Andrew T. Gergely MD/Associates

October 26, 2015To Whom It May Concern:This letter is written in response to the above compliant.It is standard operating procedure for physicians to apply a fee to such activities as copying records, completion of forms or writing letters. Similarly, because certain...

controlled substance require a written prescription, our policy is to apply a fee for doing so. This is clearly spelled out in our explanation of office policies. This is a one page document that clearly delineate among other things, a fee will be charged for writing certain prescriptions. This individual signed this document on the day of  her evaluation.I spoke with Nurse Practitioner K[redacted], who told me she was told by the patient she had a supply of the medication. Ms, K[redacted] told me she informed the patient, as her standard procedure there would be a charge for writing a prescription in between visits. They agreed the patient would get the prescription from her Primary Care Physician, if needed.We strive to achieve the best balance between patient convenience and safety. This is an on-going process, I am sorry there was a misunderstanding in this case.Andrew Gergely, M.D.

October 26, 2015
To Whom It May Concern:
This letter is written in response to the above compliant.It is standard operating procedure for physicians to apply a fee to such activities as copying records, completion of forms or writing letters. Similarly, because certain...

controlled substance require a written prescription, our policy is to apply a fee for doing so. This is clearly spelled out in our explanation of office policies. This is a one page document that clearly delineate among other things, a fee will be charged for writing certain prescriptions. This individual signed this document on the day of  her evaluation.I spoke with Nurse Practitioner K[redacted], who told me she was told by the patient she had a supply of the medication. Ms, K[redacted] told me she informed the patient, as her standard procedure there would be a charge for writing a prescription in between visits. They agreed the patient would get the prescription from her Primary Care Physician, if needed.We strive to achieve the best balance between patient convenience and safety. This is an on-going process, I am sorry there was a misunderstanding in this case.
Andrew Gergely, M.D.

[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed Administratively Resolved]
 Complaint: [redacted]
I am rejecting this response because:
Regards,
[redacted] November 5, 2016To Whom It May Concern:This is in response to the above continued complaint.I do not recall reading anything about fees for prescriptions. remember a fee that would be charged for not showing up for your appointment or cancellations made too late.I find it very disturbing that Nurse Practitioner Patricia K[redacted] stated to Dr. Gergely that (the patient) had stated had a supply of the medication. Let me explain my initial evaluation (visit) and what I recall:I arrived early for my appointment on October 6, 2015 and did the required documents. As sat there, a gentleman came in and checked in for his appointment which was the same time as mine. I could hear the receptionist tell him that his appointment was for the next day and that she was pretty booked and she had someone back there at that time. She also told him that I was waiting to go back which was a new patient and that would take longer since it is the initial appointment. She said they would try to squeeze him in.I thought nothing about it at that time because did not know how many females they had working in there office that are qualified to see patients. When was called back by Patricia K[redacted], followed her into her office and she had my referral and asked very few questions. I was asked if I was just there to get my medications and did I want it just sent to the Primary Care or was there to continue to be seen with her. I was taken back since the referral was for a re-evaluation for the ADHD medications I believe it said. I said I would guess it was better to stay and be seen until we figured out my medications. She agreed and we discussed what I was on. She then felt that the ADHD medication was not working because of the Anxiety/depression medication I was on. She decided to start there with weaning me off of [redacted] and start me on [redacted]. She felt the [redacted] would work by doing this. She gave me samples of the [redacted] (which is the medication she asked if I had and I did have plenty of that one) and prescription for the [redacted].The only other question she basically asked was if I had any trauma as a child? I felt I was a number and not a person and was being rushed. My initial appointment was to be at least 45 minutes and was in and out within 30 minutes. As scheduled my next appointment, the gentleman was called back which explains why I was rushed and my appointment was cut short,The next week realized that I would run out of my ADHD medication before seeing Patricia K[redacted] which was not discussed when I was in with her. I contacted my Primary Care and was informed that I should call Patricia K[redacted] back to get that medication since was under her care at this time and I agreed (also discussed with them my feelings of not really feeling good about this doctor's office and we both decided to give it until I go back for my follow up to see if I felt the same). I contacted Patricia K[redacted]s office and spoke to Ms. O[redacted], who informed me that if she did write this, it would be a fee of $30.I was shocked, upset, and questioned this as had never heard of such a thing. My primary care would just have them written and at the front for pick up since is a restricted med. Being a new patient and not even thinking about the ADHD medication since we were starting with the Anxiety meds, it was not something I was thinking about during that visit nor would have known it prior to my visit to even ask. Ms. O[redacted] was very pleasant and even said she understood and why they do it but that she would even ask Patricia Kane in her notes to waive the fee since was a new patient and just seen and that it was not about the medications she gave me the day of my visit. told her that if Patricia Kane wanted to charge me that she need not write it and would go back to my primary care. received a call the next day stating that Patricia Kane said to go through my primary care....which told me she was not waiving the fee!For a profession that specializes in those with such emotional issues (some more extreme than I), I would think they should be more compassionate, sympathetic, etc. instead of feeling unwanted, rushed, could care less of who was or what I really needed!I am sure the office will submit my visit as a new evaluation and receive full payment (for a visit that should have taken longer but was cut short) from my insurance company but then want to charge me $30 to just write a prescription that takes maybe 1 minute? Is that really fair?Sincerely,

