Re: Dr Bruce -questions-2nd post

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/12/2006 10:21:18 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,

cherylppls@... writes:

again about my questions, even though I did get a nice

response with lots of information from a list mate, I need some

specific answers if possible. I just received a package from Dr

Bruce's office with questionnaire and lab requests. Here are my

questions for anyone who has seen him.

1) Does he do NeuroSPECTs? Yes, if necessary they are ordered.

2) His consultation fee seems very high to me at $500 and I was

wondering if this is in line with what Dr Goldberg and others doing

charge? We cannot answer that question as we don't know what others

charge. Charges are based upon the amount of time spent reviewing your records

and getting to know your child through them as well as reviewing the blood

work. You will be filling out forms, supplying a history of your child and a

family history. You will also be sending old records as well as evaluations to

include school testing. Reading all of this, taking notes and summarizing it

for the record can take hours. You will then be spending an hour with the

physician. In addition charges are also based upon what it costs to run an

office. Rent, utilities, salaries all have to be paid.

3) He wants all blood work done ahead of time. I explained to the

woman on the phone that I did not know if that was possible since I

live in a small town. I also had some of these tests run the first

of September and she told me I would still need to run them again,

even though they did not show any problems. This is a lot of money

and a lot of blood to have to repeat. Any thoughts on that? You have to

contact your insurance and see what they cover. You also have to contact labs

in

your area and see what they charge for tests. This can vary greatly.

4) How much does the blood work cost? There were no prices for that

listed. It depends on the lab that you choose to use.

5) How often does he require follow up visits and phone consults? That is

very hard to determine until he actually meets your child. The protocol takes

from 1 to 4 years.

I really want to pursue this but I have already spent so much money

on testing through my DAN doctor and we are on the diet and she will

prescribe the anti-virals if necessary. I am just at an impasse and

really need some direction about whether or not to pursue this. I

really appreciate answers to these questions before I pursue this.

Thanks,

Cheryl

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/12/2006 9:21:29 AM Central Standard Time,

cherylppls@... writes:

<<1) Does he do NeuroSPECTs?>>

To add to Kathy's comments about these -- Dr. Goldberg does not do these for

all children. When I expressed my concern over the dye they use in this test,

he said he didn't need them for all kids. He said he could easily start

treatment and then order one if my son didn't respond. Since my son has

responded

well to treatment, he's never ordered one for him.

<<2) His consultation fee seems very high to me at $500 and I was

wondering if this is in line with what Dr Goldeberg and others doing

charge?>>

This is what we paid for the first consultation with Dr. Goldberg. It's also

very much in line, and often cheaper, than what other doctors who work with

patients needing extensive work charge. Our insurance covered the fee without

question. I'm sure it varies by insurance companies. Just be sure that it's

billed as the medical diagnosis of immune dysregulation rather than " autism "

since that's what you're seeking treatment for.

<<4) How much does the blood work cost? There were no prices for that

listed.>>

Talk to Dr. 's office ahead of time to get the code for immune

dysregulation and make sure your child's doctor uses this as the diagnosis

rather

than the 299.0 autism code, which would limit coverage. Most, if not all, of

the

bloodwork should be covered by insurance. We've run most of my son's labs

through Quest and found them to be relatively reasonable with pricing.

Gaylen

[Guest guest]

Gaylen,

Thanks for the information. I found a Quest lab about

3 hours away that can run the tests. I thought the

SPECT would be interesting to see, but my son has made

much progress already so he might would think they are

not even necessary. Thanks for helping me.

Cheryl

--- Googahly@... wrote:

> In a message dated 1/12/2006 9:21:29 AM Central

> Standard Time,

> cherylppls@... writes:

> <<1) Does he do NeuroSPECTs?>>

> To add to Kathy's comments about these -- Dr.

> Goldberg does not do these for

> all children. When I expressed my concern over the

> dye they use in this test,

> he said he didn't need them for all kids. He said

> he could easily start

> treatment and then order one if my son didn't

> respond. Since my son has responded

> well to treatment, he's never ordered one for him.

>

> <<2) His consultation fee seems very high to me at

> $500 and I was

> wondering if this is in line with what Dr Goldeberg

> and others doing

> charge?>>

>

> This is what we paid for the first consultation with

> Dr. Goldberg. It's also

> very much in line, and often cheaper, than what

> other doctors who work with

> patients needing extensive work charge. Our

> insurance covered the fee without

> question. I'm sure it varies by insurance

> companies. Just be sure that it's

> billed as the medical diagnosis of immune

> dysregulation rather than " autism "

> since that's what you're seeking treatment for.

