Info Desk [Paperwork, ordering, wait times, procedures, booklets, prescriptions...]

Rebecca Myers38 · 2005-01-09T18:00:22+00:00

Does anyone happen to know if this referral has an expiration date? A friend of mine mentioned—or at least he thinks he did—that it’s only valid for a single m…

Rachel Hill45 Newcomer

2 messages
joined Oct 2011

#381 · Oct 19, 2011

Lisa Nelson70 said:@Kenneth Jackson77: I waited over six months just to get some basic screenings scheduled—it wasn't like the Department of Health and Human Services ever reached out to me or anything... I basically just had to play phone tag with various hospitals myself to see when the first opening was available, and then I just sort of took a gamble on where to actually book the appointment.

I used to handle all my own scheduling—back before they implemented this centralized ordering system—but since I haven't actually needed any checkups in the last few years, I’m completely in the dark about how this new setup is supposed to work. Honestly, it doesn't make any sense to me; now I'm looking at a two-month wait just for an appointment that, in the past, I wouldn't have even had to book.
Anyway, I’m not exactly dying from being stuck in bed—though I was really hoping to dodge this whole thing—but I guess that’s why they started moving toward this centralized ordering system in the first place.
Thanks for the info. 🙂

I was wondering—just out of curiosity—if it’s actually possible to snag an appointment for some kind of checkup tomorrow if I'm looking at a city a bit further away? 311 milesI guess it comes down to the specifics of your situation—do you actually have a right to claim travel expenses, or am I stuck waiting in some line somewhere closer to home?

I think there might be some info regarding this in that link I shared in my last post—basically, if you’re able to get that screening done in the city where you're actually registered (meaning, wherever your primary care doctor is that issued the referral), then you really ought to do it there. If you go elsewhere, they probably won't cover your travel expenses. I guess the only exception would be if the wait times in your home city are absolutely insane—like, months or even years—in which case, it would seem pretty ridiculous if they didn't approve your travel costs.
Look, I’ll say it again—this whole centralized ordering system is just one big mystery to me.

I was thinking about asking my primary care doctor to just send me straight over to a physiatrist—it feels like that might be the most logical next step.

I suppose I agree—it might actually be in your best interest to "crank up" the symptoms just a little bit. Good afternoon—I'm here to pick up a referral for a physical therapist. It feels like my symptoms have taken a bit of a turn for the worse lately... [insert symptoms]

If you find yourself in a situation where your doctor is being insistent that everything is perfectly fine—even when your gut tells you otherwise—just tell her exactly what you wrote here. These kinds of conditions—they don't really improve, I guess. You either stay stagnant or things just start sliding downhill. It’s more about prevention than actually finding a cure at this stage. Right now, maybe it isn't such a huge deal, but once I hit sixty, I don't want to be sitting there completely helpless.

I can't quite wrap my head around why such a huge chunk of the medical community just... completely overlooked the importance of preventative care. It’s a bit baffling, honestly—you'd think after everything we know now, it would be a given. Maybe they're just too caught up in treating symptoms to look at the bigger picture? I don't know. It feels like a massive missed opportunity.

I guess you should probably make sure to cite all those expert opinions you managed to gather—it might be worth bringing them all into the conversation.
Regarding physiatrists—I know there’s a really solid one over at Amtrak. You might have to wait a little bit for an appointment, I guess, but once you're in, she goes over absolutely everything. She doesn't miss a single detail. Plus, if your diagnosis actually calls for it, you can get things like MRIs, pool therapy, or electrical stimulation—it's not just the usual basic exercises they try to push on everyone.

If all else fails,

A friend of mine has an absolutely stellar doctor.

