A Physician’s New Reality: Patients Ask Me to Break the Law
"I have now posted a notice in my office and each exam room stating
exactly what Obamacare will cover for those yearly visits. Remember
Obama promised this as a free exam — no co-pay, no deductible, no
charge. That’s fine and dandy if you are healthy and have no complaints.
However, we are obligated by law to code specifically for the reason of
the visit. An annual exam is one specific code; you can not mix this
with another code, say, for rectal bleeding. This annual visit covers
the exam and “discussion about the status of previously diagnosed stable
conditions.” That’s the exact wording under that code — insurance will not cover any new ailment under that code.
If you are here for that annual exam, you will not be covered if you want to discuss
any new ailment or unstable condition. I cannot bait and switch to
another code — that’s illegal. We, the physicians, are audited all the
time and can lose our license for insurance fraud.
You, the patient, will then have to make a decision.
Do you want your “free” yearly exam, or do you want to pay for a
visit which is coded for a particular, new problem? You can have my
“free” exam if you only discuss what Obamacare wants me to discuss." [PJ Media]
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