>

> <<4) How much does the blood work cost? There were

> no prices for that

> listed.>>

>

> Talk to Dr. 's office ahead of time to get

> the code for immune

> dysregulation and make sure your child's doctor uses

> this as the diagnosis rather

> than the 299.0 autism code, which would limit

> coverage. Most, if not all, of the

> bloodwork should be covered by insurance. We've run

> most of my son's labs

> through Quest and found them to be relatively

> reasonable with pricing.

> Gaylen

>

>

>

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi -

Regarding fees, I used to do some work in practice

management and billing, and I helped established

fees/charges for procedures based on usual and

customary for multiple clinics. You often figure them

based on other rates for specialists, but also based

on insurance fee schedules for each level of

care/CPT(BC and Medicare), etc. I researched Dr

Goldberg's fees before I went to see him with

specialists (I chose not to choose pediatricians

because those are typically simple 5-20 min visits

with average problems). His rates were in line with

and below many specialists in the LA area (specialist

including ENTs). I decided he was a very ...very good

deal, considering he acted as my sons' pediatrician,

psychologist, psychiatrist, neurologist, immunologist,

and my own psychologist as well (lol-I needed as much

as the boys). If you add in the FOUR contacts with

the office with 7-10 day updates read by him

throughout the month, the long distance phone calls,

the amount of work that office does, the rates are

quite reasonable. Rates are also determined by the

number of patients you are able to see in a day to

meet your expenses and still maintain a profit, as

well as the types of insurances you accept. Dr

Goldberg would not be able to accept insurance

discounts for most insurance companies and still keep

the practice above water, not to mention the expense

involved in collections from insurance.

With 15 years medical office finance experience, I'm

vouching for him on that one, even if I did have two

boys and it was breaking my bank. It was still worth

every penny, and certainly cheaper than the DAN!

protocol would have been (since my insurance covered

meds & labs).

Hope that helps.

--- cherylppls <cherylppls@...> wrote:

> 2) His consultation fee seems very high to me at

> $500 and I was

> wondering if this is in line with what Dr Goldeberg

> and others doing

> charge?

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Thank you . That seems to be the consensus.

AFter all that we have done, that plus the testing

cost is just a huge commitment. I liked your point

about having many specialists in 1 person. I am also

glad to hear that it was worth it. Thanks for taking

so much time to always enlighten us newbies!

CHeryl

--- <thecolemans4@...> wrote:

> Hi -

>

> Regarding fees, I used to do some work in practice

> management and billing, and I helped established

> fees/charges for procedures based on usual and

> customary for multiple clinics. You often figure

> them

> based on other rates for specialists, but also based

> on insurance fee schedules for each level of

> care/CPT(BC and Medicare), etc. I researched Dr

> Goldberg's fees before I went to see him with

> specialists (I chose not to choose pediatricians

> because those are typically simple 5-20 min visits

> with average problems). His rates were in line with

> and below many specialists in the LA area

> (specialist

> including ENTs). I decided he was a very ...very

> good

> deal, considering he acted as my sons' pediatrician,

> psychologist, psychiatrist, neurologist,

> immunologist,

> and my own psychologist as well (lol-I needed as

> much

> as the boys). If you add in the FOUR contacts with

> the office with 7-10 day updates read by him

> throughout the month, the long distance phone calls,

> the amount of work that office does, the rates are

> quite reasonable. Rates are also determined by the

> number of patients you are able to see in a day to

> meet your expenses and still maintain a profit, as

> well as the types of insurances you accept. Dr

> Goldberg would not be able to accept insurance

> discounts for most insurance companies and still

> keep

> the practice above water, not to mention the expense

> involved in collections from insurance.

>

> With 15 years medical office finance experience, I'm

> vouching for him on that one, even if I did have two

> boys and it was breaking my bank. It was still

> worth

> every penny, and certainly cheaper than the DAN!

> protocol would have been (since my insurance covered

> meds & labs).

>

> Hope that helps.

>

>

> --- cherylppls <cherylppls@...> wrote:

> > 2) His consultation fee seems very high to me at

> > $500 and I was

> > wondering if this is in line with what Dr

> Goldeberg

> > and others doing

> > charge?

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>