Can a doctor "black list" a patient?

[diabeticman]

I know this will be called Drama by some but my wife and I have a friend who was thrilled to get health insurance is now having trouble finding a doctor who will take her as a patient not for a pre-existing condition but because she was "black listed" by a doctor.


The friend had insurance about 5 years ago and was looking for a PCP she had just a handful of choices and really didn't like many of the choices. She made an appointment with one doctor but still had concerns about some of the bad rumors she heard about the doctor. Other loved the doctor but some didn't --I guess all doctors experiences that loved by some hated by others.

Anyways long story short one (1) week before the appointment the friend cancels the appointment. She decided to go with another doctor.

Three days after what would have been the date for that doctor's appointment which was canceled she received a bill from the doctor's office. She called thinking it was a mistake. She was told that all first visits are charge. The friend explained that she never set foot in the office and never saw the doctor. The billing manager claimed all initial visits are charged. She argued that she gave them more than enough notice it wasn't like she canceled the appointment that day or an hour before the appointment but it was a full week.

She was told that they would drop the bill but she would not be welcomed back at that doctor's office. The friend had no problem with that. She found it rude to be charged for a visit she never went to.

Switch jobs a couple times lost insurance now the new place is giving her insurance so she again wanted to get a PCP and was hoping to get in with this doctor she has heard good things about really wanted as a doctor for herself.

She went to set up the appointment and was asked her name social security number address phone number than was told that she could not make an appointment with the doctor because she had an outstanding bill with the doctor from 5 years ago and until that was resolve she could not make an appointment. She told the new doctor about the situation and how she never saw the doctor and how the office had no reason to charge her that she gave ample time when she canceled.

The receptionist explained that she would have to talk to the first doctor's office.

She called the first doctor's office and they told her she needed to pay the bill from 5 years ago. stating that all first visits are charged regardless if they are seen or not.

Has anyone else come across this policy or is it just a office trying to get as much money as possible?

[gollygee]

1. Sounds like extortion to me

They know it would cost more to pay a lawyer to handle it.

[theHandpuppet]

4. Yep. I think you nailed it.

If I were that lady, I'd go on every social networking site I know to warn other potential patients about this doctor's business practices.

[Mass]

2. I got curious and found that.

http://patients.about.com/od/doctorsandproviders/a/denycare.htm

Also, is it only one doctor or has she tried others? Because if it is only this one, she should try others.

[hedgehog]

3. My daughter went to the old office of the doctor she was seeing for the first time,

was therefore late for the appointment by the time she found the new office, was never seen and was billed.

[ScreamingMeemie]

5. I believe they can.

It is one of the reasons why I chose not to sue when WannaBe was incorrectly diagnosed with PMS and ended up losing a tube and an ovary. I liked my family doctor and realized we would lose him, and the hospital.

[dembotoz]

6. insurance companies are not the only evil in the health care system

[tammywammy]

7. Are they part of the same practice?

For instance, this week I was sick but couldn't get into my regular doctor so I saw another doctor at a different logic, but same practice. If I had owed money to my regular doctor, this office would have asked me to pay it too.

[diabeticman]

8. As far as my friend is aware they are not in the same practice and neither practice are connected

[kestrel91316]

9. If she didn't sign a contract saying she agreed to pay whether she showed up or not,

there is no enforceable contract.

She should sue the first doctor's office for something - not sure what, since I'm no attorney. Or she should inform that office that if they persist, she will complain to the medical board about their fraudulent attempt to collect when no services were rendered.

There's probably a HIPAA violation somewhere in this.

[diabeticman]

10. I will suggest that to her

[MiniMe]

12. I would also find out what their cancellation policy was back then.

Many docs have cancellation policies, but usually a week is enough notice not to get charged.

[grantcart]

13. Usually missed appointment fees can be charged if you do not cancel 24 hours ahead of time.

One week is unheard of.

Call back the office and tell them that if a credit note is not issued in 24 hours that you will lodge a complaint with the state AMA and the state licensing board.

[Archae]

14. I've been banned from an entire clinic.

I happened to catch a doctor on a bad day, he hollered at me and stormed out of the room, I complained to the clinic administration, the doctor had me banned for life from the clinic.

The doctor has since died, after retiring.

But I'm still banned from that clinic.