I go there and I think they're great. I usually see Dr. Eastman-Gallo. If you're looking for the super sensitive, "omg, it's great to see you, how are you doing, blah blah" type of doc, she's not the one for you. She's more of the stick to the facts, slightly dry humor, get you in, get you out and not waste your time unless you have specific questions you need to ask type of doc. Because we're getting closer to the end of our pregnancy we're starting to meet some of the other doctors in case Dr. Eastman-Gallo isn't available when we go into labor, and today we met with Dr. Burgess. She seems really nice and we liked her quite a bit as well.
I have a bit of an opinion about them. I went to them for my initial exam and 7 week ultrasound. After that I switched because of some personal preferences.
I liked the Dr. just fine - it was Andrea Burgess. She is young and new but was good. I had been having spotting for a few weeks at my 7 week ultrasound. Nothing was showing up on the ultrasound as being the cause. Baby was healthy. The spotting still worried me - as it lasted for over a month! Anyhow.
The initial paperwork I filled out spoke a lot about paying at time of service blah blah blah and although i thought there was a lot of focus on it, I still moved forward. A week or two after the ultrasound - i received two (not one) payment terms documents that said that I had to start making payments on what I would owe at delivery - starting this month (not even 13 weeks yet). Not only that, but it specified that if I left them and went to another service provider, that they would keep the prorated payment for their time.
The whole thing was a turn off. I found it offensive, and presumptuous (here I'm spotting and worried about miscarriage) I don't need to financially make payments, and would prefer to pay a lump sum at time of service. I can see how making payments would be a benefit for some, and it would be great if they offered it as an option - but it is mandatory. I also don't see how they have any right to keep prorated payments on the DELIVERY cost, if I changed providers and they wouldn't be involved in the delivery.
It became very clear to me that this practice is more interested in money then in delivering healthy babies.
I have a bit of an opinion about them. I went to them for my initial exam and 7 week ultrasound. After that I switched because of some personal preferences.
I liked the Dr. just fine - it was Andrea Burgess. She is young and new but was good. I had been having spotting for a few weeks at my 7 week ultrasound. Nothing was showing up on the ultrasound as being the cause. Baby was healthy. The spotting still worried me - as it lasted for over a month! Anyhow.
The initial paperwork I filled out spoke a lot about paying at time of service blah blah blah and although i thought there was a lot of focus on it, I still moved forward. A week or two after the ultrasound - i received two (not one) payment terms documents that said that I had to start making payments on what I would owe at delivery - starting this month (not even 13 weeks yet). Not only that, but it specified that if I left them and went to another service provider, that they would keep the prorated payment for their time.
The whole thing was a turn off. I found it offensive, and presumptuous (here I'm spotting and worried about miscarriage) I don't need to financially make payments, and would prefer to pay a lump sum at time of service. I can see how making payments would be a benefit for some, and it would be great if they offered it as an option - but it is mandatory. I also don't see how they have any right to keep prorated payments on the DELIVERY cost, if I changed providers and they wouldn't be involved in the delivery.
It became very clear to me that this practice is more interested in money then in delivering healthy babies.
As someone who goes to this practice, I think you might have been misinformed or misunderstood the paperwork. They do not charge your insurance until AFTER your child has been delivered and all costs have been determined. Because of this, you have the option to pay towards this final balance every month so you don't have to pay a single lump sum at the very end and this is not mandatory by any means. They would of course prefer that you start building up a credit so if you do leave the practice they have some funds to pull your fees out of (and WILL return the rest, I checked). IF you do leave the practice PRIOR to delivering, you will have to pay the costs associated with the office visits (which you HAVE NOT PAID FOR YET), but this does not include the actual delivery costs since that hasn't happened. Their reasoning behind trying to help you pay a bit each month is so that when you do get to the end of your pregnancy you are not stuck with a large bill of thousands of dollars.
I personally think that if they were more interested in the money than the healthcare, they would charge you and thus charge your insurance at every office visit because they would be getting their money sooner. Instead they only keep a running tally of your fees and do a single charge at the very end to the insurance. If you end up having to pay more at the end because your costs were higher, then yes you will pay more, but by building up a credit, you're helping yourself out. Sure the doctors and u/s techs and everyone who works there are getting paid, but if you want to be technical about it, their services to you are free until your lil one pops out.
I had my baby with them 8 weeks ago and had a great experience. I saw Dr. Eastman-Gallo for most of my visits and loved her. She answered all my dumb FTM questions and I never felt like I was wasting their time by calling or coming in. I met all of the drs and liked them all but Eastman-Gallo was my favorite. She even stayed late to preform my emergency c-section rather than handing me over to the on call doctor. I did not have to make any payments until after my delivery except my first co pay and then co pays on any extra tests such as ultrasounds. Maybe that had something to do with the pp insurance. Also I loved the hospital it was nice and everyone there was great! Highly recommend!
