My chemo is being held hostage!

Mwee

Hi Friends....... It's been a long time since I've stopped by and this might get long, sorry. I've been being treated for recurrance since Jan. with carbo/taxolx4, doxilx4, and now gemzar. My oncologist of 4 1/2 years didn't reup with my insur. co. last May and we filed a continuence of treatment form. Well, the insur. co. hasn't paid in a timely fashion and my dr. called me two weeks ago and demanded that I get the insur. co. to pay and cut off any treatment, threatened to send me to collection, refused me a referral or to continue my treatment in the hospital instead of his infusion room. I moved heaven and earth and got the insur. co. to call his business office to reassure that payment was on it's way and still no chemo and he won't even return a phone call. He needs payment, I'm aware of that, but in the meantime I'm terrified. Time for a new oncologist, don't you think? Maria

Lisa 00

Not only that....
I'm all but positive that your doc is legally required to give you time to find a new doc. He can drop you as a patient for non-payment, but he has to give you some sort of notice. I think it's 30 days minimum. To drop you flat, in the middle of treatment is called "patient abandonment" and is a crime. You can call your state medical board and ask them if I am right or not. But I'm in health care so I think I am correct on this one.

At any rate, you can file a complaint with the medical board about it if you like. They will investigate and discipline him if indicated. It probably won't hurt him much, but some states publish the results of investigations on the internet! I'm not sure about how the board feels about this issue, they may frown on it bigtime and put his license on probation. Also, you are absolutely NOT the only patient he is doing this to. It could be a nice investigation for the medical board.

Of course, he didn't put it in writing that he was dropping you flat. If you feel you are in a position to, you might want to write him a letter detailing the phone calls, who you spoke to, what was said, dates, etc. and send it to him via certified mail with return receipt. Documenting poor behaviour is the first step to TELLING SOMEONE ELSE and they will know it. If they call you back and say whatever, then write that in another letter and send that. All, of course, in the plan that you are documenting the problem for the board.

But I would start looking for another doc.

All the best to you and I'm terribly sorry that it seems your doc is a jerk.
Lisa

Lisa13Q

Dear Mwee
Wow, not sure what to say about this. I am wondering if there is someone at the American Cancer Society Patient Advocacy who can help you. I can't imagine that holding up chemo is ethical, it's certainly not moral...Also, perhaps contacting patient advocacy at your insurance company would be helpful as well....sometimes they really are terrible at paying. All that being said, perhaps it;s time to find an in network provider.....Please keep us posted and I am sorry you have to deal with this when you should be focused on healing....

Hissy_Fitz

Can he do that....just stop
Can he do that....just stop your treatments? I could understand if we were talking about gallstones or ulcers, but a life-threatening disease such as ovarian cancer? And refusing a referral or off-site treatment, to boot? Please call your state medical board and find out if this is against their guidelines. In this morning's paper there was an article about a doctor who was disciplined for cutting off pain meds to a patient who had failed a drug test for illegal substances. What your doctor did was much,much worse.

This man has zero compassion for his patients and less than zero respect for the ideals of the healing profession. Besides that, he's a horse's a$%. Just straight up, plain and simple. I can almost, but not quite, bring myself to say I hope he gets Cancer. And you know I wouldn't wish this crap on my worst enemy.

Carlene

clynn13

Whats his name?
Whats his name? Id like to know that so if in the future I need a second opinion I wont go to him. What a J-E-R-K.

Lisa 00

clynn13 said:

Whats his name?
Whats his name? Id like to know that so if in the future I need a second opinion I wont go to him. What a J-E-R-K.

As an afterthought...
I thought it was interesting that the doc called himself. Apparently it is awkward asking your office staff to make such calls to the unfortunate people with cancer whose insurance is now under fire. Either that, or he didn't want his staff to know!

Unknown

clynn13 said:

Whats his name?
Whats his name? Id like to know that so if in the future I need a second opinion I wont go to him. What a J-E-R-K.

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