Cancellation Fees for doctors appointments..Any way to fight?

[beeboah]

I know that this is widespread, but I think it can be used to unfairly manipulate consumers pockets.

Example:

I live out in the country and have to take my infant to the doctor. I get completely snowed in. The closest doctors office is 50 miles away and there is no snow in that locality.

I cancel that morning since the snow storm started that night, and get a $20 cancellation fee.

I can site 1,000,000 different examples, but to me it seems like doctor's offices now have a unique tool to hold you hostage and trash your credit report.

Say I am a police officer, and I just issued a citation. I miss my appointment due to that.

Any way to fight this stuff?

Very curious...

Thanks!

[lovebug5]

If you pay the $20 cancellation fee, why is this trashing your credit report? I've never been sent to collections when assessed a late fee from a doctor's office.

But, IMO, cancellation fees for missed appointments isn't anything out of the ordinary.

[jetscarbie]

Lots of doctors/dentist charge cancellation fees now. When you don't show...it puts their schedule in a bind.

I had to cancel once b/c the battery was dead in my car. I called the doctor directly and talked to him. They waived the fee since it was the only time I have ever done it. I always try to keep good relations between myself and the doctor.

[jq26]

Give them a choice. Either you pay the cancelation fee and never return OR they'll waive the fee and see you again. You are their customer. If you are insured, they receive a managed care fee for you every year- much more than a measley cancelation fee. The fee is just a deterrent to keep people on time and from blowing off appointments. If you explain the situation, they'll likely waive it.

[Methuss]

It's not the doctor doing it but the "business manager" that runs the clinic/office. They are accountants, not doctors and their job is to maximize profits. To them it's a business. But they should waive the fee if you have a good reason. The fees are supposed to be for the purpose of deterring people from making appointments and being no-show when there is no good reason.

However, offices that brutally hammer people with cancellation fees when there is inclement weather or other problems outside of the control of the patient don't stay in business very long. Eventually they rub too many consumers the wrong way or piss off the wrong person, turning it into a media circus.

If you got snowed in, call and ask them to waive the fee. If they say no more than twice when you have a good reason, find another doctor and write a letter to them telling them why you are leaving their practice and why you are advising all your friends and family to do the same.

And one more thing to note about "cancellation fees"...

They are not legally enforceable. Ask yourself this: Did you sign anything when you made the appointment agreeing to a cancellation fee? No? Not may people do. What proof have they that you made the appointment? Nothing but the word of the "business manager" or the receptionist.

Now think about this: If they were legally enforceable, anyone could send you a bill for a cancellation fee whether or not you actually made an appointment. They could literally make it up. Does that sound like it's legally enforceable to you?

[jetscarbie]

They are not legally enforceable. Ask yourself this: Did you sign anything when you made the appointment agreeing to a cancellation fee? No? Not may people do. What proof have they that you made the appointment? Nothing but the word of the "business manager" or the receptionist.

Now think about this: If they were legally enforceable, anyone could send you a bill for a cancellation fee whether or not you actually made an appointment. They could literally make it up. Does that sound like it's legally enforceable to you?

The first time I went and seen my doctor, I had to fill out all the personal information...name and such. On one sheet of paper I signed had a note about cancellation fees and what I would be charged if I didn't cancel within 24 hrs. I noticed when I got a dentist a couple of months ago, the same paper was in there for me to sign.

[Methuss]

The first time I went and seen my doctor, I had to fill out all the personal information...name and such. On one sheet of paper I signed had a note about cancellation fees and what I would be charged if I didn't cancel within 24 hrs. I noticed when I got a dentist a couple of months ago, the same paper was in there for me to sign.

Yes yes. Every clinic does that. Just because they do doesn't make it enforceable. What proof do they have that you made the appointment? Nothing but their own word; unless you signed an appointment card. If they recorded the appointment themselves their "proof" is self-validating. And that would never hold up in court.

[stefdr]

Would it be possible to start charging them late fees when we show to an appointment on time and then wait for over an hour to be seen? When I show up at 9:45 for a 10:00 appointment and wait until 11:30 to be seen, its a bit of an inconvenience. I don't want to hear their excuses as much as they don't want to hear ours for having to cancel.

[VaSwtness]

I have. I went into the Doctors for an 8:15am appt. Should have been in and out by 8:45 at the latest. Dr. was running late and the nurse said he should be in in about 15 minutes or so. I went into the back room around 8:05. Nine rolls around, 9:15, 9:30 so I step out into the hall and found the first person I could. Ok, again, they apologize and said he should be here shortly. At 10:15 I got dressed and walked to the receptionist and told her she'll need to reschedule as I have another appt. She rudely informed me that I'd be charged for the visit and she needed my copay.

At which point I loudly informed her and the entire waiting area exactly what I thought and that the Dr. would be receiving a bill from me that my time was just as valuable as his and then walked out.

Went to work, typed up a bill and sent it registered to the Doctor. Not only did he call me to apologize, he made the receptionist send me a written apology and a check was enclosed for the amount I billed.

I changed doctors after that!!!!

[DenArt]

I have. I went into the Doctors for an 8:15am appt. Should have been in and out by 8:45 at the latest. Dr. was running late and the nurse said he should be in in about 15 minutes or so. I went into the back room around 8:05. Nine rolls around, 9:15, 9:30 so I step out into the hall and found the first person I could. Ok, again, they apologize and said he should be here shortly. At 10:15 I got dressed and walked to the receptionist and told her she'll need to reschedule as I have another appt. She rudely informed me that I'd be charged for the visit and she needed my copay.

