Fill question

[bbammom 0]

A bit of background...My family and I just moved from the state in which I had surgery. I can't believe how hard it was to transfer to a new doctor for fills! While we traveled in the air, my band tightened and I was sick for 3 weeks. I researched new doctors on line and found only three in our new city, two of which are in practice together. The two wanted me to go through nutrition and their new patient person for the total cost of $500 before a doc would see me (even though I needed an emergency unfill). The last doctor saw me after testing through the E.R. and a $200 first visit tab. He made a huge deal about not liking to take transfer pt's but when I started crying, gave me an in-office unfill of 3cc. (I'm a 10 band and was OK, maybe a bit too tight, with 10cc until the flight.) He was also pretty opinionated about my previous medical experience with my last doctor.

Anyway, the new doctor only does fills in the hospital x-ray division. It seems like such a waste of time (but big money maker). When he did the unfill, he kept saying how unusual that was for him to do it in his office. My last doctor did it all the time.

Does anyone else have a doctor that will not do fills in his office? Just curious! Thanks!!

[SageTracey 608]

I'm in Australia so it may different here, but my surgeon does all fills in his office.

[kayekaye 2]

My Doctor is here in Beverly Hills and he does all his fills in the office. I think that Doctor is doing that so he can bill more to the insurance company.

[Cindy C 150]

My doctor has 2 offices. His regular practice and the lapband center which is inside the hospital. All fills are done at the hospital office but no x-ray or flouro. Just him, me and the needle. In an emergency he will see lapband patients at the other office but that's rare since he's at the hospital 2 1/2 days a week and his partner is there the other 2 1/2.

[papoose 48]

My dr. has 2 offices. The office I go to has the flouro machine and all fills are done there under flouro. I did notice from insurance explanation of benefits that when he does a fill he charges $3,000. When I just go in just for a follow up visit the charge is $250. In his office with the flouro machine he will also do unfills.

[bbammom 0]

It just seems like a waste of money. Or maybe I don't understand the advantage of using the flouro. Can anyone explain it to me?

My dr. has 2 offices. The office I go to has the flouro machine and all fills are done there under flouro. I did notice from insurance explanation of benefits that when he does a fill he charges $3,000. When I just go in just for a follow up visit the charge is $250. In his office with the flouro machine he will also do unfills.

[papoose 48]

I guess its the dr's choice of having it in his office or the patient would have to go to the hospital and then the technician would be doing it. This way the Dr. sees what is going on and he can make the evaluation right then and there as to whether you need a fill or an unfill. Not sure maybe some Dr's may do it themselves at the hospital. I prefer having it done in his office as opposed to going to the hospital. Some Dr's just fill and unfill without flouro.

It just seems like a waste of money. Or maybe I don't understand the advantage of using the flouro. Can anyone explain it to me?

[Cindy C 150]

My dr. has 2 offices. The office I go to has the flouro machine and all fills are done there under flouro. I did notice from insurance explanation of benefits that when he does a fill he charges $3,000. When I just go in just for a follow up visit the charge is $250. In his office with the flouro machine he will also do unfills.

WOW! That's crazy. If I get a fill the doctor charges $110 and the hospital charge is $80. For a follow up with no fill the doctor charges $50 and the hospital doesn't charge anything!

[bbammom 0]

Cindy C, your stats are amazing! I'm not thrilled about the way this is going. I see the doctor today and will decide whether or not I stay with him.

WOW! That's crazy. If I get a fill the doctor charges $110 and the hospital charge is $80. For a follow up with no fill the doctor charges $50 and the hospital doesn't charge anything!