Re: Uncovered HPV screening
From: Garry E. Siegel, M.D. (garrys@mindspring.com)
Sat Nov 18 16:17:03 2006
No joking; my wife has had a bunch of labwork done and the prices from
the large commercial lab are quite high.
I have also seen the "retail" prices of HPV testing.
Garry
At Sat, 18 Nov 2006, Joe wrote:
>
>Garry: You should check the bill your patient gets for the Pap smear ,
>Pap smear reading , reflex HPV test. It will blow you away and make you
>wonder why you are supporting such an industry. As compared to what you
>actually get in cash for doing the service. Joe C
>
>Garry E. Siegel, M.D. wrote:
>> Whether it is a bit more discussion, or more calls the staff has to
>> make, or more forms to read and sign. . .
>>
>> MORE is the operative word here.
>>
>> I guess that I'm bitching a bit here, as HPV screening is mainstream
>> now, but every little thing MORE we add takes up time (staff, MD, etc.)
>> yet does not increase reimbursement.
>>
>> Garry
>>
>> At Fri, 17 Nov 2006, Jamie wrote:
>>
>>>Could the office billing person have patients check with their insurance
>>>company about which lab (if any) is covered? When I have any tests run,
>>>I start there and then request that if possible the covered lab be used.
>>>I got burned once before I figured that out. That conversation would
>>>also make clear that the lab bill is separate from the physician bill
>>>(which patients don't always realize) and that it might or might not be
>>>covered.
>>>
>>>At Fri, 17 Nov 2006, Joanne Bulley, MD wrote:
>>>
>>>>Ihave the pamphlet from Digene about the HPV screen that is really good
>>>>on the reasons.
>>>>
>>>>So far the insurance Cos aroudn here seem to cover it - but for all
>>>>those with deductibles - the patient gets to pay for it.
>>>>
>>>>Partly I tell them the ultimate cost is less -- it may be higher this
>>>>year but if both are negative then then don't have to pay for one for
>>>>the next 2 years.
>>>>
>>>>I have a pretty quick explanation I give the patients that summarizes
>>>>the 25 years of corvix and HPV research and that I get the HRHPV on the
>>>>
>>>>>/0 yo's and their daughters all need th vaccine.
>>>>
>>>>I give the info that 80% of all women have had an HPV infection by age
>>>>50 and so all should be screened to see who has residual latent HPV and
>>>>who has cleared it.
>>>>
>>>>It doesn't take very long once you have the spiel down and I have had
>>>>only one complain.
>>>>
>>>>I do tell them all that if she is + then it has been there a long time
>>>>and no reason for either she or her partner to start blaming infiedlity!
>>>>Have to cut taht one off before the test comes back.
>>>>
>>>>Joanne
>>>>
>>>>At Fri, 17 Nov 2006, Hugo D Ribot Jr wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>Dear Listers,
>>>>>
>>>>>How are you dealing with irate patients who get an unexpected (and
>>>>>sometimes not so small) bill from Labcorp or Quest Labs for routine HPV
>>>>>screening done, for example, with a routine annual Pap at 30 years old
>>>>>and up?
>>>>>
>>>>>There appears to be no consistent coverage among different insurers. The
>>>>>maddening thing is that this creates MORE WORK and time wasted for my
>>>>>already stretched staff to have to ask everyone before filling out the
>>>>>Pap requisition, especially when patients then ask what HPV is, why do
>>>>>they screen for it, etc. etc.
>>>>>
>>>>>--
>>>>>Hugo D. Ribot Jr., M.D., FACOG
>>>>>Cartersville, Georgia
>>>>>Private practice since 1990
>>>>>3 MDs/3 CNMs
>>>>>
>>>>--
>>>>Joanne Bulley, MD
>>>>Keene, NH, USA
>>>>
>>>--
>>>JFields, RN, BSN
>>>
>> --
>> Garry E. Siegel, M.D.
>> Private Practice
>> Roswell, GA
>>
--
Garry E. Siegel, M.D.
Private Practice
Roswell, GA
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