I had a 50ish patient with new acute #backpain superimposed on, but different from, long-standing chronic back pain. On #history and #exam they had NEW lower extremity neurologic findings. I ordered an #MRI, which was the appropriate next step at the time.
I was forced to spend two evenings on hold for something like 20-30min for "pre-authorization"… two because they hung up on me the first time. I had to re-type a 20 digit code three times as they redirected me internally… finally spoke to the "physician in authority" and… HE READ MY OWN CHART BACK TO ME!! … then blithely approved the study. <insert swear words here!>
This is my Exhibit A for #HealthInsurance#malfeasance. (A complete waste of my time and that was the point! Unethical, and should be illegal.) Ironically I had a very conservative approach to imaging. That was probably the first new study I had ordered for back pain in months.
bentomn
samhainnight
nancylwayne