Posted by Nanc on March 26, 1998 at 17:40:14:
In Reply to: Re: Question 3 posted by Roni on March 26, 1998 at 17:34:43:
: : : : Apparently physicians are restricted when offering professional courtesy. "If you cannot reduce the cost of care for anyone else in your practice, you cannot reduce it for physicians." This rule is established by private insurers as well as the federgovernment. There are also laws regarding waiving co-pays, offering discounts, and taking kickbacks. There is not a problem, however, if a dr should desire to waive an entire charge for care unless it is part of a fraudulent scheme.
: : : physicians frequently will accept what the insurance companies pay and not charge additional charges
: : Very true.
: According to the web site listed earlier, they are not supposed to do that because people will make a lot more casual trips to the doc.
I think the docs I work with are selective on who they give the courtesty, too. They are all aware of the healthcare abusers that come in our ER.