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| - They run this practice like thieves. Go elsewhere for an ENT. Find an ENT office that will explain what "procedure" you are going through before they do it to you. Office staff is rude. The wait in the office was long and the phone call hold time is usually more than 16 minutes (average of my 4 cell phone calls).
I was referred to an ENT for possible sinus thickening that was found as a result of an MRI for migraines. I randomly chose Dr. Taffet due to his proximity to my office and his practice being in my insurance's preferred network. After waiting 45 minutes past my appointment time, I was ushered into a room and the Medical Assistant sprayed each nostril with a spray, seemingly no different than I had used for sinus problems in the past. She informed me the spray would numb my sinuses, so that the doctor would look in my nose. Shortly thereafter the doctor came in and listened to my five-minute verbal history of my sinus and headache issues and to find out why I was referred to an ENT. He then took a long scope and looked into each nostril for literally one to two seconds per nostril. This procedure seemed no different than going to every other doctor's appointment where they use a light to evaluate eyes, ears, and nose, but this was with a longer "scope" for the nose than I was familiar with. After this quick "scope" Dr. Taffet and asked me to have a CT since he could not fully assess my sinus issues without a CT. When I asked why the MRI I had already received was not adequate, the Doctor said not good enough because it did not show the tissue he needed to assess.
I went for a CT for my sinuses and willingly paid the $75 co-pay. I picked up my scans a few days later to return for my appointment where the doctor could tell me what was needed because I essentially learned nothing from my initial visit. This appointment was later cancelled for the following reason:
Before my next appointment with Dr. Taffet, I was billed for a "surgery" at his office. I thought there was a billing mistake, so I called the office to find out what occurred. The medical billing office informed me that the "nasal endoscope" during my initial office consultation was a SURGICAL DEVICE, and therefore I was billed for a surgical procedure. I informed her that I was not informed of a surgical procedure upon my initial consultation. She told me that 9 out of 10 people that walk in the door are scoped. I asked her if they were ever informed this would happen on their first visit. She said, "No, but they are all billed as surgery." I was stunned that other people were not shocked with this change and calling to question the billing office. She tried to explain, "Surgery can be charged when any device enters your body cavity, such as your nose." As a non-medical-biller myself, the logic seems flawed because my doctors have never charged me for surgery to look in my ears, nose, or throat. Nor has any gynecologist charged me a surgical co-pay for a PAP smear, which is far more invasive. Based on this logic, most doctor visits would be able to charge you for surgery. My surgery co-pay is $150. I was with the doctor for approximately six minutes and was NEVER TOLD I was to undergo a surgical procedure. Having been properly informed, I would have declined this "surgery," ESPECIALLY before having had my CTs evaluated. Since the billing was not erroneous, I filed a complaint with my insurance. They investigated it through their management and I can do nothing else through them. After speaking to Dr. Taffet's office manager, Judy, she was unwavering and has been unwilling to change their policy (or my billing) of informing vast majority that their first visit will be a surgical co-pay ($150) instead of a specialist ($35) co-pay.
I have Blue Cross Blue Shield, am a knowledgeable person, and am very aware of my co-payment plan.
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