$25 to mail a prescription?!

[jellyben]

I called my son's psychiatrist the other day to make an appt. and get a refill on his prescription. He couldn't call in the Rx because it is a controlled substance so he said he would mail it to me. I got it today, along with a $25 bill for mailing it! I would have driven oner there to get it if I knew he would charge me $25!! Is this normal? It's things like this that drive me nutty.

[funnybone]

WOW - I can see $5 surcharge, but $25 is ridiculous!:eek:

My Dr's office submits RXs electoncially now, but I don't know the rules for a controlled substance are.

[Lrimerman]

Many dr's offices are charging for things we as patients see as part of what we pay when we "see" the doctor. I don't like it at all, but with the way our health care system is they are making what they say is less and less.

My health care cost went way up this year and benefits went down. I think it needs a lot of help.

I would call the Doctor office and say you were not told that there was a fee and in the future you would appreciate notice if there is a charge for something before it is done. Ask them as a courtesy to take the charge off this time and ask if you pick it up, would it have been free, because in the future you will do so.

Other than that, I can't really say what should be done.

Lisa

[clairea]

That surprises me, especially since they didn't tell you about it. I have noticed that psychiatrists (along with all other doctors) are now billing for a lot of things that used to not get billed (short phone calls, copies of a few pages, etc.) with the justification that they need to capture the time and overhead involved, so my guess is the charge was something along those lines. It bugs me since I think the hourly rate for visits ought to be designed to cover those types of incidentals (unless someone is really abusing the system) but it seems to be the way things are going. As a former lawyer I guess I really shouldn't complain about people billing clients for every little thing;)

[Canice]

WOW that's a lot for mailing a little bottle of pills! My pharmacy does it for free, but I could understand a nominal charge. I think it's dishonest not to give the option of "you can pick it up here or we can mail it to you for $25". :mad:

[jellyben]

WOW that's a lot for mailing a little bottle of pills! My pharmacy does it for free, but I could understand a nominal charge. I think it's dishonest not to give the option of "you can pick it up here or we can mail it to you for $25". :mad:


He wasn't even mailing the pills-just the paper prescription. I wouldn't mind paying the 39 cents postage, but $25 seems excessive!

[aggie94]

That is OUTRAGEOUS. I would definitely be calling, as Lisa suggested, although I probably would not be nearly as courteous or polite as she suggested. :mad:

[blazedog]

Obviously it's an outrageous charge but I would make a polite inquiry -- It could be a coding error of some kind in terms of what his biller thought the charge was -- i.e. telephone consult.

If he/she does say that mailing a paper to you costs $25, I would firmly -- i.e. assertively but not aggressively -- state that you feel this is an excessive charge for this service.

[jellyben]

Obviously it's an outrageous charge but I would make a polite inquiry -- It could be a coding error of some kind in terms of what his biller thought the charge was -- i.e. telephone consult.

If he/she does say that mailing a paper to you costs $25, I would firmly -- i.e. assertively but not aggressively -- state that you feel this is an excessive charge for this service.


I don't think it's a billing error-under "Service" it says "med refill-phone/fax/mail".

I will question it when we see him in a few weeks, and if he insists we pay it then I will just tack it on to his $250 hourly rate :rolleyes:

Note to self: become a psychiatrist.

[blazedog]

I don't think it's a billing error-under "Service" it says "med refill-phone/fax/mail".

I will question it when we see him in a few weeks, and if he insists we pay it then I will just tack it on to his $250 hourly rate :rolleyes:

Note to self: become a psychiatrist.

Not that I am defending the charge but I think the charge is for any refill -- i.e. that it is an administrative charge because it is a narcotic for the time it takes him to fill it out etc. It wouldn't have mattered how the actual piece of paper was delivered -- or at least that is my interpretation.

Presumably if the prescription was given in person, it would have been part of the 50 minute "hourly" rate because the session would have included the prescription.

I certainly see no harm in asking him/her for an explanation of why he has this charge and what the justification is for it.

Do you actually pay the hourly rate or is it covered by insurance?

[jellyben]

Not that I am defending the charge but I think the charge is for any refill -- i.e. that it is an administrative charge because it is a narcotic for the time it takes him to fill it out etc. It wouldn't have mattered how the actual piece of paper was delivered -- or at least that is my interpretation.

Presumably if the prescription was given in person, it would have been part of the 50 minute "hourly" rate because the session would have included the prescription.

I certainly see no harm in asking him/her for an explanation of why he has this charge and what the justification is for it.

Do you actually pay the hourly rate or is it covered by insurance?

We pay the hourly rate up front and then submit the receipt to our insurance, which reimburses about half.

[Peweh]

This seems outrageous to me! I would think writing a refill prescription would be considered a professional courtesy given you are paying the 250/hr for visits. It's not like you are just going to ask him to write refill Rxs forever without a follow-up visit, I assume. I don't know if I'd call this time but next I would definitely ask "last time I was charged... blah blah blah... could I pick it up instead?" If it was an error or something they'll likely credit you. Just my 2 cents!