Medicare Complaint

[b2bailey]

I received the following email from office of my Primary Physician:
====

​

Dear Bonnie,​

​

Dignity Health cares about you. Schedule your Medicare Annual Wellness Visit. Let's work together to create a personalized plan for your best health!​

​

​ Start Here​

I followed the instructions -- which led me to a calendar which said:

NO APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE

I believe this would qualify as a "exercise in futility"

 

[Luanne]

I received a text from the office of my primary care provider with a date and time for me to schedule my annual wellness visit. The time and date worked for me so I texted back and my appointment is set. I think your problem is with your provider not Medicare.

 

[Patri]

I refuse to have a wellness check. What a waste of time.

 

[easyrider]

I thought I went to my first wellness check and I thought it was included in Medicare. It was billed as a physical because of the blood work and what ever. After I paid for the physical they sent me another notice about a wellness check. I haven't replied and probably won't.

Bill

 

[Vacay0606]

I refuse to have a wellness check. What a waste of time.

I agree. I was a Health Maintenance nurse calling patients to schedule their Annual Medicare Wellness exam and absolutely hated them. AMWs are a free exam for the patient that Medicare heavily reimburses the Dr for to follow guidelines to find out if you are a fall risk and safe in your own home. The Dr is not allowed to "touch" you because that would be a different coded exam and then another bill would be generated.
Patients would complain because they hear free and then after the visit receive a bill because they asked the Dr to listen to their heart and lungs which they think are part of the wellness exam.

 

[Luanne]

I refuse to have a wellness check. What a waste of time.

I'll take all of the help I can get.

 

[Luanne]

I thought I went to my first wellness check and I thought it was included in Medicare. It was billed as a physical because of the blood work and what ever. After I paid for the physical they sent me another notice about a wellness check. I haven't replied and probably won't.

Bill

A wellness check, at least the ones I've had, are basically a nurse asking you questions. If you had blood work done it probably was a full physical.

 

[easyrider]

A wellness check, at least the ones I've had, are basically a nurse asking you questions. If you had blood work done it probably was a full physical.

Maybe they did both. My favorite nurse did ask me if I felt well. I said I think so.

Bill

 

[Brett]

Maybe they did both. My favorite nurse did ask me if I felt well. I said I think so.

Bill

and you probably aced the clock drawing test !

 

[beejaybee]

My Aetna Advantage has been hounding me for an in-home wellness check. Last year I negotiated to do it via phone to reap the "reward" of a $100 gift card. I'd do it again for similar compensation!

 

[Patri]

I'll take all of the help I can get.

The questions are lame. I know whether I have rugs in the house and if they are slippery. I know if I am sad. I can’t remember what all they ask, but it does nothing for my health and they get a lot of money.
PS I just googled the form and it reinforces the ridiculousness of it. If any of those items are a concern to you, bring them up at a regular physical appointment. I just had one. It was very thorough, and I have been doing all the preventative screenings this summer/fall. October will be my last colonoscopy, unless they find something!

 

[Tia]

My doctors office hired 2 nurses to do the wellness exams, am sure they are reimbursed the same from Medicare. I decided it's a waste of time, will see what happens coming up.

 

[rapmarks]

My Aetna Advantage has been hounding me for an in-home wellness check. Last year I negotiated to do it via phone to reap the "reward" of a $100 gift card. I'd do it again for similar compensation!

Hmm. You drew that clock over the phone?

 

[b2bailey]

October will be my last colonoscopy, unless they find something.

Is there an age when they stop recommending colonoscopy, or is this your personal decision?

 

[b2bailey]

My Aetna Advantage has been hounding me for an in-home wellness check. Last year I negotiated to do it via phone to reap the "reward" of a $100 gift card. I'd do it again for similar compensation!

I'd do it over the phone for a $50 gift card.

 

[Vacay0606]

Is there an age when they stop recommending colonoscopy, or is this your personal decision?

Age 75 according to the guidelines but it is up to you.

 

[rapmarks]

Is there an age when they stop recommending colonoscopy, or is this your personal decision?

In my experience, they keep moving the goal posts. I have been told it’s my last one twice.

 

[Luanne]

Is there an age when they stop recommending colonoscopy, or is this your personal decision?

At my last colonoscopy I was told that I might want to continue then as long as I an in good health. That didn't make sense to me until I realized that if you are in good health you might want to consider any care that might be required. I have to have them every 5 years so my next one would be at 78. We'll see how I feel about it then.

 

[Timeshare Von]

I'd do it over the phone for a $50 gift card.

I did "THAT" once . . . only to then be told the $50 (or whatever the amount was) was added to my PickMyPerks benefit, which had expired a month later at the end of that year. I haven't allowed them to schedule one of THOSE appointments again. Yes . . . a big fat waste of time and a way for medical providers to recoup some billable hours through Medicare.

 

[easyrider]

and you probably aced the clock drawing test !

I had to look that up. Wow, things to look forward too. I had my first cystoscopy this week. All was good but it's not something I ever thought would happen to me.

Bill

 

[clifffaith]

I refuse to have a wellness check. What a waste of time.

We let them come to the house once or twice for Cliff because they called, then basically said he’s going to his doctor every six months (when he was well, before all the cancer appointments) so leave us alone.

 

[clifffaith]

I agree. I was a Health Maintenance nurse calling patients to schedule their Annual Medicare Wellness exam and absolutely hated them. AMWs are a free exam for the patient that Medicare heavily reimburses the Dr for to follow guidelines to find out if you are a fall risk and safe in your own home. The Dr is not allowed to "touch" you because that would be a different coded exam and then another bill would be generated.
Patients would complain because they hear free and then after the visit receive a bill because they asked the Dr to listen to their heart and lungs which they think are part of the wellness exam.

We actually dumped a doctor after the second visit because Cliff came out and said “she never even touched me”. We were able to squeak him in with my doctor just before she stopped taking new patients. She’s fabulous!

 

[clifffaith]

Age 75 according to the guidelines but it is up to you.

I “pooped in a box” three years ago. Five more years until I hit 75, hope to do the box routine next time too. I had two clients in their 80s who had their bowels perforated, so that is always in the back of my mind at colonoscopy time.

 

[Timeshare Von]

We let them come to the house once or twice for Cliff because they called, then basically said he’s going to his doctor every six months (when he was well, before all the cancer appointments) so leave us alone.

I had one of the "in-home" visits for my wellness update/check. I swear, I think it's a way for the insurance company to double check on your doctor's work . . . and to make sure you're taking the meds and supplements the insurance is paying for. I have a "spending account" for over the counter items that is a "use it or lose it" each year benefit. The one in-home visit I had with the nurse (or nurse's aide?), she was really interested in having me bring out EVERYTHING I take to confirm I was taking them correctly. Not sure what benefit that was since I do see my PCP twice/year and he is very thorough with such.

So I found it a waste of my time . . . and just added/bloated cost to healthcare that just escalates Medicare costs.

 

[Patri]

Is there an age when they stop recommending colonoscopy, or is this your personal decision?

I had decided ahead of time. At the office visit the PCP said after this time I will have graduated (unless they find something.) The risk of colon cancer drops substantially the older we get. But she did think this colonoscopy at 70 was still a good idea.