Question:
Will my doctor's penmanship in medical records will hinder the approval process.
What do you do if you've gone through the trouble of getting copied of your medical records to submit to the insurance companies and the doctors pemanship is SO bad you can barely ..if atall make out what was written? How can an insurance company make decisions about any procedure etc.. being submitted for approval when it's almost impossible to read it, let alone comprehend what's there on the page about the patient? Has anyone had this experience where you got a look at your records and could barely make heads or tails out of it? — kathleen-Joan piper (posted on March 13, 2003)
March 13, 2003
I can assure you insurance companies deal with Drs writing everyday and
with experience become very good at reading what a layperson my think is
scribling. Also .. I feel sure that if they cannot fully make out such
writing they would contact your physician to confirm any uncertainties. I
realize when one is on the receiving end of a service such as insurance
he/she may believe they(the insurance company) wants to be uncooperative.
Actually they are just real people on the other end performing a job duty
just as most people do day to day. They have rules, standards, and
procedures that we may not always understand. It's just how the system
works. I realize it doesnt always seem fair when we are on the receiving
end, especially when you call customer service and get some crabby person
on the other end of the phone with an attitude. We just have to realize
that is just one person with poor communication skills and probably poor
self esteem themselves. It does not represent the company and it's
purpose. How this may help ease your fears a little. Hang in there. And
if you really have any questions about anything .. Ask you Dr or insurance.
After all. They really are service positions. Even though they may seem
superior somehow. It is only a level we have placed them upon. Without us
.. There would be no need for them. Never forget that. Just remember you
can usually get the most accomplished while being persistant, yet
reasonably patient, and polite. Very much luck to you.
— Sarah H.
March 13, 2003
I never even saw my Doctors writing. The letter he sent to my insurance
was typed and and signed by him. The info he sent to the surgeon was a
letter from my psychologist, nutrionist, sleep study results and a letter
from him regarding this surgery being a medical necessity. I'm not sure if
all doctors type it out, but I'd think it would seem pretty normal as the
whole approval/insurance thing is pretty serious. Good Luck!
— J. Wilkinson
March 13, 2003
I work in the Medical Records department of a hospital and trust me, they
will more than likely be able to read it. They do this all day every day.
It's amazing what you can decipher when you have to look at that kind of
chicken-scratching every day. And if there is something they can read,
they won't hesitate to contact the doctor in question.
— Carolyn I.
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