Does your pedi charge for after hours and Sat?

northernvabride · March 2010

We are trying to find a new pedi in Centreville and the office we visited last week charges for the on-call nurse service they provide after hours ($10 per call) as well as $25 for any Sat visit (on top of your co-pay). Our current office doesn't charge extra for either service, so we wanted to see what was common? Thanks.

eeclem · March 2010

Not that I know of (unless it's billed to insurance). I took C in a few Sundays ago and only paid our usual copay. $10 for a nurse call seems kind of ridiculous, imo. I was under the impression that after hours calls were standard, and ours go to a doc at the practice, not just a nurse.

vml14 · March 2010

No, mine doesn't -- I'd look for another pedi. Those charges could add up... I know we've called the after hours line several times, and also have been to the office on a Saturday already.

tomandcourt · March 2010

My office is open on Saturdays for sick visits only, and you just pay the regular copay. They do charge $25 for an after-hours call, though, and a lot of the pedi offices we looked at in our area do the same. You do get to talk to a doctor, though, rather than a nurse.

Sofka · March 2010

no

special382 · March 2010

our office is open on Saturdays and you just pay the regular co pay. They do have an after hours charge of $25 but you do get to talk to a dr (which doesn't really accomplish anything because no matter what they will not call in a prescription without seeing them first).

doggylovr · March 2010

ours does not charge ofr saturday and only charges for after hour calls if it is something routine.

"There is not a charge for urgent medical concerns such as fevers over 100.5, vomiting and diarrhea, asthma, etc. Calls placed that are routine in nature regarding issues such as diaper rash and constipation, etc, will result in a charge posted to the account. "

i would look for a new ped.

vtkgirl77 · March 2010

My insurance is with Kaiser so I know it's a bit different than a regular pediatrician practice. Kaiser has a nurse hotline 24 hrs/day and there is no charge. Also, Urgent Care is open on weekends, holidays, and until 1am every evening. I think if you go to Urgent Care, it's just a regular co-pay which for me is $10.

northernvabride · March 2010

Believe me, I am not a fan of this. The two practices nearest our house both charge to call after hours, regardless of who you talk to - Dr or nurse. One if $10 and one is $15. Not sure about the second practices' Sat hours fees, since we haven't gone for an info session. I figured it might have been because the first one was a smaller practice, so they need to off-set costs, but the second practice is pretty big. If we can't find anything else, we'll miss our free calls after hours.

mommmyz · March 2010

We live in Centreville but go to a pedi in Fairfax about a 10-15 min. drive. No charge for after hours calls, which we have used, and no charge for Sat. or Sun. sick visits (besides normal copay). They also have evening hours (until 8pm) 3 days a week with nurse practitioners, for well and sick visits, which is nice.

tracy042206 · March 2010

No charge for any phone calls, even after hours to talk to a doc. No extra charge for Sat or Sun sick visits either.

DCtoLowcountry · March 2010

tracy042206:
No charge for any phone calls, even after hours to talk to a doc. No extra charge for Sat or Sun sick visits either.

We go to the same pedi, and when I interviewed they said that these charges are becoming more common and they may charge in the future. Several pedis I interviewed said, "We don't now, but may soon." GL in your search.

JenGK · March 2010

No charges for calls or after hours visits.

And, assuming your provider is in-network, I would call your insurance company to see if such charges are permissible under the contract between the doc and insurance company. I'm pretty sure insurance companies aren't allowed to tack on extra fees for office visits outside of your contractually-set co-pay. But I've never had to deal with this particular aspect of the question.

renebean319 · March 2010

no

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