[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed Administratively Resolved]
 Complaint: [redacted]
I am rejecting this response because:Regards,
[redacted]
November 5, 2016
To Whom It May Concern:
This is in response to the above continued complaint.
I do not recall reading anything about fees for prescriptions. remember a fee that would be charged for not showing up for your appointment or cancellations made too late.
I find it very disturbing that Nurse Practitioner Patricia K[redacted] stated to Dr. Gergely that (the patient) had stated had a supply of the medication. Let me explain my initial evaluation (visit) and what I recall:
I arrived early for my appointment on October 6, 2015 and did the required documents. As sat there, a gentleman came in and checked in for his appointment which was the same time as mine. I could hear the receptionist tell him that his appointment was for the next day and that she was pretty booked and she had someone back there at that time. She also told him that I was waiting to go back which was a new patient and that would take longer since it is the initial appointment.
She said they would try to squeeze him in.
I thought nothing about it at that time because did not know how many females they had working in there office that are qualified to see patients. When was called back by Patricia K[redacted], followed her into her office and she had my referral and asked very few questions. I was asked if I was just there to get my medications and did I want it just sent to the Primary Care or was there to continue to be seen with her. I was taken back since the referral was for a re-evaluation for the ADHD medications I believe it said. I said I would guess it was better to stay and be seen until we figured out my medications. She agreed and we discussed what I was on. She then felt that the ADHD medication was not working because of the Anxiety/depression medication I was on. She decided to start there with weaning me off of [redacted] and start me on [redacted]. She felt the [redacted] would work by doing this. She gave me samples of the [redacted] (which is the medication she asked if I had and I did have plenty of that one) and prescription for the [redacted].
The only other question she basically asked was if I had any trauma as a child? I felt I was a number and not a person and was being rushed. My initial appointment was to be at least 45 minutes and was in and out within 30 minutes. As scheduled my next appointment, the gentleman was called back which explains why I was rushed and my appointment was cut short,The next week realized that I would run out of my ADHD medication before seeing Patricia K[redacted] which was not discussed when I was in with her. I contacted my Primary Care and was informed that I should call Patricia K[redacted] back to get that medication since was under her care at this time and I agreed (also discussed with them my feelings of not really feeling good about this doctor's office and we both decided to give it until I go back for my follow up to see if I felt the same). I contacted Patricia K[redacted]s office and spoke to Ms. O[redacted], who informed me that if she did write this, it would be a fee of $30.
I was shocked, upset, and questioned this as had never heard of such a thing. My primary care would just have them written and at the front for pick up since is a restricted med. Being a new patient and not even thinking about the ADHD medication since we were starting with the Anxiety meds, it was not something I was thinking about during that visit nor would have known it prior to my visit to even ask. Ms. O[redacted] was very pleasant and even said she understood and why they do it but that she would even ask Patricia Kane in her notes to waive the fee since was a new patient and just seen and that it was not about the medications she gave me the day of my visit. told her that if Patricia Kane wanted to charge me that she need not write it and would go back to my primary care. received a call the next day stating that Patricia Kane said to go through my primary care....which told me she was not waiving the fee!
For a profession that specializes in those with such emotional issues (some more extreme than I), I would think they should be more compassionate, sympathetic, etc. instead of feeling unwanted, rushed, could care less of who was or what I really needed!
I am sure the office will submit my visit as a new evaluation and receive full payment (for a visit that should have taken longer but was cut short) from my insurance company but then want to charge me $30 to just write a prescription that takes maybe 1 minute? Is that really fair?
Sincerely,