I have been seeing a neurologist for migraines for the past 10 years. I last saw them in the winter of 2011. At that appt I told them that I was planning to become pregnant in the near future and they told me to come back when I was finished breastfeeding. My OB has been refilling my prescriptions since then.
Fast forward to today when my stubborn baby has finally weaned for sure! I called the office to schedule an appt and they said I would have to begin as a new patient since it has been almost 3 years since I was last seen. This means I will have to wait a looooong time to see someone, and also that I will have to come in for anew patient eval. Last time (so over 10 years ago) I waited about 10 - 12months for an appointment, and the eval was about $550and is not covered by insurance.
Is this a normal policy? Does anyone have an idea of what I can do next? I feel like crying I wish I had known about the 3 year policy - I would have come in earlier this year even though I was still breastfeeding.
I also posted this on the Wellness Board but thought it might get more traffic here.
Post by orangeblossom on Sept 22, 2014 16:29:29 GMT -5
I have heard of "rules" as far as establishing you as a new patient. I think it may be office dependent, but then again, there may be actual laws and such.
I know when I wanted to return to a doctor, it'd be a minute, but not enough that I had to go through a new eval and I could still be seen by my old doctor vs. the new one that joined.
I would have you OB write you a referral vs. you setting up the appt, you may be seen sooner. If you're open to it, I would call around and see who's taking new patients, since it seems you'll have to start anew anyway. Just get your old records from your doctor. They're required to keep them for seven years.
I don't know why an eval wouldn't be covered by insurance? Does the eval include MRIs or other imaging? Had you not met your deductible at that point?
Good luck getting this settled, so you can get some migraine relief.
Post by orangeblossom on Sept 22, 2014 16:35:14 GMT -5
Also, is the medicine from the OB doing the job or is it that you want a more powerful drug that can't be used during breastfeeding? Or do you just feel more comfortable with the the neuro?
Yes, to any of those is fine, but I'm just trying to see how much longer you can get by with the OB, until you can get a neuro appt. Also, while I know the neurologist may not have been comfortable treating a pregnant and then breastfeeding woman, it seems kind of dismissive, you know, or like you said, at the very least, what their process is for reestablishing yourself.
With the timeline for a new appt and cost, I'd really look into someone else just to see what you find.
I have heard of "rules" as far as establishing you as a new patient. I think it may be office dependent, but then again, there may be actual laws and such.
I know when I wanted to return to a doctor, it'd be a minute, but not enough that I had to go through a new eval and I could still be seen by my old doctor vs. the new one that joined. - I don't actually care if I see the same doctor or not. So I'd be okay with a new dr but am annoyed about the long wait and the $$.
I would have you OB write you a referral vs. you setting up the appt, you may be seen sooner. If you're open to it, I would call around and see who's taking new patients, since it seems you'll have to start anew anyway. Just get your old records from your doctor. They're required to keep them for seven years. - I would really like to stay with this neurology practice if possible. They re very well known and specialize only in headaches. They offer lots of studies and are usually ahead of the game with new treatments, etc. I have been to several other neurologists before I started here and feel like I get much more from their practice.
As for the referral - I feel dumb but I don't know what that means. I don't need a referral through my insurance, is this kind of referral something different?
I don't know why an eval wouldn't be covered by insurance? Does the eval include MRIs or other imaging? Had you not met your deductible at that point? It doesn't have to do with the type of insurance, they just require things that aren't covered by insurance in general. I'm having a hard time remembering the details but I think that the psych eval isn't covered, and maybe a training session through a biofeedback person.
Good luck getting this settled, so you can get some migraine relief. Thank you! I appreciate your thoughts.
I have heard of "rules" as far as establishing you as a new patient. I think it may be office dependent, but then again, there may be actual laws and such.
I know when I wanted to return to a doctor, it'd be a minute, but not enough that I had to go through a new eval and I could still be seen by my old doctor vs. the new one that joined. - I don't actually care if I see the same doctor or not. So I'd be okay with a new dr but am annoyed about the long wait and the $$.
