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Podiatrist's $4,378 bill for hourlong visit stuns patient, other physicians

Discussion in 'USA' started by NewsBot, Nov 5, 2007.

  1. NewsBot

    NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

    Articles:
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    The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel are reporting:
    Podiatrist's $4,378 bill for hourlong visit stuns patient, other physicians
    Full story
     
  2. NewsBot

    NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

    Articles:
    1
    Update on this story from The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
    Update: Foot doctor's former patients, others sound off
    Link to story
     
  3. NewsBot

    NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

    Articles:
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    The The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel are reporting:
    Update: State has yet to review podiatrist's billing
    Link to story
     
  4. Dr_Shibu

    Dr_Shibu Member

    "He billed $265 for a 'new patient fee.' That's at least twice what most podiatrists bill, Frydman said."
    I am assuming this fee is a new patient visit (E&M). I am sure prices vary from one area to another but I do not think $265 is twice what most podiatrists would charge for an initial visit in New York.

    There are podiatrists in New York that charge 2-3 times what other podiatrists charge in the same borough. If the practice generates a patient population that is willing to pay those charges, I do not see anything imoral or illegal about it except for the following.
    I'm not sure about Wisconsin, but in New York you are obliged to charge everyone the same thing regardless of insurance company or if it is self pay (unless you are waiving part of the bill because the patient can not afford it). The doctor above does seem to be varying his bills with each patient. I think this is more of an issue.
     
    Last edited: Apr 2, 2008
  5. NewsBot

    NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

    Articles:
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    Here is the latest on this story:

    JSOnline are reporting:
    High-priced doctor not measuring up to state order, still collecting from patients
     
  6. NewsBot

    NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

    Articles:
    1
    The above story was from 2008, Here is the latest story:
    Podiatrist's fees shock patients
    Doctor sets rates far higher than insurance

    Full story from The Wisconsin Journal Sentinel
     
  7. NewsBot

    NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

    Articles:
    1
  8. wdd

    wdd Well-Known Member

    Probably a little British naivety but in America, do patients walk through the door knowing they are going to have to pay sums of money even of three or four hundred dollars plus a new patient fee, ie do they know before hand how much they are going to have to pay?

    Bill
     
  9. NewsBot

    NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

    Articles:
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    Attorney General files lawsuit against podiatrist Dr. Lanham
    Full story
     
  10. wdd

    wdd Well-Known Member

    I should have read the first article a little more thoroughly.

    The suggestion seems to be that there is a problem with transparency in podiatry costs but that this issue is being addressed?

    So I take it that the answer to my own question is 'No patients do not know beforehand how much they are going to have to pay' although they might get a feel from it from previous knowledge of the same podiatrist or another podiatrist.

    I can see that when you have a broad range of activities and you bill per item it is more difficult to tell a patient before hand what the final bill will be although I would think that if they had access to the podiatrist's itemised list of costs they could make a pretty could stab at it.

    I wonder why there is an ongoing lack of transparency?

    Bill
     
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