Re: ASC-US

From: GORDON M. GOLDMAN (obgyndoc@swbell.net)
Sun Sep 2 17:05:55 2007


Barbara Nicol <blnicol@ix.netcom.com> wrote: Oh, and if you do go ahead and do the extra pap, let me suggest not billing the insurance. If you look at your insurance contracts, I expect they say that you agree to provide medically indicated care, and bill them only for same. This doesn't fall under the category of "medically necessary", does it? You're doing the pap to treat anxiety - which isn't really the usual treatment for anxiety - and not for any well-studied, evidence based purpose. If she still insists on the pap, you should make it clear that it's not a medically indicated procedure, and she needs to take responsibility for the costs and risks.

That should take care of your coding difficulty - if you don't bill an insurer, you don't need a diagnosis code. You just need to charge her your usual fee for this elective, medically unnecessary service, and collect payment (in advance, I might add), and have the lab do the same.

Again, best of luck to you!

- Barb Nicol, M.D.

> ----- Original Message -----
From: Barbara Nicol To: Multiple recipients of list OB-GYN-L Sent: Sunday, September 02, 2007 8:51 AM Subject: Re: ASC-US

Sometimes I've done that - ASCUS pap smears cause a lot of anxiety - but other times, I've managed something even better - getting the patient to understand the limitations of the test. Usually have achieved this either by emailing them actual guidelines and papers(works pretty well with the college-educated) or sometimes by referring them for another opinion. If they hear the same statement from multiple voices, sometimes they actually start to believe what they're hearing. It also helps, sometimes, to continue explaining that dysplasia doesn't cause any symptoms, so it can't possibly be the cause of the pelvic pain, even if were there. Ultimately, this produces a better-educated patient.

The media are full of "I made my doctor do the test and that's how I found my cancer" stories. I wish they'd start publishing the "I made my doctor do the test and I had complications from my unnecessary procedure and lots of extra expenses and I never really needed the test in the first place" stories, to give patients some of the perspective that we have.

Good luck,

Barb Nicol, M.D.

> ----- Original Message -----
From: FRANCES WREN To: Multiple recipients of list OB-GYN-L Sent: Sunday, September 02, 2007 6:06 AM Subject: Re: ASC-US

often after I have explained my opinion...unless it is entirely unreasonable(not I hope my opinion...but their request)..then I will frequently comply with their request as graciously as possibly... saves my coronaries....and maybe my ass. and will frequently reassure the patient...???? frances wren

>----- Original Message -----
From: johnprov@sympatico.ca (Dr. John Provatopoulos B.Sc. M.D.C.M. F.R.S.C.) Date: Sunday, September 2, 2007 4:24 am Subject: Re: ASC-US To: Multiple recipients of list OB-GYN-L <ob-gyn-l@dns.obgyn.net>

> At Sat, 1 Sep 2007, R. Berg wrote:
> >
> >Unfortunately, today, I had just the reverse problem.
> >
> >5/07 pap, ASCUS, HR HPV *negative*
> >
> >Pt comes in 3 months later, c/o vague pelvic pain x 2
> weeks. Exam
> >completely unremarkable. She then asks for a repeat pap,
> based on the
> >letter I sent her, suggesting that her slightly abnormal pap,
> although not
> >concerning for dysplasia, should be followed up in 6 months.
> >
> >I declined to perform one, suggesting to her that a repeat in
> *6* months is
> >probably overdoing it.
> >
> >She left the office (this is 4 days ago). Today, she
> calls me, *irate*, and
> >tells me that it is her "legal right" and that it is my "legal
> obligation">to perform a repeat pap smear; furthermore, since
> she has celiac disease and
> >that this condition is associated with lymphoma, and that her
> mother had an
> >ovary removed for a nonmalignant condition she *needs* a repeat
> pap smear
> >now, given that it is only 3 months less than the time I
> suggested for her
> >to repeat the smear (I guess it's not really a "smear" anymore,
> more of a
> >"stir" or "swish." Pap Swish doesn't really sound as
> clinical, I suppose).
> >Again, I declined. She then informed me that her only
> recourse would be to
> >contact her insurance company to demand that I repeat it.
> I told her that
> >she can do what she feels necessary, but that her insurance
> company would
> >likely agree with me, and, in any event, no matter what they
> said, I would
> >not be repeating the test, as I do not feel that it is
> medically indicated.
> >
> >So should I have:
> >
> >1) repeated the smear, coding 795.01, ASC-US on pap, just
> because she wanted
> >one, or
> >
> >2) repeated the smear, coding 300.02, generalized anxiety
> disorder or 300.7,
> >hypochondriasis, or
> >
> >3) stuck to (and keep sticking to) my guns?
> >
> >____________________________________________________________________________
> >Robert E. Berg, MD
> >____________________________________________________________________________
> >
> >--
> >____________________________________________________________________________
>
> >____________________________________________________________________________
> No brainer for me, I would repeat the PAP and not even bill my
> fee for
> it; then I would let her argue with the insurance company about
> the lab
> fee's. I can't see why she should not have a repeat PAP if
> she is
> willing to pay for it.
>
> --
> Take care, John
>





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