I would have you OB write you a referral vs. you setting up the appt, you may be seen sooner. If you're open to it, I would call around and see who's taking new patients, since it seems you'll have to start anew anyway. Just get your old records from your doctor. They're required to keep them for seven years. - I would really like to stay with this neurology practice if possible. They re very well known and specialize only in headaches. They offer lots of studies and are usually ahead of the game with new treatments, etc. I have been to several other neurologists before I started here and feel like I get much more from their practice.
As for the referral - I feel dumb but I don't know what that means. I don't need a referral through my insurance, is this kind of referral something different?
I don't know why an eval wouldn't be covered by insurance? Does the eval include MRIs or other imaging? Had you not met your deductible at that point? It doesn't have to do with the type of insurance, they just require things that aren't covered by insurance in general. I'm having a hard time remembering the details but I think that the psych eval isn't covered, and maybe a training session through a biofeedback person.
Good luck getting this settled, so you can get some migraine relief. Thank you! I appreciate your thoughts.
Even though you don't need a referral from your insurance, getting one from your OB basically says, "I've talked with af1212 and we've decided the best course of action is for her to be seen by a specialist, in this case a neurologist".
Generally from there, the office depending on how big it is, will take the steps to make an appt for you, and you normally get an appt much sooner than if you'd called. Sometimes you do have to call on your own, but still saying you have a referral could get you in sooner.
So far I called the regular appointment line, and the person answering explained the situation and transferred me to the new patient line. That is just an answering machine where you leave your # and they call you back. I think last time it took about a week before anyone called me back, so I am planning to call again tomorrow.
I hadn't thought of leaving a message for the dr. I think I will definitely try to do that. In general, the office staff at the practice is terrible - consistently rude and impolite.
I would try the nurse too. I was/am on a first name basis with the nurse for my back surgeon and the nurse at my OB's office. They're way more helpful than the front desk. :-)
I would try the nurse too. I was/am on a first name basis with the nurse for my back surgeon and the nurse at my OB's office. They're way more helpful than the front desk. :-)
If I have not seen a patient in three years I would absolutely do a new evaluation. No question about it. As a patient I would want one, too. A lot can happen in three years.
But 11 months is a long time. Can you see someone else? Can the OB fax the doc a note? Is the doctor out of network?
I go to a neurologist that is also in a practice that specializes in headaches (might even be the same place you're talking about...the whole process sounds very familiar to me). They may offer to let you see a resident or fellow, which will result in a MUCH shorter wait time. They change each year but you should see the doctor each time you go as well, so you actually get to work with two doctors.
I go to a neurologist that is also in a practice that specializes in headaches (might even be the same place you're talking about...the whole process sounds very familiar to me). They may offer to let you see a resident or fellow, which will result in a MUCH shorter wait time. They change each year but you should see the doctor each time you go as well, so you actually get to work with two doctors.
I like resident clinics if it is a good teaching hospital. But in some you will see a new resident every visit. Not the best for continuity.
I go to a neurologist that is also in a practice that specializes in headaches (might even be the same place you're talking about...the whole process sounds very familiar to me). They may offer to let you see a resident or fellow, which will result in a MUCH shorter wait time. They change each year but you should see the doctor each time you go as well, so you actually get to work with two doctors.
I like resident clinics if it is a good teaching hospital. But in some you will see a new resident every visit. Not the best for continuity.
I believe OP goes to the same practice I go to and, if that's the case, you see the same resident for an entire year before they switch off. Or, they switch each summer, so I suppose if you begin treatment mid year you might only see them for a few months, but in general the continuity is pretty good, since you also see the physicians and they obviously stick around regardless.
OP, feel free to PM me if you'd like to see if we are talking about the same place.
I hope you're able to get past the "new patient" wait with a referral from your regular doctor. I don't know what exactly happens at an evaluation, but I'd think after >3 years AND two children, you'd want a new eval. So much changes in that time, and hormones fluctuate so much after pregnancy and Breastfeeding that your treatment now may be drastically different than what it was before. It'll also take your doctor much more time to catch up on you/your file/what has happened since you were last in the office. It's a lot more work for the doctor than if you were just coming for an annual review.