Article source for : One Mighty Expensive Doctor's Visit
Word to the wise: Recently a family member saw a doc at The University of Toledo Physicians group at their office on Glendale Ave. This was a routine annual visit, which included an EKG and a shingles vaccination, (no other tests or xrays) all done in tne Doc's office. The vaccination required an upfront fee of $166, even though it was fully covered by medical insurance.
Four months later we are still getting the billing issues resolved. The Doc's office didn't code the vaccination on the claim submission to the insurance company and they later charged an additional $62 for "administration of vaccine" which also was not submitted on a claim to the insurance company. To add insult to injury you get two bills, one from the University of Toledo Physicians group Doc and one from The University of Toledo. UT adds on a "facility" fee, kinda like rent I guess. Pretty expensive rent - $330!!! Total bill for one routine office visit with an in office EKG and a vaccination - $888!!!!!
Checking with the insurance carrier they said the latest "trend", their verbage, not mine, was for University Medical centers to add on a facility fee. It's crap like this that pushes up medical care costs and pushes my buttons to the max. I'm battling it out, one charge at a time. After several phone requests failed, it took a certified letter to get an itemized statement. But, I got it and am now working with the insurance company, which has been very responsive, to get each charge correctly coded and submitted. It just shouldn't be this way.