Maybe I could just switch over to his practice? 😁 Based on your experience, it sounds like there’s a massive difference between the two.

restlesstiger102 Active Member

61 messages
joined Oct 2012

#382 · Oct 26, 2011

melloworca6, I have a quick question for you. I wasn't quite sure where to direct this, so please feel free to move my post if there is a more appropriate thread for it. I am scheduled for an ultrasound at Johns Hopkins Hospital next week, and it just occurred to me 🙄 that since I don't have supplemental insurance, I will definitely be responsible for the bill myself. Does anyone happen to know what the typical cost looks like?

Money is a bit tight for me right now, so every dollar counts, and I would also like to have a general idea of how much cash I should set aside. For my hormone testing, I ended up paying $39 🤔

restlesstiger102 Active Member

61 messages
joined Oct 2012

#383 · Oct 27, 2011

Does nobody else seem to be aware of this?

restlessangler Member

12 messages
joined Jul 2009

#384 · Nov 4, 2011

Hey everyone—does anyone happen to know what the typical wait time is for an endocrinology appointment over at Mayo Clinic?

Nathan Baker Active Member

106 messages
joined Aug 2010

#385 · Nov 4, 2011

Hey everyone. So, apparently there’s this specific phone number you can call at Medicare when you need to get some tests done. It’s basically for when you already have a referral in hand, but you really don't feel like playing phone tag with various hospitals just to try and schedule an appointment.
You just dial 459-5183 or 459-6184, leave your full name and a callback number, and then you just wait.
Within a few days, a woman calls you back from one of those numbers to let you know where there’s availability and when—and this includes private clinics that take Medicare, too.
I’m living proof that this actually works. I got a call within two days, and they managed to snag me an appointment for the very next day.
Good luck to anyone who needs it. Honestly, I doubt anyone has even heard of this number, probably not even the doctors themselves; I suppose if they don't want to deal with the extra work, they just won't announce it in the news or anything.

I stumbled upon this the other day, it was just one of those emails circulating around. Does anyone actually know if this is legit? Besides, I have to admit, unless this actually speeds up the scheduling process—meaning it doesn't just put you further back in line—I don't see the point. For instance... personally, when I need any kind of screening, my go-to options are always either the hospital in Akron, the one in Cleveland, or maybe Quest Diagnostics if I'm using a referral. I already know by heart that I'll be seen first at Quest Diagnostics and last in Akron, so what difference does it make if someone from this mystery number books me? I could easily just do that myself....

Aaron Sanchez6 Newcomer

2 messages
joined Nov 2009

#386 · Nov 5, 2011

So basically, I've got some referrals for
a carotid ultrasound and a vertebral artery scan, plus my standard and functional chest X-rays... and man, I'm really just looking to get this all done at a place where I can actually get seen without waiting forever, thanks!

vividpilot14 Newcomer

9 messages
joined Aug 2021

#387 · Nov 7, 2011

Does anyone happen to know what the going rate is for blood work, an EKG, or a chest X-ray? I’m currently out of work and don't have any supplemental insurance to fall back on... just me and my bad luck at this point. 🙂

silentwolf53 Member

45 messages
joined May 2011

#388 · Nov 7, 2011

I've been scrolling through the Medicare site—need to extend my coverage since I'm transitioning from high schooler to college student—and I see a bunch of different branch locations listed. Does it actually matter which one I hit up, or is every office specialized for something specific?

Nathan Baker Active Member

106 messages
joined Aug 2010

#389 · Nov 8, 2011

I can't help but wonder what a doctor actually gains by prescribing some cheaper alternative to whatever the specialist originally ordered—especially when they’re essentially identical in composition, at least from my perspective. In my specific case, instead of getting Concord or Norman, I’m being handed Lybrand and Valium from Pfizer. Aside from the obvious impression that my doctor clearly favors Pfizer—though I suppose one could assume they're being sponsored—I’m genuinely curious if there’s any practical benefit here. Is it perhaps a matter of managing a specific medication budget, where choosing the lower-cost option leaves more room in her resources, or is there something else going on entirely?

