Dr. Charles Berk

bigblackpants

Hey guys - can you let me know if I'm out of touch with reality.

I just received a letter from my doctor stating in February 2010, I will have to pay an additional $100.00 a year for his administrative costs in addition to my co-payment. He claims he needs the additional money to help keep office waiting times down, his increase in staff and that you can schedule your own appointment on line. Also, you can receive referrals faster.

Also in the letter for patients who wish to move their care to another physician, we will have until February, also the charge for transferring medical records will be $15.00. - is this even legal?

Can you guys help me with this - is this unreasonable - people are barely paying the deductible let alone additional money. By the way for a family, the annual fee is $155.00
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Big Black Pants

domino

I do not know who your insurance provider is, but I would make a call. This seems to be more than just unreasonable.

If this doctor is within the approved network, I assume he has agreed to the reasonable and customary fees established by the insurance company. To then in effect surcharge outside the amounts he has agreed to as payment sounds like a violation of his contract with the insurance provider.

You are entitled to a copy of your medical records - with reasonable fees for copying or printing.

d_luxx

I've never heard of a doctor doing this, and if it happened to me I would find another one. Can't comment on the legality, but I do think its unreasonable. Those "administrative" expenses are really just business overhead and shouldn't be passed on to the patients as an out of pocket "fee".

MOD

I'd find another doctor (and that $15 fee to chance is ridiculous, I've changed docs within the same office and never had a fee)

youbetcha

I like Dr. Berk so I'm sticking with him. But it did strike me as highly unusual and I had to think about it for a while. He has a very efficient office, everything is computerized. I see him approximately 4 times a year because I have high blood pressure and he always gives me full attention and answers my phone calls when I do call. His office is open 9-5/ 5 days a week. He's oriented towards preventive maintenance and prodding his patients to lose weight and so on. One of the things that he does for patients without health insurance is to have a program for them where they pay a larger annual fee of about $350 and after that it's $25 for every visit. My son belongs to that. My gut is telling me that you will begin to see annual fees happening at more and more practices as the country moves toward universal health care along with the computerization of records. Somebody has to pay the piper . . . Btw I am not a medical person and am one of those who have always not trusted the medical profession. But I'm also a realist. Young people in particular don't think they need health care. I can understand that and I can understand grousing about paying money for something you may never use. But if you need the service . . . otherwise you just have to move on.

MOD

If you are going to a doctor under an insurance policy, I am assuming this rate increase is illegal/non-contractual.

Black Pants, seriously look for a website focused on health/insurance information. I doubt you'll find any expert advice on Brooklynian, sad, but true.

landlord

"One of the things that he does for patients without health insurance is to have a program for them where they pay a larger annual fee of about $350 and after that it's $25 for every visit."

sounds like a good doctor who is the business for the right reason.

bigblackpants

Thank you guys for your feedback - I just feel life as we know is changing and I either get on it with it or not.......

By the way I'm 49 years old - so forgive an old coot.

Happy New Year to all!