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Recently, Ben Stein wrote a column about his visit to a dermatologist, who was, apparently, planning on billing a full new patient charge when all the appointment consisted of was him telling Mr. Stein that he didn’t treat his condition and suggesting he go elsewhere.
Have I ever had visits like that? Sure, a few times a year someone will wander in under the impression I’m a pain specialist, or a neurosurgeon, or whatever. This usually comes out pretty quickly, and when it happens I point them in the right direction and tear up the bill and paperwork. I also dictate a brief note as to what happened, why the visit was ended, and specifically state, "There was no charge for this visit."
Could I bill for it? Of course. Should I? No.
Yes, I know some out there disagree. After all, I did reserve time for this person, and now I lose money on it. My counter is that the same thing happens if a patient gets called into work at the last minute, wakes up violently ill that morning, or has a flat tire on the way to my office. I don’t charge them, either. It’s not right, and I can always use the time to catch up on something else.
I agree – to an extent – with Mr. Stein that there is a "moral-ethical-criminal problem" in modern medical care. He notes that the majority of doctors he’s been to have been fine, but, as in any other field, it only takes a few bad ones to tarnish us all.
All of us likely know a doctor who commits some degree of fraud: overcharging for simple visits, submitting bills on patients he/she never saw, or submitting claims for tests that weren’t done. Obviously, these people shouldn’t be in practice. As Mr. Stein says, they use their license to heal as one to steal.
Sadly, these people don’t see anything wrong with what they’re doing, either. To them it’s just business as usual to submit a level 5 bill for a 10-minute visit, rationalizing it as having to make a living or convincing themselves it was really a 40-minute visit, or whatever. I have no sympathy for them when they get caught.
I still try to be fair, and believe most doctors do, too. Mr. Stein concedes the same point at the end. Unfortunately, as with corrupt politicians, judges, or teachers, it doesn’t take much to hurt the reputation of many.
Dr. Block has a solo neurology practice in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Recently, Ben Stein wrote a column about his visit to a dermatologist, who was, apparently, planning on billing a full new patient charge when all the appointment consisted of was him telling Mr. Stein that he didn’t treat his condition and suggesting he go elsewhere.
Have I ever had visits like that? Sure, a few times a year someone will wander in under the impression I’m a pain specialist, or a neurosurgeon, or whatever. This usually comes out pretty quickly, and when it happens I point them in the right direction and tear up the bill and paperwork. I also dictate a brief note as to what happened, why the visit was ended, and specifically state, "There was no charge for this visit."
Could I bill for it? Of course. Should I? No.
Yes, I know some out there disagree. After all, I did reserve time for this person, and now I lose money on it. My counter is that the same thing happens if a patient gets called into work at the last minute, wakes up violently ill that morning, or has a flat tire on the way to my office. I don’t charge them, either. It’s not right, and I can always use the time to catch up on something else.
I agree – to an extent – with Mr. Stein that there is a "moral-ethical-criminal problem" in modern medical care. He notes that the majority of doctors he’s been to have been fine, but, as in any other field, it only takes a few bad ones to tarnish us all.
All of us likely know a doctor who commits some degree of fraud: overcharging for simple visits, submitting bills on patients he/she never saw, or submitting claims for tests that weren’t done. Obviously, these people shouldn’t be in practice. As Mr. Stein says, they use their license to heal as one to steal.
Sadly, these people don’t see anything wrong with what they’re doing, either. To them it’s just business as usual to submit a level 5 bill for a 10-minute visit, rationalizing it as having to make a living or convincing themselves it was really a 40-minute visit, or whatever. I have no sympathy for them when they get caught.
I still try to be fair, and believe most doctors do, too. Mr. Stein concedes the same point at the end. Unfortunately, as with corrupt politicians, judges, or teachers, it doesn’t take much to hurt the reputation of many.
Dr. Block has a solo neurology practice in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Recently, Ben Stein wrote a column about his visit to a dermatologist, who was, apparently, planning on billing a full new patient charge when all the appointment consisted of was him telling Mr. Stein that he didn’t treat his condition and suggesting he go elsewhere.
Have I ever had visits like that? Sure, a few times a year someone will wander in under the impression I’m a pain specialist, or a neurosurgeon, or whatever. This usually comes out pretty quickly, and when it happens I point them in the right direction and tear up the bill and paperwork. I also dictate a brief note as to what happened, why the visit was ended, and specifically state, "There was no charge for this visit."
Could I bill for it? Of course. Should I? No.
Yes, I know some out there disagree. After all, I did reserve time for this person, and now I lose money on it. My counter is that the same thing happens if a patient gets called into work at the last minute, wakes up violently ill that morning, or has a flat tire on the way to my office. I don’t charge them, either. It’s not right, and I can always use the time to catch up on something else.
I agree – to an extent – with Mr. Stein that there is a "moral-ethical-criminal problem" in modern medical care. He notes that the majority of doctors he’s been to have been fine, but, as in any other field, it only takes a few bad ones to tarnish us all.
All of us likely know a doctor who commits some degree of fraud: overcharging for simple visits, submitting bills on patients he/she never saw, or submitting claims for tests that weren’t done. Obviously, these people shouldn’t be in practice. As Mr. Stein says, they use their license to heal as one to steal.
Sadly, these people don’t see anything wrong with what they’re doing, either. To them it’s just business as usual to submit a level 5 bill for a 10-minute visit, rationalizing it as having to make a living or convincing themselves it was really a 40-minute visit, or whatever. I have no sympathy for them when they get caught.
I still try to be fair, and believe most doctors do, too. Mr. Stein concedes the same point at the end. Unfortunately, as with corrupt politicians, judges, or teachers, it doesn’t take much to hurt the reputation of many.
Dr. Block has a solo neurology practice in Scottsdale, Ariz.
