Comments on ACP Internist: How insurance companies help kill primary care

I find it amazing that people are getting all upse...

2010-07-28T23:54:28.823-04:00

I find it amazing that people are getting all upset about government involvement in their healthcare as if it means they are doomed. They don't realize all the issues that are already impacting their health care.

I have a great internist but the last time I called they couldn't get me in for 2 weeks! Luckily I have had enough face time with her (she managed my pneumonia earlier this year and helped me stay out of the hospital this time) that I am able to send an "email" through her office portal and then she'll call in a prescription for me as long as it's nothing unusual.

If I were in medical school I wouldn't go into family practice or internal medicine as it would be impossible to pay off all the student loans. Also, why work your tail off taking care of people AND fight with insurers to get paid?

My cosmetic dermatologist has the easiest life of any of my doctors as she does lots of botox, fillers and laser work and gets paid in full by the patients. And I bet she rarely gets calls at home.

This is insurance company strategy to get out of p...

2010-07-27T10:45:32.071-04:00

This is insurance company strategy to get out of paying we physicians for care we've provided. You have to rebill, or appeal that claim with all the complex billing silliness that proves you deserve the money you asked for. It's why my medical biller takes 5.5% off the top of all money I receive for providing medical care to my patients. 5.5% of healthy care costs just to BILL! That's a lot of money given the amount we spend on health care as a nation.
Cynthia Bailey MD
http://www.otbskincare.com/blog/

This is a sad state of affairs. I read this AM tha...

2010-07-22T10:50:54.269-04:00

This is a sad state of affairs. I read this AM that Blue Cross-Blue Shield has retained more than 3X the recommended surplus at the same time they are raising rates over 30%. There is a definite connection between what happened to you and your payment and the obscene profits that health insurers obtain. Does anyone really care?