I brought my daughter to High Valley Dermatology for a few small bumps on different parts of her body and one wart on her foot. We were seen by PA Black, who spent less than 10 minutes with us. He diagnosed the bumps as unspecified dermatitis and prescribed two creams (Triamcinolone and Desonide). He also identified the bump on her foot as a wart but provided no treatment.
The bill came to $328 after insurance adjustments. The billing code stated "OFFICE O/P NEW MOD 45 MIN," which didn't reflect the actual time spent or complexity of the visit. I left two voicemails with no response, visited the office in person, and was told the billing rep would call me back--she didn't. After multiple follow-ups, I finally spoke with someone who explained that the charge was due to her being considered a "new patient" (despite being seen five years ago) and the condition being "moderate," resulting in a level 4 charge.
When I asked to speak with the provider who entered the code, I was told he likely wouldn't remember the case and is too busy. I was then directed to contact the CFO.
I have no issue paying for services rendered, but this visit felt over-coded and the follow-up was frustrating and unhelpful. Just a heads-up to others: you may be charged significantly more than expected for what seems like a simple visit. read more