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

jadeheron28 said:I have a question about sick leave statements and the privacy issues that come with them. How much info can actually be read from those slips? Specifically, I’m heading in for a gynecological surgery soon. What exactly will be written on the paperwork? I know my OB-GYN has to sign off on them, but will they just check a box for "illness," or will it clearly state that I had an operation?
thanks for trying.

From what I remember, your primary care doctor handles the sick leave paperwork. The statement usually lists a diagnosis code—just a string of numbers—and then Medicare uses that code to make sure you haven't exceeded the maximum number of allowed sick days for that specific condition.
Since you mentioned your OB-GYN is the one issuing them, you might want to double-check that with a regular doctor just to be safe (things tend to change, right?)

Rebecca Chase62 said:Here’s my dilemma: my physiatrist prescribed therapy for both sciatica and heel pain. The issue is that my primary care doctor wrote just one referral covering both diagnoses, but the folks over at the Mayo Clinic are telling me I need a separate referral for every single diagnosis to get physical therapy.
So, who's actually right here?!

Honestly, nobody really knows for sure. 😁
I have a feeling those people at the Mayo Clinic are being a bit difficult.

Take my situation from a month ago (not involving Božid)—I needed PT for several different issues. My physiatrist covered everything under a single referral based on my diagnoses, claiming Medicare follows that logic. If we went by the other theory, some people would need five different referrals, or they'd be stuck running back and forth all year just to treat different parts of their bodies.😁
It really boils down to the physiatrist. Did you see your specialist at the Mayo Clinic or somewhere else?
If you really want to fight tooth and nail about it, you could always send an inquiry straight to Medicare.😉

swiftbear86 said:From what I recall, it’s the primary care physician who handles the sick leave documentation—the slip actually lists a diagnosis code, and Medicare uses that specific code to make sure you haven't exceeded the maximum number of allowed days for that particular issue.
You're claiming your gynecologist issued yours—maybe double-check that with a general practitioner? (Who knows, maybe the protocols have shifted?)

Well, the last time I was out on medical leave due to some gyno issues, my gynecologist was the one who wrote the note... and look, I get that there are all these different codes that basically lay bare exactly what happened. But I honestly don't know just how granular those codes are—like, could someone actually tell if I had surgery or not? That's really what I'm trying to figure out.

My 11-year-old needs an MRI on his knee. I’ve had a bad experience before where a technician misread the scans and gave a totally wrong recommendation—not something you want to deal with twice. Where in the Washington, D.C. area would you suggest I go to get a high-quality knee MRI?
Thanks for the help.

I was pretty happy with Medikol in Washington, D.C., but had a rough experience at Martic—they basically fried me there. The Siemens machine is a bit different from the GE ones they use, and you get slightly different imaging results. Medikol uses GE, which worked fine for me...

jadeheron28 said:So, the last time I had to take sick leave for some gynecological issues, my doctor handled the paperwork... and while I know there are various codes used—which apparently make it easy to figure out what was actually going on—I’m just not sure how detailed they get. Could someone actually see if I had surgery or not? That's why I'm asking.

Nothing regarding specific diagnoses appears on the sick leave note. It just lists the dates of the leave and the general category of the claim. They aren't allowed to include actual diagnoses or even those specific ICD codes—since anyone with half a brain could just look up an ICD manual and figure it out anyway.

Since we don't know the specifics (you mentioned some gynecological issues), you should probably just check your Medicare benefit statement and judge for yourself. They don't list specific diagnostic codes, but they do show the general reason why you're out on medical leave.
Generally speaking, those statements give you enough info to see the core issue behind your sick leave.
http://cdn.medicare.gov/wp-content/upload...a_29012015.pdf

So, here’s what I’m wondering: regarding the cardiology consult for general anesthesia, can I just take a referral from my primary care physician to any hospital? Or am I stuck going to the specific local clinic where my doctor works?

When I asked my doctor for the referral, she actually told me that getting blood work done could only be handled at the local community health center in this city?

Jamie Garcia7 said:I have a question regarding the cardiology and internal medicine clearance required for general anesthesia. Can I take a referral from my primary care physician to any hospital to get this done, or am I restricted to the specific community health center where my doctor practices?

