Recent comments in /f/springfieldMO

pssssn t1_je6xbur wrote

Reply to comment by Advanced_Car1599 in Hey Springfield, what’s a good blood test done? by Kitchen-Aerie2391

>Do you have a doctor's order for this? Most places won't just take your blood.

I just had four different blood tests run today without doctor's orders - I ordered them on Lab Corp's website.

There are several places in Springfield where blood tests can be done without doctor orders depending on the type of test you wish to run. In the case of Quest Diagnostics and Lab Corp, both of which you can order tests through directly, several local healthcare providers including Mercy order their tests from them.

In some cases it may actually be cheaper to order the tests yourself than to send them through your healthcare provider and insurance, with the caveat you may need someone to analyze them after the fact. However, some primary doctors won't care as long as they are reputable lab, some labs offer doctor consultations, and telemedicine may be an option for this portion.

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robzilla71173 t1_je6w8lz wrote

Reply to comment by Maxwyfe in Surgery options by Anima_EB

lol, truth. I had a couple of surgeries through Mercy last year and it all started with an ER visit. We were at a rural ER in Aurora and I kid you not, the door was locked to keep me from leaving until I paid them $1040, and an armed guard was sitting by the checkout lady. I felt like I was being muscled for cash. I handed them my credit card through the window, she ran it, then signaled to buzz the door open. I honestly felt like it was a mob run thing.

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gnen417 t1_je6r6bu wrote

Reply to comment by Anima_EB in Surgery options by Anima_EB

Yeah I’ve lost all respect for Cox. I had a pretty significant payment plan with them a few years ago and they insisted I set up auto pay. Apparently they switched over software and shut off the auto pay but did not notify me. I didn’t figure it out until I started getting collections calls. From now on they will send me a monthly bill.

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gnen417 t1_je6ox07 wrote

Reply to Surgery options by Anima_EB

I’m having surgery coming up too. They did this to me as well, I said nope not happening. I will set up a payment plan after the surgery. They said ok

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Maxwyfe t1_je6mp0e wrote

Reply to comment by Ready_Improvement_21 in Surgery options by Anima_EB

I'm curious. Who estimated the amount due and did they refund any amount you overpaid for this "estimate."

The whole thing just sounds so scammy. Like "Here's what we think you are going to owe us after your insurance (that you pay for) pays us the amount we agreed this procedure will cost. Now you pay this arbitrarily determined difference or we'll wait a few months to remove that funky looking mole."

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Ready_Improvement_21 t1_je6ll68 wrote

Reply to comment by Maxwyfe in Surgery options by Anima_EB

It seems like this is more common now. I had my son 7 years ago and never had to prepay for anything. Always just waited for the bill after it was settled through insurance.

Had an ultrasound a few weeks back and they required full payment of the estimated amount due when I checked in.

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Anima_EB OP t1_je6isbz wrote

Reply to comment by Gs1000g in Surgery options by Anima_EB

Wow that's fucking horrible. I was a Mercy employee a long time ago and I refuse to use them because of similar practices. I'm ashamed that I thought Cox was any better. What a joke.

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Gs1000g t1_je6ibu6 wrote

Reply to Surgery options by Anima_EB

I was a Cox employee for a long time. Their billing department is absolutely atrocious. My dad had an ER visit and was brought in by EMS after they thought he had a stroke, he had to go home in paper scrubs obviously didn’t bring his wallet and they asked for $500 before his discharge.

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