Hoe to change sleep doctors

[rmeyer23]

Has anyone tried to change their sleep doctor? I will not go into it, but my doctor and I am not agreeing.

What do I need to know before I do this, especially from an insurance perspective? Please let me know.

Ron M

[Janknitz]

How can WE possibly know what your insurance situation is???

Call your insurer and ask for another sleep specialist on your plan. Find out if you need a new referral from your primary care physician or pre-authorization for the visit. Then meme the appointment and request that your medical records be transferred to the new doctor.

While you are at it, you should write a polite letter to the current sleep do explaining why you were unhappy with his care so that maybe he will do better with the next patient.

[rmeyer23]

How can WE possibly know what your insurance situation is???

Call your insurer and ask for another sleep specialist on your plan. Find out if you need a new referral from your primary care physician or pre-authorization for the visit. Then meme the appointment and request that your medical records be transferred to the new doctor.

While you are at it, you should write a polite letter to the current sleep do explaining why you were unhappy with his care so that maybe he will do better with the next patient.

This is exactly the information I was looking (except for the first line of your message? - Little harsh? )

Thanks
Ron M

[LSAT]

You change your sleep doctor the same way you would change any doctor. If the one you want is in your insurance network, go to him/her.
You are never locked into a doctor.

[cre8vmynd]

And PLEASE edit the title of your post. We don't need to know such personal details to help you.

Casey

[chunkyfrog]

Nyuk,nyuk, Wise guy!
I think original poster meant 'how', but the 'w' and 'e' keys are adjacent.
BTW, it took me a while before I figured out how to alter the title of your own thread.
--Just click 'answer' and then click the title of the thread in order to alter.
Still funny--even though embarrassing.

[rmeyer23]

[avi123]

I suggest that you do it as asking for a second opinion because:

1) The new Doc that the insurer assigns to you might be lousier



2) The provider might refuse to release copies of your medical records. See here when and why.


Excerpt:

Q. Are there any parts of my medical record to which my physician can deny me access?
A. Yes. A physician can deny you access to the following:

•Personal notes and observations.
•Information disclosed to the practitioner under the condition that it would be kept confidential.
•Information that the practitioner believes should not be disclosed regarding the treatment of a minor. A patient over age 12 may be advised of a records request and, if he or she objects, the provider may deny the request.
•Information the physician believes may cause substantial harm to the patient or others.
•Information obtained from other physicians who are still in practice. That information should be requested directly from those practitioners.
•Substance abuse program records and clinical records of facilities licensed or operated by the Office of Mental Health. Mental Hygiene Law provides a separate process for release of these records.

Source:


http://www.health.ny.gov/publications/1443/

[rmeyer23]

I suggest that you do it as asking for a second opinion because:

1) The new Doc that the insurer assigns to you might be lousier
2) The provider might refuse to release copies of your medical records. See here when and why:

http://policies.ncsu.edu/regulation/reg-11-45-6

I am new at this and I have not asked for a second opinion before. Your point about the second doc being worse than the first is well taken. Do I go to my insurer and ask to be assigned a doc for a second opinion?

Ron M

[avi123]

I suggest that you do it as asking for a second opinion because:

1) The new Doc that the insurer assigns to you might be lousier
2) The provider might refuse to release copies of your medical records. See here when and why:

http://policies.ncsu.edu/regulation/reg-11-45-6

I am new at this and I have not asked for a second opinion before. Your point about the second doc being worse than the first is well taken. Do I go to my insurer and ask to be assigned a doc for a second opinion?

Ron M

Reply,

Check the papers that you have from your current insurer if it covers a second opinion. In my case, being on Medicare I know that it does. So I pick a Sleep Doc (I am free to pick my own docs, those that are with an HMO are not) and set an appointment as a second opinion and go there. If I like the second doc I then ask him/her to accept me as a patient and if he/she agrees, his/her office arranges the rest.

[Janknitz]

You have an ABSOLUTE RIGHT to your medical records under federal law (most state laws as well). You may have to pay for the coPying and you most certainly must sign a release, but the first doctor may NOT withhold your records.

[Marietjie]

Nyuk,nyuk, Wise guy!
I think original poster meant 'how', but the 'w' and 'e' keys are adjacent.
BTW, it took me a while before I figured out how to alter the title of your own thread.
--Just click 'answer' and then click the title of the thread in order to alter.
Still funny--even though embarrassing.

Ja, the 'W' & 'E' are adjacent BUT the word 'Hoe' is not incorrect at all!
'Hoe' is the Afrikaans word for 'How' !
Ron, is dit 'n tikfout of is dit jou Afrikaans wat oorgeneem het!?!

[apneawho]

I am not on an HMO and don't need referrals to specialists, so when I wanted to change doctors, I found an in network pulmonologist that I liked and signed a release to have the first doctor send my records including complete sleep study to the new pulmonologist. I let the new doctor handle requesting the info before my first appointment. The new doctor was so good about everything that he gave me a 99 year prescription or order in hand so I will always have it when I want to purchase masks etc. The other doctor's office would not provide this for me so I could have in hand. They were only willing to send my order to the DME and DME would not give it to me either, like it is some top secret info. Crazy. The first sleep doctor never saw me and never sat down with me after my sleep study to explain the results. This is why I changed doctors.

[lktnky]

Ron,
Check your in box ~ sent you a PM.

[darrylphilander]

People who work medical jobs have a great future. The demand today is high and expected to stay high over the next several years or more. There is a shortage of qualified workers, and there are many other factors that will keep this job outlook very good for the future, and the jobs pay well.