If you decide to go to Goodman and Partridge's offices, make sure to ask when scheduling an appointment if your going to be charged $123.00 for an "after hours" visit. They do NOT tell you this when calling and I do not remember seeing any signs on the office for this. Even if there was, I would not have made the appointment in the first place to even see the signs warning me of this charge. I received my bill in the mail today and added to the office visit and labwork there is procedure code: 99051-Med Serv Eve/Wkend/Holiday with a $123.00 charge. I made a phone call for an appointment on a Thursday around 2pm. They said every office in the area except one that was VERY far away from me... Had an opening at 6pm. I said I would make it and I showed up around 5:45pm.
I was not told on the phone that appt's after 6pm were considered after hours. I think the office is supposed to be open til 8pm! I called the billing office today and they said they have received several phone calls about this and she said they are starting to post signs in the waiting room telling patients about this. HOW would that help ANYTHING!? I told her..."when patient call, the appointment setter needs to inform the patient that they will be charged for late appointments!" She said, "we are in the process of doing that." Stupid me still paid the bill thinking it would probably go to collections anyway if I tried to fight it. I'm a very laid back person, so I let it go.
I called my mom and she is mad for a whole other reason. For going in to get lab results (a 5 min visit telling her she is fine and to eat oatmeal)... She was charged a pretty high fee (not sure the amt). She tried to fight it and did not succeed. She was treated badly by the billing office when she tried.
Make sure to ASK if your going to be charged for an after hours fee before you ever make an appointment at this office or ANY of these offices. I feel this is a scam at the billing offices and their way of making money. I don't know how this has gone on for so long either. Don't even know if this is legal. Thanks.
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