injury update

[mckitterick]

Went to the doctor today to get a checkup about my shoulder. The first fun aspect was that his office, FirstMed in Lawrence, doesn't accept vehicular insurance. Prior to going there, I had asked my scoot insurance person how I should handle medical stuff, and she said that I should give them the Progressive card and they'd deal with what was

Comments

[bammba_m]

I wasn't there, but it kind of sounds like you need a new doctor.

What a huge pile of suck. *hugs*

[ellen_datlow]

Sounds awful. And I suggest you get a second opinion. This doc doesn't sound too empathetic.

[mckitterick]

Yeah, I'm hoping to hear from the expert on bones next week. In the mean time, a week's worth of fretting about ever using my arm properly again. Which is awesome.

[mckitterick]

It's pretty sucky. I'm looking forward to talking to the bones-expert and hopefully getting some some, well, hopeful news.

[clevermanka]

I agree with gwyndolin. Dr. Burt's method of communication doesn't come through well in this post. He's very much a "let the patient be involved in his/her care" sort of doctor and doesn't give his opinion unless you specifically ask for it.

He's been wonderful helping me through my various health issues (all of which have been bizarre and unusual) and has never blinked at sending me to an unorthodox specialist, like a chiropractor to help with allergy issues, or requesting a test for me at KU Medical Center that he'd never even heard of that I found out about thanks to an internet group.

The fact that the office won't process insurance claims, though, is absolutely ridiculous and will probably make me switch doctors, though I'll be very sad to leave his care.

[silverfae]

I've had some go rounds with them over bills and billing, but it's a very complicated thing, which is why medical billing coders are a growing field. But.. they always seem to get it sorted out eventually, so I'm willing to stay with them. I just have no idea who else in town would be quite so cooperative with alternative treatments as they are.

A lot of doctors' offices won't touch auto claims billing these days, they're not unusual in that.

[clevermanka]

A lot of doctors' offices won't touch auto claims billing these days, they're not unusual in that.

Really??? This seems outrageously unreasonable to me. I mean...if I was in a car crash, the last thing I should have to worry about is being a mediator between my physician's office and Progressive. Ya know?

God, people suck.

[silverfae]

Yep, it's been a bit of the extra stress on me with my claims, but it's not outrageous. Especially once you're in litigation, it all goes straight to the attorney's office. Another good reason to not mess around deciding to get one on the case.

But there's been no mediation needed, just pay the bills, send in the receipts, get a check from the auto policy.
I haven't dealt with Progressive, but my USAA auto farmed us out to them with the motorcyles, so I'm assuming they'll not be a problem.
(USAA doesn't do motorcycle policies in states with no helmet law).

[mckitterick]

It's called, "irony." Billing doesn't do billing, insurance doesn't pay for insured things; like that.

[clevermanka]

I don't like irony.

[mckitterick]

Seriously? What's the world coming to? And health-care reform is falling out of favor among the American public, eh?

This is irony.

[mckitterick]

Yep, a pretty huge pile of it. Oh, and I had to go to the KU Police office and give them $1.08 to get a copy of my police report. Huh?

Insult to injury.

[bammba_m]

Literally. That doesn't even make any sense.

[silverfae]

Lawrence Police Department charged me $5 for my report.

[fortyozspartan]

I just had to pay the Sheriff $5 to write down my VIN# for the 18th time and read my odometer. It literally took him about a minute.