Publisher's Notes

Thank you for stopping by NYC Mood Swings. As like everyone else I have mood swings, especially with all the turmoil in this Country and around the World. Here is where I unleash my opinions, thoughts, hopes and fears. Get involved in the discussion and leave a comment. I would like to give advance thanks to all media that I use to express my views here. Enjoy.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Doctor's Are Big Business

Today I had to see the Doctor so that she could and would write another prescription for my high blood pressure. I have to say I was totally disturbed and angered by the way she seemed to have held my prescription hostage so that I would have to pay for a visit. Let me back up to 2 weeks ago when I discovered that I no longer had refills left after speaking with the Pharmacist. I called my Doctor who has this very strange office manager that answered the phone. I started by asking if the Doctor would call in my prescription because I am almost out of medication. He replied with, you probably will have to come in to see her. I explained that my partner has been laid off and my hours cut so I don't have money for a visit plus my co-pay for the prescription. Let me add this was the week of paying rent so you know I was broke. He said let me call her and then I'll call you back. The call back really annoyed me because he claimed I must make an appointment in order to get this prescription. For the record I have been on this medication for almost ten years so what's changed all of a sudden. After going back and forth with him (office manager) I finally agreed to come in on the next available opening which was a week later. Needless to say as predicted I did not have the money for the visit. So I wasn't able to go.
Fast foward to today, I'm waiting to see the Doctor and her nurse did not know how to work this new fangled blood pressure equipment. The nurse finally gave up and resorted to the old reliable way of getting a blood pressure reading. And yes it was high. In walks the Doctor saying she hears that I am going through some financial difficulties and that it's bad every where. Something I don't need or want to hear from a dDoctor with a practice in Mid-Town Manhattan and a full waiting room. She took her stethascope and listened to my lungs and checked my neck and that was the end of this medical visit. She said she was writing me a presciption for six months but that she would like to see me once a month to monitor my pressure. For what I asked if everything is status quo. Just to be sure evrything is going smoothly. Do I look like I have extra money to give to her so that she can tell me evrything is going smoothly?
I go out to the waiting room to wait for the presciptions and her Office Manager is trying to set up an appointment for next month, the he says "You have two missed appointment charges that we need to make payment plan for" I lost my mind on him! Take my name off of that appointment and I'm not paying anything! I said. Our last conversation we spoke for almost 20 minutes as I tried to explain to you that I most likely would not have the funds for a visit plus medication so that was a chance you you took. And I'm not paying for something you damn near black mailed me into agreeing to. I took my presciptions and left. Maybe it's me but why does a Doctor feel that they have the right to play with my health and finances so that they can bill my insurance company. She didn't run test, not even an extensive check up so what the hell did I have to come in for? To insult to injury you want charge me monthly so that you can say everything is ok? Not me.

Doctor's Are Big Business

Today I had to see the Doctor so that she could and would write another prescription for my high blood pressure. I have to say I was totally disturbed and angered by the way she seemed to have held my prescription hostage so that I would have to pay for a visit. Let me back up to 2 weeks ago when I discovered that I no longer had refills left after speaking with the Pharmacist. I called my Doctor who has this very strange office manager that answered the phone. I started by asking if the Doctor would call in my prescription because I am almost out of medication. He replied with, you probably will have to come in to see her. I explained that my partner has been laid off and my hours cut so I don't have money for a visit plus my co-pay for the prescription. Let me add this was the week of paying rent so you know I was broke. He said let me call her and then I'll call you back. The call back really annoyed me because he claimed I must make an appointment in order to get this prescription. For the record I have been on this medication for almost ten years so what's changed all of a sudden. After going back and forth with him (office manager) I finally agreed to come in on the next available opening which was a week later. Needless to say as predicted I did not have the money for the visit. So I wasn't able to go.
Fast foward to today, I'm waiting to see the Doctor and her nurse did not know how to work this new fangled blood pressure equipment. The nurse finally gave up and resorted to the old reliable way of getting a blood pressure reading. And yes it was high. In walks the Doctor saying she hears that I am going through some financial difficulties and that it's bad every where. Something I don't need or want to hear from a dDoctor with a practice in Mid-Town Manhattan and a full waiting room. She took her stethascope and listened to my lungs and checked my neck and that was the end of this medical visit. She said she was writing me a presciption for six months but that she would like to see me once a month to monitor my pressure. For what I asked if everything is status quo. Just to be sure evrything is going smoothly. Do I look like I have extra money to give to her so that she can tell me evrything is going smoothly?
I go out to the waiting room to wait for the presciptions and her Office Manager is trying to set up an appointment for next month, the he says "You have two missed appointment charges that we need to make payment plan for" I lost my mind on him! Take my name off of that appointment and I'm not paying anything! I said. Our last conversation we spoke for almost 20 minutes as I tried to explain to you that I most likely would not have the funds for a visit plus medication so that was a chance you you took. And I'm not paying for something you damn near black mailed me into agreeing to. I took my presciptions and left. Maybe it's me but why does a Doctor feel that they have the right to play with my health and finances so that they can bill my insurance company. She didn't run test, not even an extensive check up so what the hell did I have to come in for? To insult to injury you want charge me monthly so that you can say everything is ok? Not me.