Some say mid-level providers, like NPs and PAs will be taking over primary care in the future. Not so fast:
Board documents describe Caggiano’s treatment of four patients, including a child who came to the clinic in July 2004 with a high fever. The board said Caggiano, 40, ordered blood work, X-rays and antibiotics for the child. On a second visit, her parents asked for test results and were told by staff that Caggiano wouldn’t see the child unless she submitted to a physical and Pap smear. The parent refused, the board said.
Their insurance company was billed $3,009 for the visits, and the statement reflected allergy tests given on days when the patient wasn’t in Caggiano’s office, the board said.
A second patient also refused Caggiano’s request to undergo a Pap smear and went to a physician, who later diagnosed her with a torn rotator cuff and “expressed alarm by the unnecessary testing” performed by Caggiano, the board said.
A third patient’s insurance company was charged $6,000 for two visits to Caggiano, including allergy testing she said she never had, the board said.
For a fourth patient, who complained of back and abdominal pain, Caggiano prescribed a muscle relaxant and ordered no tests. Later, a doctor diagnosed the patient with abdominal cancer, the board said.
Patients frequently refer to him as “Doctor Caggiano” and he instructed his staff not to correct them, the board said.