Special Care

Dear **. [redacted],Re: Complaint ID [redacted] ([redacted])Following our contemporary telephone conversation on the above subject, and your request for a written response, I submit the following regarding the incident of February 10th, 2014 referred to in your...

letter.I last treated **. [redacted] as a patient was on 10/3/2013 and I have never discussed contraception issues with her, or treated her for contraception. On February 10th, 2014 I was informed by the Medical Assistant [redacted] that [redacted] was on the phone requesting that I send in a prescription for the morning-after pill. I requested that she comes in for counselling and to do a pregnancy test on the same day because she may have been pregnant from the last time I saw her to the time she was requesting the pill, not only considering the night before her request when she said she had sex. The morning after pill is effective within 72 hours after sexual intercourse so coming in for the counselling/evaluation several hours after sexual encounter will not in any way affect the efficacy of emergency contraception. I needed to ascertain her existing medical condition which I had not checked since her last visit, which was over three months.On the issue calling [redacted] in to discuss her blood work results, I ordered blood work for her on April 22, 2013, received the results on April 25, 2013 and called her immediately as there were issues manifested in the results that I needed to discuss with her. She came in the same April 25th, 2013 to discuss lab results and another medical condition. Copies of the results can be made available to you upon her authorization to further ascertain why she needed to come into the office for the results to be discussed. That was the only time I ordered blood work for [redacted] and requested that she comes in to discuss the results.This office will provide any further information required with respect to this matter.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:
The bottom line is that it is inappropriate to request a patient in for counseling about the morning-after-pill, an over the counter drug. When a patient goes to buy the Morning-after-pill at a drug store, they are not required to take a pregnancy test. My insurance requires the Doctor to call it in to the pharmacy in order for them to cover the charges. I indicated that I was unable to come to the clinic within the 72 hour time frame. Dr. [redacted] simply wanted to unnecessarily charge my insurance. 
Regards,
[redacted]

Review: On Monday February 10th, 2014, I called Dr. [redacted]s clinic, and told the receptionist, [redacted] that I need Dr. [redacted] to call in emergency contraception (The Morning After Pill) to the pharmacy. She said she will have the doctor do that, however, 10 minutes later, she called me back and said, "Dr. [redacted] wants you to come into his clinic to take a pregnancy test." Emergency contraception is an over-the-counter drug. However, I'm on Medicaid, and my insurance will cover 100 percent of the cost if a doctor calls it in. Also, there is no possible way a pregnancy test will show up positive the next day after having sex. So I explained to [redacted] that I am not at all able to make it to his clinic because of my busy schedule. She replied, "he will only call it into the pharmacy if you come here and take a pregnancy test." I finally realized that Dr. [redacted]'s intentions are to take advantage of me, by billing my health insurance for unnecessary office visits, and pregnancy test. I told them that Im not to be taken advantage of. I paid $58 for the emergency contraception, all because Dr. [redacted] wouldn't call it in to the pharmacy. On other occasions Dr. [redacted] has done very similar actions. When he does my blood work, [redacted] will ask me to come into the clinic to review my results even if they are normal. If its normal why couldnt he call to say that labs are normal? The answer is because he will bill my insurance. [redacted] told me they don't email, or discuss lab results over the phone with patients. However, Many clinics have online accounts for patients to view lab results, order refills or send email to doctor. I have the same problem with drug refills. I've used [redacted], a facial cream that treats acne for 10 years. Dr. [redacted] will write a prescription for the drug without refills. In order for a refill, he requires that I visit his clinic, so he can take advantage of me and bill my insurance. I no longer feel safe to call my doctor when I have concerns.Desired Settlement: I have Medicaid, $58 is expensive. I could have gotten pregnant if I didn't have the money for Plan B. I would like Dr. [redacted] to understand that patients are very busy. It's not fair to have them come to his clinic for petty reasons, such as over-the-counter medications, or drug refills that the patient uses on a routine basis. Requiring monthly visits for refills is unrealistic, inconvenient, and depending on the patients copay it can be a financial burden. When labs are normal, just call.

Business

Response:

Dear **. [redacted],Re: Complaint ID [redacted])Following our contemporary telephone conversation on the above subject, and your request for a written response, I submit the following regarding the incident of February 10th, 2014 referred to in your letter.I last treated **. [redacted] as a patient was on 10/3/2013 and I have never discussed contraception issues with her, or treated her for contraception. On February 10th, 2014 I was informed by the Medical Assistant [redacted] that [redacted] was on the phone requesting that I send in a prescription for the morning-after pill. I requested that she comes in for counselling and to do a pregnancy test on the same day because she may have been pregnant from the last time I saw her to the time she was requesting the pill, not only considering the night before her request when she said she had sex. The morning after pill is effective within 72 hours after sexual intercourse so coming in for the counselling/evaluation several hours after sexual encounter will not in any way affect the efficacy of emergency contraception. I needed to ascertain her existing medical condition which I had not checked since her last visit, which was over three months.On the issue calling [redacted] in to discuss her blood work results, I ordered blood work for her on April 22, 2013, received the results on April 25, 2013 and called her immediately as there were issues manifested in the results that I needed to discuss with her. She came in the same April 25th, 2013 to discuss lab results and another medical condition. Copies of the results can be made available to you upon her authorization to further ascertain why she needed to come into the office for the results to be discussed. That was the only time I ordered blood work for [redacted] and requested that she comes in to discuss the results.This office will provide any further information required with respect to this matter.Sincerely,

Consumer

Response:

[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]

Review: [redacted]

I am rejecting this response because:

The bottom line is that it is inappropriate to request a patient in for counseling about the morning-after-pill, an over the counter drug. When a patient goes to buy the Morning-after-pill at a drug store, they are not required to take a pregnancy test. My insurance requires the Doctor to call it in to the pharmacy in order for them to cover the charges. I indicated that I was unable to come to the clinic within the 72 hour time frame. Dr. [redacted] simply wanted to unnecessarily charge my insurance.

Regards,