Posted by Rich Spurr on March 28, 1998 at 12:49:18:
In Reply to: Re: Question 3 posted by Marilyn Lawrence on March 26, 1998 at 17:37:03:
: : : : : 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.
: Not me, I like going to the doctor about as much as I like stubbing my toe!
Until insurance companies are overhauled in the methods that we reimburse doctors and hospitals, healthcare is going to continue to be difficult to understand for all consumers.
We have to demand as consumers that everyone have access to healthcare, not just the ones who could afford it or who are on government
sponsored plans such as Medicaid.