Comments | _peregrinus_: Medical bills

_peregrinus_

Medical bills

Feb 10, 2015 00:01

I'm catching up on medical bills and Explanations of Benefits from my November baby and his subsequent dr visits and I notice that at his 2-week checkup, I was charged $80+ after insurance for "general surgery - outpatient". It took me a minute, but I finally realized what it was and am wondering if I should complain or if it's legitimate. His ( Read more... )

Comments 6

ewake February 11 2015, 04:49:02 UTC

did they give you the CPT code? it was probably silver nitrate. we can bill for chemical cautery for that. i'm surprised it was approved for $80 though. trying to remember the last time i billed for it so i can look up the reimbursement, ha ( ... )

_peregrinus_ February 12 2015, 16:15:21 UTC

I think it was silver nitrate ... that's what popped in my head but I wasn't sure if I was remembering correctly and hadn't gotten around to googling it to confirm if that was it. It was listed on the EOB as Chemical Cauterization at $100 (and I needed to pay $80). I'm more understanding about it when it's $100 for chemical cauterization versus $100 for a cotton swab of something that didn't even work.

I had reached a frustration limit because of multiple small annoyances.

Anyway, you and the other comments have helped talk me down and feel more understanding, which is what I wanted. I was frustrated but hoped you'd be reading it, so I didn't want to come across as attacking your profession.

And I'm really excited for you and your new little one coming soon!

icecat February 11 2015, 04:57:04 UTC

Oh have I been there. Edge burned his hand so I took him to urgent care, where they put cold packs on and cleaned him up and gave burn cream and wrapped him up. All done. Then we were told that the burn center wanted to see him so we went the next day. The nurse practitioner took photos, measured his blisters, popped one blister, and wrapped him up again. Want to know how much that was? A THOUSAND DOLLARS. I contested it but it never went anywhere. I will never go to a specialist again if he's been taken care of just FINE by urgent care.

_peregrinus_ February 12 2015, 16:20:58 UTC

Wow, $1,000!! :(

And funny that the burn center popped the blister when I thought everything we read says to not pop them because it can introduce infection (but how can you NOT pop a blister?!)

creamofwheat February 12 2015, 06:01:47 UTC

I always take the superbill I get on check out and look at the CPT codes on the back but I am a weirdo. My doctor is really good about telling you if something is going to cost extra and he even asks what kind of insurance I have before he prescribes medications. I know he is NOT the norm ( ... )

_peregrinus_ February 12 2015, 16:27:37 UTC

It was coded as Chemical Cauterization, which it was, and I'm more willing to pay for than than for "cotton swab of something that didn't work" (which is what I considered it to be).

And I'm also experiencing the "I have no idea if the works I'm saying or typing make any sense to anyone but me" phenomenon of significantly interrupted sleep for the last six months.