Sometimes Health Insurance Doesn't Cover Anything
Why You Have Healthcare Insurance
So Friday, I went to my primary care doctor at Presbyterian to find out why my stomach hurt. It has hurt for many months. She referred me to get two scans and see a specialist to read the scans. I might need some bloodwork too. All OK. I got my referrals and since it was the end of the day Friday I thought I would deal with all of it Monday morning.
By the time I got home I had a bunch of phone messages, only one with a call-back number and the others were very incomplete. Like they didn’t say where to go to get the tests – I think that is important – and the blood test needs to be done on an empty stomach – I heard that AFTER I had breakfast!
But the nastiest thing I got was the referral for my tests and doctor and it was someone else’s name – with all her confidential contact info and medical info. Who was given mine? And does Presbyterian know that violates the HIPAA law? They didn’t seem a bit concerned. Presbyterian asked me to drive up to High Desert in Rio Rancho and give it to them but I said no. I mailed it to the woman who was on the form – it had her name and address. I also mailed a copy to the Attorney General and CEO of Presbyterian. I will do others. I also filled out the Presbyterian online complaint form. They called back the next day suitably upset.
This is not good service – service that we pay for. And so far, I have no referral and call-backs were few and far between.
Barbe Awalt