Comments on: $913 for removing earwax http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/11/913-for-removing-earwax.html Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:18:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/11/913-for-removing-earwax.html#comment-69121 Anonymous Tue, 28 Nov 2006 05:32:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2006/11/913-for-removing-earwax.html#comment-69121 This is one of those situations where I would just like to see how much it would cost someone, just walking around the street looking for takers, to get anyone to pick, squirt or suck out their earwax. How much would you have to offer anyone, never mind a physician?<br/><br/>$913, materials and time is a bargain, or at least a fair price. This is one of those situations where I would just like to see how much it would cost someone, just walking around the street looking for takers, to get anyone to pick, squirt or suck out their earwax. How much would you have to offer anyone, never mind a physician?

$913, materials and time is a bargain, or at least a fair price.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/11/913-for-removing-earwax.html#comment-69118 Anonymous Tue, 28 Nov 2006 03:05:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2006/11/913-for-removing-earwax.html#comment-69118 He's taking the risk of perforating his eardrum, he should get paid. He’s taking the risk of perforating his eardrum, he should get paid.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/11/913-for-removing-earwax.html#comment-69105 Anonymous Mon, 27 Nov 2006 21:01:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2006/11/913-for-removing-earwax.html#comment-69105 I seriously doubt the average person is aware this could be considered a surgical procedure and billed as such. It makes me wonder if the cost was even discussed ahead of time, or whether an OTC remedy was suggested first.<br/><br/>Yeah, yeah, I know, we consumers should all be more informed. But seriously, how would anyone even know to ask in this situation?<br/><br/>It smells of upcoding to me, frankly. I seriously doubt the average person is aware this could be considered a surgical procedure and billed as such. It makes me wonder if the cost was even discussed ahead of time, or whether an OTC remedy was suggested first.

Yeah, yeah, I know, we consumers should all be more informed. But seriously, how would anyone even know to ask in this situation?

It smells of upcoding to me, frankly.

]]> By: Gasmanhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/11/913-for-removing-earwax.html#comment-69101 Gasman Mon, 27 Nov 2006 17:46:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2006/11/913-for-removing-earwax.html#comment-69101 The patient wants to quibble about whether this is a surgical procedure and warrants such a charge. <br/><br/>I wonder why this is not considered a hygiene issue and whey they would expect the insurer to pick up any part of the bill. There are pleanty of OTC fixes for ear wax. Unless the patient has one of a few rare skin disorders that seriously predispose the canal to becomming plugged with wax, it is just normal hygiene. The patient wants to quibble about whether this is a surgical procedure and warrants such a charge.

I wonder why this is not considered a hygiene issue and whey they would expect the insurer to pick up any part of the bill. There are pleanty of OTC fixes for ear wax. Unless the patient has one of a few rare skin disorders that seriously predispose the canal to becomming plugged with wax, it is just normal hygiene.

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