Medical offices

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

My doctor told me last week that he wants to MRI my head but he needed to get it pre-certified first. He said he would do it in the office. I was told to expect a call this week, and if I didn't hear from him by Wednesday I should call the office.

I just called and spoke to the secretary who looked up my file and said my insurance doesn't require pre-certification for an MRI. If I want an MRI, she said, I should come in and pick up a scrip. This is not what the doctor told me. He didn't say anything about a scrip. He said he'd get it pre-certified and then I'd come in and he'd do it.

And besides, I don't want it. He wanted it. He insisted I should get it done. Now I'm wondering if I should bother going in to pick up the scrip or not, I don't want to make a big deal when there's nothing wrong.

But the larger question in my mind is this - how come the secretary seems to have no idea what the doctor said? I wonder if this is normal.

[Amby 490]

If he didn't chart it then they have no clue

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

If he didn't chart it then they have no clue

ok, what does that mean... "chart it"

[Amby 490]

If he didn't chart it then they have no clue

ok, what does that mean... "chart it"

basically the dr writes down in your medical file what he's done or said. if he forgets to write something down then there is no record of it ever happening. they also use charts to keep track of what they've given you while you're in the hospital so the next person who comes along knows what you've had. like the nurse gave you vicodin at 1pm so the next nurse knows not to give you one at 2pm. also they use these to know what to charge you for

I had the same thing happen to me, but my dr's nurse said they had no record of ever even writing me a prescription for something. I was like well that's odd since I have it right here.

Edited July 23, 2009 by Amby

[Heracles 417]

Never heard of such a thing under NHS.

Edited July 23, 2009 by haza

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

If he didn't chart it then they have no clue

ok, what does that mean... "chart it"

basically the dr writes down in your medical file what he's done or said. if he forgets to write something down then there is no record of it ever happening. they also use charts to keep track of what they've given you while you're in the hospital so the next person who comes along knows what you've had. like the nurse gave you vicodin at 1pm so the next nurse knows not to give you one at 2pm. also they use these to know what to charge you for

I had the same thing happen to me, but my dr's nurse said they had no record of ever even writing me a prescription for something. I was like well that's odd since I have it right here.

I see, thanks.

[mawilson 2,133]

My doctor told me last week that he wants to MRI my head but he needed to get it pre-certified first.

He needed to pre-certify your head?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

My doctor told me last week that he wants to MRI my head but he needed to get it pre-certified first.

He needed to pre-certify your head?

I'm ESL, bich!

[mawilson 2,133]

Never heard of such a thing under NHS.

They don't do MRIs willy-nilly under NHS - they are too expensive.

[Ban Hammer 13,677]

My doctor told me last week that he wants to MRI my head but he needed to get it pre-certified first. He said he would do it in the office. I was told to expect a call this week, and if I didn't hear from him by Wednesday I should call the office.

I just called and spoke to the secretary who looked up my file and said my insurance doesn't require pre-certification for an MRI. If I want an MRI, she said, I should come in and pick up a scrip. This is not what the doctor told me. He didn't say anything about a scrip. He said he'd get it pre-certified and then I'd come in and he'd do it.

And besides, I don't want it. He wanted it. He insisted I should get it done. Now I'm wondering if I should bother going in to pick up the scrip or not, I don't want to make a big deal when there's nothing wrong.

But the larger question in my mind is this - how come the secretary seems to have no idea what the doctor said? I wonder if this is normal.

is your dr by any chance ewok?

[Y's_habibitk 2]

It could a number of things.

a) the secretary isnt aware of what your insurance requires, and you DO need a precert and even if you got a referral(script) from your md to go to another facility to get the MRI, THEY would have to get a precert there anyway

b ) he just wants to do it there and charge your insurance and he'll need a precert in order to do it there in the office

c) you dont need a precert and the MD is unaware of your insurance requirements.

yes, it's common for an MD to not communicate with the office staff or chart things timely.

who knows. If he really thinks you need it, maybe you should ??

[Heracles 417]

Never heard of such a thing under NHS.

They don't do MRIs willy-nilly under NHS - they are too expensive.

That is why I said never heard of such a thing.

[Heracles 417]

A.J, I will pay for the MRI if need be bro. It may explain some of those wacky ideas of yours.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

who knows. If he really thinks you need it, maybe you should ??

He said it was something he wanted to do "to be on the safe side". I am inclined to just let this go.

Thanks for the response. Good info there.

[Heracles 417]

You would want to get that pre-approved. Can you imagine they don't cover it?

My copay for an MRI is about $250, so I can only imagine how much they charge.

Edited July 24, 2009 by haza