Aaron Collins25 Member

15 messages
joined May 2012

#390 · Nov 9, 2011

Patrick Chase11 said:I’m currently stuck in a bit of a bind because my college schedule is absolutely slammed, which makes seeing a psychologist back in my hometown pretty much impossible right now. Since I'm living in the city where I'm studying, is it actually okay to just walk into a local psychologist's office and start sessions normally? Or am I going to run into some red tape where I need a formal referral from a primary doctor first? Honestly, I’m a total novice when it comes to navigating how all this medical stuff works, so any guidance would be amazing! 🤷

I’m actually really curious about this too, though in my case, it isn't about seeing a psychologist—it's regarding a different kind of specialist, a dermatologist.
Is it possible to see a specialist in Chicago even if we’re based out of San Diego? The situation is that one person is currently studying in Chicago and spends way more time there than they do back home, so whenever they make the trip back for the weekend, it's just impossible to squeeze in any medical appointments or exams.
He doesn't really need travel reimbursement since he's already right there in Chicago.

swiftbear86 Active Member

211 messages
joined Jun 2012

#391 · Nov 9, 2011

Lisa Nelson70 said:I’m curious about what’s actually in it for a doctor when they swap out a specialist's prescription for a cheaper alternative (assuming they have the exact same ingredients, at least as far as I can tell)? For instance, instead of Concord and Norman, I’m being prescribed Lybrand and Valium from Pfizer. Aside from the fact that my doctor clearly has a soft spot for Pfizer—maybe they're being sponsored or something—I wonder if there's a practical benefit. Like, does she have a specific budget for meds where saving money helps her stay within certain limits, or is it something else altogether?

If you prescribe the cheaper versions, you aren't hitting those monthly caps, and as long as you stay within the Medicare guidelines, it doesn't impact the primary policyholder's coverage. That could definitely be one reason for it.
Though, honestly, with how generics are priced these days, there isn't much difference anymore. Maybe the doctor just prefers American manufacturers, though Norman is made right here too. Or who knows, maybe she has buddies over at Pfizer.🤷

Anthony Foster17 Member

12 messages
joined Jul 2010

#392 · Nov 9, 2011

My OB/GYN gave me a referral for some hormone testing and told me I need to get it done on day 2 or 3 of my period—so basically tomorrow 🙂.... Here's the catch: I'm not actually living in Chicago, I'm just here for school. The doctor who wrote the referral is back in my hometown, but he said I could use it here in Chicago too. I really want to get this over with tomorrow, but I have no clue where to go or if they'll even see me without an appointment? Can I just show up at a place like Labcorp with his referral in hand, or what? Help me out here.

Nathan Baker Active Member

106 messages
joined Aug 2010

#393 · Nov 9, 2011

swiftbear86 said:If you stick to cheaper medications, you don't hit that monthly cap, and as long as you stay within the Medicare coverage limits, it doesn't affect your base premium. That might actually be one of the reasons why.
Even though, honestly, with generic pricing these days, the gap isn't even that significant anymore. Maybe the doctor just has a soft spot for domestic manufacturers—though, to be fair, even Norman is a local brand. Or perhaps he just has a few buddies over at Pfizer.🤷

A woman at the pharmacy told me straight up that she pushes anything made by Pfizer, provided they actually manufacture what the doctor ordered. And yeah, if they try to hand her a brand from a different manufacturer, she’ll pick up the phone and give them an earful. It's all very transparent, really.

Now, that bit about the base premium caught my eye... so, I guess there actually is some incentive to go for those two-for-one deals after all.

vividsailor7 Active Member

217 messages
joined Sep 2011

#394 · Nov 10, 2011

Chloe King26 said:My gynecologist gave me a referral to get my hormone levels checked and told me I need to do it on day 2 or 3 of my cycle—which means tomorrow 🙂.... The issue is I’m not actually living in Chicago; I’m just here for college. The doctor who wrote the referral is back in my hometown, but he said I could use the same paperwork to get tested here in Chicago too... I really want to get this done tomorrow, but I have no clue where to go or if they'll even see me since I haven't made an appointment? Can I just show up at a lab with his referral or what? Help!

Look, if he gave you a standard insurance referral, you can go anywhere you want, but you absolutely have to call ahead and make an appointment first.

Casey Rogers47 Member

43 messages
joined Jan 2007

#395 · Nov 10, 2011

I wasn't quite sure where to drop this question, so I figured I'd just post it here.
Does anyone know how long you can stay on medical leave with a specific diagnosis before they officially refer you to a review board?

Nathan Baker Active Member

106 messages
joined Aug 2010

#396 · Nov 10, 2011

I suspect that simply having your diagnosis isn't quite enough to paint the full picture; what really matters is whether you're undergoing physical therapy, if you've been prescribed any medication, whether this is an entirely new development for you, or perhaps it's an occupational issue stemming from your workplace... and, of course, what your primary care physician actually thinks about the situation. So, if you don't mind, please be honest—it's the only way you'll truly grasp where you stand.

swiftbear86 Active Member

211 messages
joined Jun 2012

#397 · Nov 10, 2011

Casey Rogers47 said:I wasn't sure where to drop this question, so I'll just put it here.
How long can you actually stay out on medical leave with this specific diagnosis before they send you to a review board?

According to the Federal Register, there are specific guidelines regarding maximum sick leave durations. For an M54 diagnosis, you're looking at up to 14 days. Basically, the doctor notes on the notice to your employer that the expected leave is 14 days. After that, you head to a commission that evaluates whether there are grounds to extend your leave.

http://example-gov-link.gov/regulations/153_3779.html

Lisa Nelson70 said:The lady at the pharmacy told me she gives everyone whatever Pfizer makes, provided they make the specific drug being prescribed. And yeah, if they try to give her a different brand, she calls them out and starts yelling. So there you go.

Anyway, I was wondering about the benefit of those dual-branded things... so, I guess there is some point to them after all.

I wouldn't call it a "benefit," but it definitely helps avoid penalties.
Think about it—how do you think specialists decide which brand to prescribe?
Every medical history record clearly states that a primary care physician can prescribe an equivalent drug from a different manufacturer.
Basically, anyone can prescribe whatever they want, as long as the pharmacy dispenses exactly what's written on the script.
On top of that, a primary doctor can mark the prescription to say "no substitutions allowed." If that happens and the drug isn't in stock, the patient just has to go back to their doctor.
If that special note isn't there, the pharmacist is allowed to swap it for a different brand, provided the price is the same or cheaper—but only if the original drug is currently facing a shortage.☕

Matthew Taylor17 Newcomer

9 messages
joined Feb 2012

#398 · Nov 10, 2011

vividsailor7 said:If they gave you a red referral slip, you can go wherever you want—though you'll still need to make an appointment.

That’s not how this works—you don't "make an appointment" in the traditional sense! These hormone levels have to be drawn on one specific day of your cycle; since no woman can predict that exact moment with absolute certainty, scheduling ahead of time is essentially impossible.

copperraven53 Active Member

55 messages
joined Feb 2011

#399 · Nov 10, 2011

Olivia Hayes89 said:Don't bother ordering ahead! You gotta draw those hormones on one specific day of your cycle, and since nobody can say for sure when that exact day is gonna hit, you can't really schedule it in advance.

I guess some hospitals make you book an appointment. They give you a rough window, then you just show up around day 2 or 3 of your cycle, but they mostly just care about having the slot reserved. Like at the Mayo Clinic, for example.

rapiddrifter4 Newcomer

4 messages
joined Jan 2009

#400 · Nov 24, 2011

My driver's license is set to expire in just a few days—I need to get my vision checked—where in Chicago can I get this done the fastest? Any idea on the cost?

Info Desk [Paperwork, ordering, wait times, procedures, booklets, prescriptions...]

🔗 Similar threads