sounded quite stressed so I decided to do a little basic research. I started with www.ny.gov/ from there click on Licensing and Credentials. You then click on Professional Misconduct and Discipline and click on complaints against Department of State Licensed Professionals. A form will be displayed for you to file a complaint. You can also check out physician licenses for previous complaints or disciplines. In 1987 ( Department of Health Memorandum) N.Y. granted patients access to their health care records. If denied you may appeal to Medical Record Access Review Committee ... These committees are usually formed of their peers from their practice or facility they are affiliated with. If you receive no satisfaction from that route you do have another avenue. Contact: API Coordinator New York, State Department of Health 433 River Street, Suite 303 Troy, New York 12180-2299 I hope this is helpful. Teabiscuit |
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Re: What can we expect from the office staff of a specialist or PCP?
posted at September 26, 2011 2:29 AM EDT
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Posts: 660
First: March 7, 2012 Last: October 12, 2012 |
gbarkan75: I'm glad Teabiscuit replied because it didn't occur to me, while I was replying before, to suggest a government agency. It's a good idea. Thinking further, if this is still an issue for you, maybe you should ask the doctors why they want you to get the records. Did you sign a HIPAA release? Do you have unusual privacy concerns? If the doctor only says there's not enough time or staff to get records, then I think he/she isn't doing the job they're supposed to do. I see from your AARP page that you live in Brooklyn. There are probably dozens of people in the specialty area you need. Maybe there's some professional friction between them. That might explain it, but that doesn't excuse them from obtaning your records. Dan |
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Medicaid Fraud on AARP Health Plan - Does AARP care?
posted at March 3, 2012 7:02 PM EST
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Posts: 1
First: March 3, 2012 Last: March 3, 2012 |
I am a Medicare recipient elegible for 'exrtra help'. Medicare pays for xtra help through Medicaid Funds even though a repient (such as I) is neithor on Medicaid nor eligible for Meicaid it self, nor a 'dual eligible.' I am not a dual eligible either. My Medicare Supplementary Insurance Policy is through an AARP sponsored plan in New York State administered by UNTED HEAL CARE. UNITED HEALTH CARE HAS on 8 ocasasions in the 12 montha of 2011 cancelled my insurance even though HRA NYC MEDICAID Has paid the premiums via NYC Dept of Finance. Copies of those cashed checks , front and back have been given to me and I have sent them on to UNITED HEALTH CARE billing. It turns out upon careful forensic accounting that in the 12 months of 2011 the equivalent of 14 monthly premiums were received and deposited by UNTED HEALTH CARE allegedly for my benefit. Copies of the front and back of those checks were sent to UNITED HEALTH CARE and they still cancelled me and sent me a refund check even though that is NOT my money, but MEDICAID's. (I have given the check by hand to NYC HRA MEDICAID AND RECEIVED A WRITTEN RECEIPT.) In addition another department of UNITED HEALTH CARE has written me on four separate ocassions acknowledging receipt of those checks totalling 14 months worth of premium payments in 2011. Those letters give dates received, check numbers and running balances including the credit balances of two additional months. QUESTION: Does AARP not care what happens to its members when sites it sponsors fraudently misappropriates its members or medicaid monies and mistreats its members in such a fashion? I have reported UNITED HEALTH CARE specific employees to the New York State Attorney General and charged them with fraud. It is indeed fraud. Where is the sponsor AARP in all of this? BTW: My professional advocate, as well as numerous workers in HRA NYC MEDICAID all have been named on UNITED HEAL CARE'S official HIPPA forms so that UNITED HEALTH CARE people who answer their telephone can give them information on this case or transfer them to someone who might help. Still no clues! Meanwhile the official government fraud allegations are working their way fairly quickly. Should I add AARP to the fraud complaint? |
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Re: Medicaid Fraud on AARP Health Plan - Does AARP care?
posted at March 19, 2012 10:32 AM EDT
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Posts: 281
First: July 2, 2009 Last: January 9, 2013 |
In Response to Medicaid Fraud on AARP Health Plan - Does AARP care?: I am a Medicare recipient elegible for 'exrtra help'. Medicare pays for xtra help through Medicaid Funds even though a repient (such as I) is neithor on Medicaid nor eligible for Meicaid it self, nor a 'dual eligible.' I am not a dual eligible either. My Medicare Supplementary Insurance Policy is through an AARP sponsored plan in New York State administered by UNTED HEAL CARE. UNITED HEALTH CARE HAS on 8 ocasasions in the 12 montha of 2011 cancelled my insurance even though HRA NYC MEDICAID Has paid the premiums via NYC Dept of Finance. Copies of those cashed checks , front and back have been given to me and I have sent them on to UNITED HEALTH CARE billing. It turns out upon careful forensic accounting that in the 12 months of 2011 the equivalent of 14 monthly premiums were received and deposited by UNTED HEALTH CARE allegedly for my benefit. Copies of the front and back of those checks were sent to UNITED HEALTH CARE and they still cancelled me and sent me a refund check even though that is NOT my money, but MEDICAID's. (I have given the check by hand to NYC HRA MEDICAID AND RECEIVED A WRITTEN RECEIPT.) In addition another department of UNITED HEALTH CARE has written me on four separate ocassions acknowledging receipt of those checks totalling 14 months worth of premium payments in 2011. Those letters give dates received, check numbers and running balances including the credit balances of two additional months. QUESTION: Does AARP not care what happens to its members when sites it sponsors fraudently misappropriates its members or medicaid monies and mistreats its members in such a fashion? I have reported UNITED HEALTH CARE specific employees to the New York State Attorney General and charged them with fraud. It is indeed fraud. Where is the sponsor AARP in all of this? BTW: My professional advocate, as well as numerous workers in HRA NYC MEDICAID all have been named on UNITED HEAL CARE'S official HIPPA forms so that UNITED HEALTH CARE people who answer their telephone can give them information on this case or transfer them to someone who might help. Still no clues! Meanwhile the official government fraud allegations are working their way fairly quickly. Should I add AARP to the fraud complaint? Posted by LDA8223 This is an issue that we will need to have a representative discuss with you personally, please call us at 1-888-OUR-AARP (1-888-687-2277), between the hours of 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Est Monday through Friday. |
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Re: Medicaid Fraud on AARP Health Plan - Does AARP care?
posted at March 19, 2012 11:30 AM EDT
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Posts: 660
First: March 7, 2012 Last: October 12, 2012 |
In Response to Re: Medicaid Fraud on AARP Health Plan - Does AARP care?: In Response to Medicaid Fraud on AARP Health Plan - Does AARP care? : This is an issue that we will need to have a representative discuss with you personally, please call us at 1-888-OUR-AARP (1-888-687-2277), between the hours of 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Est Monday through Friday. Posted by AARPGuide Thanks for your response to LDA8223, who seems to have a pretty serious problem. I assume to you will work hard to iron out that issue completely. However, I'm posting this to underscore a point you may overlook, that if this happened with one person and one of your sponsors, it may be happening to more people, and to more of the companies that carry AARP's endorsement. Companies and customers look up to AARP because you have a strong reputation. You need to recognize that to live up to that reputation and keep it, you need to diligently monitor the conduct of the companies using your name. Dan |
Forums » Giving Back » Advocacy » What can we expect from the office staff of a specialist or PCP?