When I asked my doctor for the referral, she mentioned that blood work could only be performed at the local health clinic in our city.

That is exactly what my GP told me, and my daughter's pediatrician said the same thing, so I assume it is the case. I haven't looked into it further.

I wasn't quite sure where to post this, so I figured this sub made the most sense. If I've got that wrong, maybe a moderator can move it. Thanks.
So, here’s the deal—I was supposed to start physical therapy today. The catch is my work schedule. I don't work shifts; I'm strictly on an 8-to-4, but they keep throwing on-call duties and field assignments at me, which makes it impossible to get to my appointments. I wonder if my doctor could provide some kind of official note to excuse me from those field assignments and other nonsense so I can actually focus on the therapy. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

Greetings, everyone.

On December 10, 2015, I underwent an MRI. Everything went smoothly, thank God. However, I have a lingering doubt regarding the dates—perhaps it’s just my own hypochondria or some mental nagging...

The report states: "Request Date: 12.11.2015 – Procedure Date: 12.11.2015"

My confusion stems from the fact that I distinctly remember being at the facility on 12.10.2015. A few doctors have already assured me that the results were uploaded a day later, which explains why the report reflects that subsequent date.

I am curious about your thoughts. Is my suspicion justified? Or have others experienced this—where the report shows a date a day or even several days after the actual procedure was performed?

That is all for now. Thank you in advance.

What was the poet actually getting at—or more importantly, what exactly are you suspicious of?

You're probably getting hung up on the bureaucratic red tape. They have their own reasons for doing this, which are purely internal administrative matters.

One more question: what kind of lab work do they typically demand before a procedure under general anesthesia? Is it a cardiac workup, an internal medicine exam, an EKG?

And more importantly, how old can these results actually be? A week? Two weeks? A month? I know this question has probably been buried in the corners of this thread before, but I’d appreciate a straight answer. I suspect other people here are looking for this exact piece of vital information too.

I’m not doubting anything, generally speaking. It’s just that, as I mentioned, I’m feeling a bit on edge. This is my first time actually consulting with doctors about this, so I don't really have the experience to know if everything is proceeding normally or if there's cause for concern... even though several doctors and medical staff have told me not to worry. Out of pure curiosity, I’d like to hear from others who have undergone an MRI, as well as anyone else who hasn't.

Jamie Garcia7 said:One more thing—what kind of tests do they usually ask for before going under general anesthesia? Are we talking stress tests, a full physical, or just an EKG?

And even more importantly, how old can those results be? Is a week okay? Two weeks? A month? I know this might have popped up somewhere in the corners of this thread, but I’d really appreciate a straight answer. I'm sure anyone else browsing here will find this info just as vital.

The consultation with the anesthesiologist is the most important part, and that presentation above basically just outlines the prep steps.

Hey there! I just got a referral for a urine culture, and I’m trying to figure out the logistics. Can I just walk into any microbiology lab to get this done, or am I restricted to a lab covered by the health insurance plan my primary doctor uses?
Or should I be looking for a lab under the same insurance network as the gynecologist who actually wrote the referral?
Also, would it be okay to go to the lab right by my ribs—basically the one closest to my house?
😵
Thanks in advance

Kate Rodriguez84 said:Hi! I got a referral for a urine culture, so I was wondering if I can just go to any microbiology lab, or do I have to use the specific Health Insurance lab my primary doctor uses?
Or maybe the one covered by the Health Insurance plan my OBGYN uses when they send you for tests?
Also, can I just head to the lab at CVS since it's closest to my house?
😵
Thanks in advance

I mean, your OBGYN usually tells you where to go... If you're not sure, maybe just call them and ask.
It could probably be either way, I guess.

If my medical note says I’m out for two weeks, but I actually head back to work before those two weeks are up—what happens regarding that extra time listed on the paperwork? Is there any chance of complications with the insurance or payroll?

One more thing—if my doctor still has me listed under my old employer (where I don't even work anymore) in the system, and she issues a medical note using those outdated details... is there any chance Medicare will reject it?