Hi! I think Ron should write to Dr. Lieberman abot lipitor. Theer is someconcern that lipitor itself might be harmful becausesome people have devloped PF after using lipitor. First i would worry about your health and not the bill. I think he should see a neurologist. Raj [log in to unmask];ink.ca ************** ----- Original Message ----- From: "ds401" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Tuesday, October 29, 2002 3:01 AM Subject: Re: Cost of Care > Ron McKay wrote: > > > > I do not know what treatment costs are, and believe there are many out there that have more experience, and can help keep me informed. I went to a local General Practitioner to get a physical, and to see if there might be a cause for my tremors on my right side. He gave me the physical, and sent me to the local hospital for a CAT scan of my brain, and a CAT scan of my nasal sinuses. He also sent me for a full blood check, that included checking for Cholesterol status. I had the blood drawn, and had the two scans, and returned to his office. He told me he found only a need to be on Lipitor, but no other abnormalities. He told me that my tremors could be from natural causes, and not to give them any attention. He recommended that I stay with the Lipitor, and avoid going to any other doctors. He told me I could if I wanted to, but that he thought it would be a waste of my time and money. I received the $3,500 bill for everything that was done, today. I believe it to be > > excessive, and need some feedback. $280 for the two doctors visits and the physical. $293 for the CAT scan of the brain. $277 for the CAT scan of the nasal passages. $772.91 for the Blood Tests. $1,670.36 for the interpretation of the two CAT scans. Is this normal, or have I been scammed? I still have the tremors, but at this rate I can not afford to go on looking for the cause. > > Does ur GP know u have PD? > Is this the only testing u ever had for diag. ? > COSTS > 1)If u have insurance, most of this should be paid for after u paid ur > deductible of ur individual out of pocket expenses for the year 2002. > Since it is October, good chance that u already met ur deductibles. > > 2)Call billing and make sure the right insurance info is listed AND that > the insurance companieS were sent claims and when were they sent from > the hospital, ect. write everything down. > Average turn around is 6 months for billing and payments to begin to > apply to ur account. > > 3)When u call ur insurance company- > get name, ID, phone ext. or who u are talking to. write it down and the > time. follow up with written correspondence. > They can tell u when they sent the check and to who it was issued to. > > 4)U can call another hospital in ur neighborhood and ask their charges. > There should be codes on ur itemized bill. > ur insurance company pays the usual cust. rates. (80% u pay 20% unless u > went out of network). Costs and coverage depends if u are HMO or PPO or > indemity (rare) now adays. Look at ur new 2003 insurance coverage. > Coverage percentages and deductibles have changed for private and > medicare insurance's. > > MY PERSONAL COSTS FOR CT SCANS - without contrast of the abdom. area- > $1370. 10/11/02. I haven't gotten the contrast one nor do I want to see > the bill. Urs is of the brain area and where u live matters also when > it comes to costs. > My brain ones are generally 1500. to 2000. > > full blood check?? I don't know what urs involved. > > cholesterol (sp?)-- profile ? ask for HDL, LDL, triglicerides (sp?), > ect. Ask for the ranges. Ask about exercise and fluid intake. > > > nancy > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] > > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn