I saw Dr. Preston for the first time about a year ago. I was having some digestive issues, she had me do the full food allergy test (which was rather pricey), and based on the results recommended I stay off gluten, dairy, and a few other things for 3 months. I did, and my trouble cleared up beautifully. She also had some good recommendations for vitamin D and fermented skate liver oil, and some other diet things. She really does spend a lot of time with you, asks all kinds of questions and tries to get the whole picture of your emotional/physical situation.
Unfortunately, I have had a disagreement with her over billing, which is described below in the 2 emails I sent her, given here verbatim. I was really surprised about how she handled it, it just didn't jibe with my impression of her at all. My trust was undermined and I won't be back. I would still recommend her as a doctor, but I would suggest being really clear about how you are going to be billed, to avoid any surprises.
First email:
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Hi Dr. Preston,
I would like to follow up on the our appointment last month, and the fact that it was billed to my insurance as an office visit, rather than annual physical. The difference to me is that I would have to pay $159 for the office visit, whereas the physical is covered at 100%.
Amanda told me she already chatted with you about this, but I am unhappy with the conclusion, so would like to follow up with you directly. There was a misunderstanding, and I am not sure which of my actions could have caused this misunderstanding.
Here are the facts from my point of view:
I was planning to leave my job and wanted to have an annual physical while I still had health insurance. I had no symptoms or any conditions that I wanted help with, just wanted to make sure my labs where OK, and nothing was amiss.
I emailed you (this is part of that email chain) asking for a lab slip for an annual physical, it says so in the body of the email and in the subject itself.
I made an appointment for the physical
when I came in, you asked me if I wanted a Pap test, you might have also said "and all that stuff". I assumed you were just talking about the pelvic exam and Pap and said that no, I already had that done by my gynecologist
we then proceeded to review my lab results and talk about my overall state of health. That seemed like exactly the right conversation one would have with a naturopath during a physical. Again, I had no conditions or symptoms I wanted to discuss
From what Amanda told me, it sounds like the reason you decided we were not doing a physical was because I declined the Pap test. Was there any other cause for the misunderstanding?
The situation now from my point of view is that I wanted a physical, repeated asked for a physical, received what I thought was a physical, but was billed for an office visit.
To me it doesn't seem right that I should pay for a mistake, unless I directly caused it.
What do you think?
respectfully,
O.
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Second email:
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Hi Dr. Preston,
well, I never heard back from you about my concerns over the billing,
and today I received a bill from your office, without any corrections.
I must say, I am quite disappointed in how this was handled. Fair
billing is part of patient care, and I didn't receive fair billing in
this case. This situation is really affecting my trust in you as my
doctor. I am quite surprised at your lack of response, the only
assumption I can make is that it is more financially beneficial for
you to bill for office visits rather than physicals, and that's why
you did that. Again, that erodes my trust.
take care,
O.
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I did hear from her a few days later, stating that she asked me if I wanted a physical and that I said "no"; and that she focused on my health issues so it wasn't a physical. Well, I was there, and that's not what happened. Nor did I have any health issues that I wanted to discuss, we just talked about my lab results and various things going on in my life.
I feel that I was billed entirely incorrectly, and considered contesting the bill, but my time and emotions are worth more to me than $150, so I'll just pay it, but I won't be back. The whole thing left me feeling rather yucky. read more