At which point I loudly informed her and the entire waiting area exactly what I thought and that the Dr. would be receiving a bill from me that my time was just as valuable as his and then walked out.

Went to work, typed up a bill and sent it registered to the Doctor. Not only did he call me to apologize, he made the receptionist send me a written

apology and a check was enclosed for the amount I billed.

BINGO.....raise cane....we all know that doctors' and dentist rack em and stack em.....every time I go to a doctor I can count on loosing at leats 3 to 4 hours of time off the clock....and I gaurantee you if you cancel....there is a call that will need to see the dock that will fill your slot RAISE HELL and get it taken care of.....AND if it dosen't work the first time.....don't be timid....raise it again and again...........................and again and again and again

[LadynRed]

Look, it is POLICY in most doctor's offices to charge a 'no show' fee or a cancellation fee if you cancel less than 24 hours in advance. Doctors have VERY tight schedules, thank managed care for that, they have to see xx number of patients per day. I work for a company that employs a LOT of physicians and helps them with tools to manage their practices, these policies are common and, unfortunately necessary. They have the right to do this AND 99% of the time you have to agree to their policies in writing, hence the forms you fill out and sign when you register as a patient. In a court, I'd bet that the doctor's office proving they have a written policy in place for cancellation and no show fees would be enough to support a win.

To be reasonable though, if the whole area is being hit with a blizzard, it makes little sense to hit people with a fee for not wanting to risk driving somewhere for an appointment. You should contact the Practice Manager and see if they'll waive the fee since the circumstances were beyond your control. People who 'no show' or cancel at the last minute can cause havoc with a practice's patient flow. Waiting to see a doctor is a fact of modern life.. deal with it. Yes, my time is valuable too, but I don't know of a single person who expects to be seen at the exact time of their appointment.

[awwwgeez]

I wonder what the physician would say if this woman and her baby were injured, or killed, in an accident that was attributed to the snowy conditions?

Do you think the physician would send her a check for her misfortune?? Doubt it! I disagree with charging money for a no-show, unless that person is a chronic no-shower. I'm an RN and I've worked for MDs, and none of those docs charged any sort of cancellation fee. Actually, I believe there is only one physician's office in my area who charges these rates.

If you are insured by an HMO, call them up. Many of the smaller companies will run interference and help their policy holders.

When you're at the office the next time, tell your doctor what's happened. He/she might cancel that fee, seeing it was under circumstances beyond your control.

[par]

Have you tried to ask nicely?

[Methuss]

Yes, my time is valuable too, but I don't know of a single person who expects to be seen at the exact time of their appointment.

I DO. And I have made it clear to the business manager on more than one occasion that they will be billed for any time I wait over 30 minutes at $125 an hour...and that I can bill it as an account stated. She got pissy with me over it then found out from their own attorney that I can do exactly what I said. They also found out the hard way once that if you walk out after waiting they CAN'T charge you a dime (Illinois department of professional regulation made that clear to them). You were there and held up your end of the agreement...they did not.

As I said previously. These business managers are accountants. Not doctors. They usually have no legal backround either. All they have is a few college classes in business management. And the way they teach that in school these days is pathetic. I took one of those business management classes last year...it's a wonder most MBAs aren't in jail for fraud.

[brokeinok]

Ditto here. I'm on time, they made an appointment and I expect to get in within a "reasonable" time. I'll wait 15 minutes, maybe 30 if I've brought work or files along with me that will keep me occupied, but my time is just as valuable as the doctor's.

Although I never thought about the "account stated"....

As for charging a cancellation fee, when we are in the middle of a winter storm?? Hello, common sense please.

And for that matter, since they are charging a cancellation fee, maybe the next time they call me to change the time, I'll bill them for a re-scheduling fee??

[BMN]

The next time you have to sit in the waiting room an extra 20 - 30 minutes because the Doctor is running behind schedule, remind them that your time is valuable as well.

[LadynRed]

These business managers are accountants

Actually, most of them aren't, I know our practice managers certainly aren't. They may have degrees of one sort or another. They are trained, by us, in practice management.

If you have to wait too long to see a doctor, you have every right to ask to re-schedule your appointment. Cancellation and 'no show' fees are common. Refuting them may or may not be supported by state law. Doctor's schedules can be impacted for any number of reasons, one of them is holding an appointment slot for someone who didn't have the courtesy to call and notify the office they weren't coming. Granted, people may not always be in a position to do that, so some leeway has to be built in. The door swings both ways.

[littlerebel]

Lady I'm sorry but I completely disagree with you. I showed up 15 min early for a 9 am appt. The office was dark and locked. I waited until 9:15, called several times and got the answering machine. I finally got an answer at 9:50 am." Oh sorry, we had an office meeting this morning, Miss Admin. should not have scheduled you for that time. " I was furious because I was scheduled for labs and had fasted all night. I barely got a civil apology much less a "fee" for them not showing up for my appointment! I did inform them when I drove all the way back at 10:15 that I expected to be seen immediately and I would not be paying my co-pay due to my inconvenience.

In addition, since appts are double booked anyway, it seems to me that one or two folks not showing up should ease the wait time for everyone else so I can't see how it causes a negative enough effect that people should be charged for it. When the person ahead of me doesn't show, seems like that cuts my wait time down! And judging by the sheer numbers of people in the waiting rooms, this no show stuff is not an epidemic. I will NEVER pay a "no-show" fee until wait times go down to 15 minutes.