telemedicine charges during COVID, Massachusetts version

Post date: 2020-05-27 14:29:04

I saw the headlines on Massachusetts 'expanding telehealth' during COVID to keep us from making unecessary trips to the doctor's office for things that could be handled by phone...but what does it mean in $$$ and cents?

So I had a telehealth visit for a regular followup rheumatology appointment, and now just got the EOB and I'm kind of shocked at what the charge looks to be. I expected it to be the same as my usual copay, if not less (see below), but instead it's twice as much and billed under services rather than a copay (so a deducible applies...so I'm paying 100%). I was wondering what the expansion of telemedicine means in terms of what I should be paying? Should it be the same as the visit it was replacing? How can a visit that would normally be covered by copay now be something that a deductible applies to?

The appointment was switched to telephone call at the doctor's request, not mine, and she specifically told me during the visit not to come in for blood work (in-person) for at least another month.

I am almost always underwhelmed by these visits - my previous doc required a visit once a year to renew prescriptions but otherwise left it to me to only make appointments if I was having problems. This new one wanted me in every three months and I've talked her down to four or five, and the visits typically go like, "So what you brings you in?" "Umm, you required me to come in or wouldn't fill my prescription." "Oh, um ok. So any problems?" "Nope." "OK, see you in four or five months." And then the receptionist has already scheduled the next appointment without even asking me. At least, I can usually make these in-person visits coincide with blood work. But this telemedicine visit was literally that convo above and some murmurings about COVID precautions, with nothing else... how can it cost more than a usual visit?

Please click Here to read the full story.