Re: Austin RA docs

[Guest guest]

I just wanted to add that I feel Austin does have a good choice of RA docs. I

would really hate to have a label on our city of having poor choices, especially

with people being diagnosed more and more everyday and at a younger age.

I've had two RA docs, my partner has a different one, and two of my friends with

RA each have a different doctor. We all really enjoy them and feel safe,

comfortable and understood under their care. I think we'll always have an issue

with any healthcare provider, whether it be insurance or otherwise.

I'm happy to provide a list to anyone interested in our physicians.

Thanks.

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[Guest guest]

well, I will had to add I disagree with you. I speak of the area in

general. that is a 100 mile radius as I do not LIVE in Austin. I am

in the temple area.

The reason you are limited to choices that many of the docs are in

mutiple doc practices. If you do not like one you are not given the

choice to switch to a different doc. You must leave that practice

comepletely. I can tell you from experience that is the case with

Dr. Cepada as well as with scott and white clinic.

Now if the doc says you can change well then its ok....but usually

people are changing docs because there is something they do not like

about that doc, the clinic or the billing.

So though there might be plenty of docs in the area...they way they

are set up can create issues.

I have had the same problem with primary care docs. I saw a doc I did

not like and asked to see a different doc and was told I had to stick

with that doc or leave the practice. So I left and went to a totally

different clinic.

In case you have not heard there is a national critical shortage of

rheumatologist in the US. This has created many issues with patients

getting patient care. Add to that many docs only taken certain

insurance plans does LIMIT the choices.

There is a rheummy in this area that takes medicare ONLY and does not

accept any other insurance plans. When I asked why, he said there is

such a demand that patients will pay cash and then file with there

insurance to get re-imbursed. He also said that for patients with no

insurance this is better as he can give better cash discounts for the

uninsured. He then reminded me that insurance companies pay sooo

little in some cases its not worth filing and maintaining staff to

manage billing.

If you go to www.arthritis.org you can view the list of

rheumatologist for each state.

So keep in mind there many be plenty of docs....but we all are guided

by an individual set of rules, demands and insurance constraints.

Toni

--- In , Hartman <megan_hartman@...>

wrote:

>

> I just wanted to add that I feel Austin does have a good choice of

RA docs. I would really hate to have a label on our city of having

poor choices, especially with people being diagnosed more and more

everyday and at a younger age.

>

> I've had two RA docs, my partner has a different one, and two of my

friends with RA each have a different doctor. We all really enjoy

them and feel safe, comfortable and understood under their care. I

think we'll always have an issue with any healthcare provider,

whether it be insurance or otherwise.

>

> I'm happy to provide a list to anyone interested in our physicians.

>

> Thanks.

>

>

>

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> Looking for last minute shopping deals?

> Find them fast with Search.

http://tools.search./newsearch/category.php?category=shopping

>

>