On the face of it, this does not sound correct. Sure they can bill you, doesn't mean that they will get paid. I would ask for an itemized bill for the (2) charges and an explanation in writing. Also let your insurance carrier know of what occurred. The doctors will more likely pay attention to the carrier as that is where the real money is coming from. Example: I went to my doctor for a cough. He checked my ears and told me that I needed to come again to get extra wax out of my ears. I did not understand why he would not do it in the first visit. He would not have been paid for getting the wax out if he had done it on my first visit. Not to mention, I stopped seeing the doctor. Making money is good but doing it at the expense of one's health is immoral. Generally, they will bill seperately for the office visit and bill also for the doctor diagnosis. I was billed a few times like this when my wife was getting ultrasounds at a hospital. Once for the reading and once for the visit.
Can the doctor charge you for missing an appointment - yes. Can you charge the doctor for running late - no.
Yes, a physical therapy clinic can charge for a missed appointment if the policy was clearly stated. A doctor's office is also able to have this type of policy.
it is not the MD's responsibility to call & remind you of an appointment. some will do this as a courtesy. some MD's will charge for a missed appt, however, i believe this must be posted in their office. they cannot charge double their fee.
Insurance information is not needed when scheduling an appointment.
Call the doctor's office.
Doctor's Appointment
Most doctors see people by appointment, so the first thing to do is to phone the office and make an appointment to see the doctor. In the event that your particular doctor does not require appointments, then just go to the office during regular office hours (make sure you know the schedule!) and show up.
You should thank the patient for choosing your office for their visit. You can list the services they received and let them know when their next appointment is.
A doctor can charge a copay any time you visit them :) did youy ever get and answer for this question, and if you did where did you find it?? please advise
No! It is not legal to be charged for services not given. Often times offices would like you to believe you will be billed, so people will give advanced cancellation of the appointment. Another Answer: Yes, the office can charge for missed appointments. You may want to read the financial agreement you probably signed when you first became a patient in that office. Most offices try not to be unyielding and inflexible with this policy. If you have a really good reason for breaking the appointment, they may waive the fee. Or, if you are a long-time patient who has a track record of keeping your appointments, they may forgive you. With every appointment there are costs incurred by the office. The staff has to be paid whether you show up or not. The light bill still has to be paid. And they cannot charge you for whatever the procedure was you were supposed to have done. A broken appointment fee is an attempt to offset those costs and encourage patients to keep their appointments. Think about it this way: If you buy an airline ticket and don't show up before the plane takes off, there is the costs of the fuel, the pilots and the attendants' salaries, etc. And your seat is empty. Do you think the airline should refund your money just because you didn't show up? It's the same way in a doctor's office, only they don't charge you up front. A failed appointment is an inflationary factor, and by not showing up, you drive the costs of healthcare up for everybody. A failed appointment fee tries to mitigate those costs by laying the expense where it belongs, at the feet of the person who didn't bother the keep their appointment.
If you are charged for a missed appointment, then there was a clause in the paper work allowing the doctor to bill you. If you feel otherwise, then you can always ask the doctor for the clause and where it is stated in the paper work. This usually only applies to Private Practices rather than Hospitals.
If a person has given a doctor's office a reasonable amount of time before a visit is canceled, then a patient should never agree to owe money for a canceled appointment. If a patient has signed an agreement contrary to what was just written, then the patient is liable for the debt due to that agreement. The best practice is to never sign such an agreement. Even a sickness can cause you to cancel an appointment.