Frequency of Dr. Appointments? - ADD / ADHD Message Board

frustratedinDC · 06-09-2005, 09:47 AM

Hi everyone. I was diagnosed with ADD about three years ago and began taking Concerta. At the time, I was in law school and saw a doctor on campus for my prescriptions. After the first couple of visits during which the doctor and I were trying out different drugs and dosages, the doctor no longer required me to come in for monthly appointments. He would simply write out a new prescription for me and I would pick it up from the receptionist.

For the past nine months or so, I've been seeing a new doctor in a different city. This doctor requires me to come in for an appointment every month in order to pick up a prescription, during which I have to fork over a $30 co-pay (in addition to the $60 or so I pay per month for the Concerta) and he charges my insurance company $400 for a 45 minute appointment (when I actually only spend about 5 minutes talking to him). Not only that, but he'll frequently schedule 3 or 4 people for 45 minute "appointments" in the same time slot, during which each person is just there to pick up a prescription.

I have asked him on more than one occasion why he requires me to come in for an appointment every time I need a new prescription, particularly when I have been on the same medication for almost three years, and every other experience I have had with a doctor has been one or two initial appointments, then just picking up the scripts. His answer was "How do you think I make a living?" I was appalled!

My question is, first, is there some law that says that before a doc can prescribe a schedule 2 drug like Concerta, they have to have an "appointment" with the patient, and, second, should I report him to my insurance company? To me, this sounds like insurance fraud, but maybe this is a general practice of which I'm just not aware. Does anyone have any stories of similar experiences or any insight on this?

Suecat3 · 06-11-2005, 01:01 PM

I was also in law school when I was dxed. and first treated for ADHD; makes a big difference, doesn't it?
I don't know of any "law" that requires monthly visits to the prescriber in order to obtain a scrip for a Schedule II drug. I do know that it's required by the organization through which my prescriber works. In fact, that's been the case with every doctor I've seen for this reason; none of them would just hand out a scrip without setting eyes on the patient first. (This is in NY and Maine.) I think your doctor's answer was crass, even if true. But the monthly appointment is pretty much par for the course, at least from what I've seen.

GLSheridan · 06-11-2005, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frustratedinDC

Hi everyone. I was diagnosed with ADD about three years ago and began taking Concerta. At the time, I was in law school and saw a doctor on campus for my prescriptions. After the first couple of visits during which the doctor and I were trying out different drugs and dosages, the doctor no longer required me to come in for monthly appointments. He would simply write out a new prescription for me and I would pick it up from the receptionist.

For the past nine months or so, I've been seeing a new doctor in a different city. This doctor requires me to come in for an appointment every month in order to pick up a prescription, during which I have to fork over a $30 co-pay (in addition to the $60 or so I pay per month for the Concerta) and he charges my insurance company $400 for a 45 minute appointment (when I actually only spend about 5 minutes talking to him). Not only that, but he'll frequently schedule 3 or 4 people for 45 minute "appointments" in the same time slot, during which each person is just there to pick up a prescription.

I have asked him on more than one occasion why he requires me to come in for an appointment every time I need a new prescription, particularly when I have been on the same medication for almost three years, and every other experience I have had with a doctor has been one or two initial appointments, then just picking up the scripts. His answer was "How do you think I make a living?" I was appalled!

My question is, first, is there some law that says that before a doc can prescribe a schedule 2 drug like Concerta, they have to have an "appointment" with the patient, and, second, should I report him to my insurance company? To me, this sounds like insurance fraud, but maybe this is a general practice of which I'm just not aware. Does anyone have any stories of similar experiences or any insight on this?

While there isn't a law requiring appointments for Schedule II's, it is recommended that the patient be seen and reevaluated every month before writing a new script.

Are you unable to see a different physician?

Jess75 · 06-12-2005, 03:46 PM

Well, after the fact that I was diagnosed, I seen my doctor for the first 3 months and then he said that he was just going to write a script and initially "see me" every 3 months. So, I don't know about the financial issues associated with the insurance company, but I DO know that I can just go to the receptionist and pick up my script every month without even saying a work to my doc.

resqmanswife · 06-15-2005, 12:48 PM

I also just pick up the scripts each month from the receptionist for myself,son and daughter we evaluate every few months or so.
Debby