North Valley Eye Care

Review: Dr. [redacted] requested that I attend several follow visits to his eye care clinic after performing Cataract surgery on me in May of this year (2013). There was no charge for the follow up care visits after the surgery as I suspect is normal and prudent after eye surgery is performed.. However he also requested that I attend a follow visit in Nov. 2013.... Now I have been presented with a bill for $200 (reduced to $95.29 ) for this last visit. I called and complained ... They stated that this exam was normal and outside of the scope of the surgery and that it was required that I have my eye's dilated at least once a year.. I had my eyes dilated at least once or more during one or more of the follow up appointments. I believe that this is totally a fee generating visit and was not necessary and it was definitely at the Dr.s request. I think if I had requested and scheduled this appointment that I would be obligated to pay for it. I think this is hustle... ans a fee that most people pay without question.... Desired Settlement: Other (requires explanation)

I want this bill taken off and I want a phone call from the Dr. to explain why I am being charged for a visit that is by his request and not the patient.

Business

Response:

Without a specific release to disclose medical information, we are greatly limited in our ability to discuss details of a patient's personal medical history, or to even acknowledge whether a patient was treated. However, we can attempt to offer some general explanations regarding the standard of care, and assure you that the customer's file was reviewed by his physician for medical appropriateness of treatment and charges. It also appears that the patient never requested he be released or referred back into the care of his Optometrist, if indeed that was truly his preference at the time.

Physicians have a moral obligation to recommend examination and testing at the intervals recommended by the accepted standard of care in their given specialty. Dilation of the eyes allows us to see the back of the eye, which hosts the retina, optic nerve, and important blood vessels. When your pupils are dilated, your eye care professional is able to clearly see and evaluate these parts of the eye. Pupil dilation can reveal general health problems like hypertension, and can also catch the signs of glaucoma and cataracts early. Most eye care professionals ask and/or recommend dilation at every exam. Simply recommending a return visit does not obligate the physician to provide the care at no charge. The recommended interval for dilation in a healthy adult is every 1-2 years. This recommendation is at much more frequent intervals for those with known conditions such as glaucoma, or after certain eye surgeries. In the case of cataracts, the "global period" for follow up is 90 days. However, once the 90 days has passed the need to have regular visits and follow up visits does not disappear. Our physicians continue to have a duty to advise their patients of the most appropriate care to preserve their vision. While we appreciate that this may result in expense to a patient, or additional visits being billed to a medical insurance plan, the risk of neglecting eye health is a greater concern and takes priority.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.

Sincerely,