Posted by Bill LL on July 28, 2005, at 11:39:42 [reposted on July 28, 2005, at 19:39:00 | original URL]
In reply to Re: So sick of these Psychiatrists-Tom Twilight, posted by Cecilia on July 28, 2005, at 1:34:17
That's true, but it's also true of all specialists not just p-docs. I live in the US and I've seen a lot of docs of all specialties who are terrible. However, they are great at billing for expensive and unnessary tests.
Most specialists operate like they are in an assembly line. They want you to come in and have a lot of expensive tests, but they don't want to spend a lot of time with you.
Due to malpractice concerns, they generally are only willing to use the most conventional treatments or medications.
P-docs in the United States are the only major specialty that for the most part does not participate in insurance plans. All other specialties generally do participate.
The reason that p-docs don't participate is that they don't do expensive tests, so they can really only bill for their time. US insurance companies, as well as Medicare for the aged and disabled, do not pay a lot for time (ie for "visits"). Most specialists will accept the low payment for the visit since they can make a lot of money doing very profitable tests such as EKG's, X-rays, endoscopies, mamographies, CAT scans, etc.
There are also a lot of p-docs that accept insurance, but only for a small number of clinic patients in a hospital. But not for the majority of their patients.
It's very frustrating to deal with p-docs in the US. I know that from first hand experience. It's much easier and faster to get an appointment from a different specialist who can, and does, bill the heck out of your insurance plan.
> Believe me, there are a lot of ignorant and arrogant pdocs in the U.S. too! Cecilia
poster:Bill LL
thread:534991
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20050725/msgs/534999.html