Baby is fpies to diary, soy, rice, squash, and sweet potatoes.
I appreciate your response, and believe me, I didn't want to go shopping for a new provider and talked to everyone I could there about the policy - as I have no problem paying in one lump sum and would prefer my money stays in my bank until services have been rendered and payment is due. Its not an option, they have recently changed their policy I was told and it is now required. I think its great for people who want to make payments, but again, it wasn't for me.
UPDATE: as I transferred out of this practice to another, they were sent a form that releases my file to the new practice and specifies where to fax the documents to. Guess what? My entire patient file was faxed to my WORK. Not because that number was specified, but because the original fax number I sent it from was at the top and that's what they used instead of following the instructions. Talk about violation of privacy and HIPPA and all that. Luckily I had already told my work, but if I was trying to keep it a secret (which many ladies want to), then my cover would have been blown.
I see Dr. Begley and I love her. I have had a great experience with all of the doctor's and nurses there. I also have heard great things about delivering at Exempla Hope this helps!
stephzrn
member
Re: The women's health group in Lafayette.
I go there and I think they're great. I usually see Dr. Eastman-Gallo. If you're looking for the super sensitive, "omg, it's great to see you, how are you doing, blah blah" type of doc, she's not the one for you. She's more of the stick to the facts, slightly dry humor, get you in, get you out and not waste your time unless you have specific questions you need to ask type of doc. Because we're getting closer to the end of our pregnancy we're starting to meet some of the other doctors in case Dr. Eastman-Gallo isn't available when we go into labor, and today we met with Dr. Burgess. She seems really nice and we liked her quite a bit as well.
Hope that helps!
I have a bit of an opinion about them. I went to them for my initial exam and 7 week ultrasound. After that I switched because of some personal preferences.
I liked the Dr. just fine - it was Andrea Burgess. She is young and new but was good. I had been having spotting for a few weeks at my 7 week ultrasound. Nothing was showing up on the ultrasound as being the cause. Baby was healthy. The spotting still worried me - as it lasted for over a month! Anyhow.
The initial paperwork I filled out spoke a lot about paying at time of service blah blah blah and although i thought there was a lot of focus on it, I still moved forward. A week or two after the ultrasound - i received two (not one) payment terms documents that said that I had to start making payments on what I would owe at delivery - starting this month (not even 13 weeks yet). Not only that, but it specified that if I left them and went to another service provider, that they would keep the prorated payment for their time.
The whole thing was a turn off. I found it offensive, and presumptuous (here I'm spotting and worried about miscarriage) I don't need to financially make payments, and would prefer to pay a lump sum at time of service. I can see how making payments would be a benefit for some, and it would be great if they offered it as an option - but it is mandatory. I also don't see how they have any right to keep prorated payments on the DELIVERY cost, if I changed providers and they wouldn't be involved in the delivery.
It became very clear to me that this practice is more interested in money then in delivering healthy babies.
As someone who goes to this practice, I think you might have been misinformed or misunderstood the paperwork. They do not charge your insurance until AFTER your child has been delivered and all costs have been determined. Because of this, you have the option to pay towards this final balance every month so you don't have to pay a single lump sum at the very end and this is not mandatory by any means. They would of course prefer that you start building up a credit so if you do leave the practice they have some funds to pull your fees out of (and WILL return the rest, I checked). IF you do leave the practice PRIOR to delivering, you will have to pay the costs associated with the office visits (which you HAVE NOT PAID FOR YET), but this does not include the actual delivery costs since that hasn't happened. Their reasoning behind trying to help you pay a bit each month is so that when you do get to the end of your pregnancy you are not stuck with a large bill of thousands of dollars.
I personally think that if they were more interested in the money than the healthcare, they would charge you and thus charge your insurance at every office visit because they would be getting their money sooner. Instead they only keep a running tally of your fees and do a single charge at the very end to the insurance. If you end up having to pay more at the end because your costs were higher, then yes you will pay more, but by building up a credit, you're helping yourself out. Sure the doctors and u/s techs and everyone who works there are getting paid, but if you want to be technical about it, their services to you are free until your lil one pops out.
I appreciate your response, and believe me, I didn't want to go shopping for a new provider and talked to everyone I could there about the policy - as I have no problem paying in one lump sum and would prefer my money stays in my bank until services have been rendered and payment is due. Its not an option, they have recently changed their policy I was told and it is now required. I think its great for people who want to make payments, but again, it wasn't for me.
UPDATE: as I transferred out of this practice to another, they were sent a form that releases my file to the new practice and specifies where to fax the documents to. Guess what? My entire patient file was faxed to my WORK. Not because that number was specified, but because the original fax number I sent it from was at the top and that's what they used instead of following the instructions. Talk about violation of privacy and HIPPA and all that. Luckily I had already told my work, but if I was trying to keep it a secret (which many ladies want to), then my cover would have been blown.