Re: So, you want a physical...

[Guest guest]

Looks good. Good idea. I may just adopt a similar plan

myself since it's something that I have to deal with

in my practice.

I would also encourage the patients to get to know

what their insurance plan is about. What their

deductibles are, what they are covered for, some

insurances only cover a wellness exam every three

years.

Soma

--- Jacques Guillot wrote:

> I have had so many people complaining they wanted to

> be charged for a

> physical after the fact, although they did not

> request a physical. Of

> course, I cannot charge it if it was not done. For

> new patients, I can just

> about always justify and charge for a physical due

> to an initial

> comprehensive evaluation.

>

> I typed this up to hang inside the exam room doors

> as an education

> campaign. I am coming to realize this space is a

> valuable advertising real

> estate! I am amazed how thoroughly anything posted

> there is reviewed and

> referenced by patients.

>

> Please provide feedback so I can tweak my final

> draft. (I think this came

> out fairly well due to the fact I wrote it with calm

> feelings. When I write

> these things during my reaction to specific events,

> I am so angry the venom

> is practically visible on the paper.)

>

> Jacques Guillot, MD

> _________________________________

>

> *Physicals and Wellness Exams*

>

> Confusion can arise about physicals. Some insurance

> contracts pay for

> physicals so patients come out better (for example,

> an annual physical with

> no out of pocket cost) and some do not pay for

> physicals.

>

> My goal is to:

>

> 1. Give you what you want.

> 2. Maximize your insurance benefits for you.

>

> Problems arise when

>

> 1. Someone asks for a physical, but the service

> he is really

> requesting is not a physical. (For example, he

> really wants his

> hypertension or cough treated.)

> 2. Someone is not familiar with his insurance

> benefits and wishes

> later something had been done differently.

> 3. Someone comes in for care that is not a

> physical, and later wants

> the visit charged as a physical – *but I cannot

> do this when a

> physical was not done*.

> 4. Particularly, if you are seeking care for a

> specific symptom or

> problem, I cannot bill it as a physical " just

> because the insurance will pay

> for a physical. " Furthermore, if we do a

> physical instead, there

> might not be the optimal amount of time to deal

> with the problem which you

> really want to address.

>

> What is a physical (also called a wellness exam)?

>

> There is no exact definition. Generally a physical

> is a periodic evaluation

> to assess someone's overall health with a special

> emphasis on preventive

> care such as diet and exercise counseling,

> immunizations, and screening for

> health conditions, especially cardiovascular disease

> and certain cancers.

>

> As there is a finite amount of time and energy

> during a visit, all possible

> issues might not be addressed during every physical.

> Focus on diet might

> distract focus from vaccinations. Extensive

> discussion of controversial

> cancer screenings might not leave time to talk about

> osteoporosis screening.

>

>

> This is not a comprehensive visit to address and

> treat all problems or

> concerns identified during the evaluation. *A

> return visit might well be

> necessary* to evaluate specific symptoms or issues

> found during the physical

> itself.

>

> Bottom Line

>

> - I thank you for the opportunity to work as your

> physician.

> - I want to give you the service you want.

> - If you want a physical or wellness exam, ask

> for it by name.

>