Remember, the angriest patients are those who receive a bill they didn't anticipate. Missed appointments frustrate all physicians. Doctors should consider ignoring the first missed appointment for which the patient doesn't have a legitimate reason, but the next time one is missed warn that a bill will be sent if future appointments are missed without an adequate excuse. Doctors should make clear that it is impossible for them to know when a prescription needs to be refilled, particularly when the original one covers several months. The best advice is to develop a policy concerning prescriptions that will or will not be renewed over the phone.
Many doctors now offer patients the option of paying an annual fee to cover all noninsured services.
Physicians who do this should ensure that patients have several months to think about the concept. More will be willing to consider the idea if given sufficient time to digest it. Physicians should note that it would be considered unethical to deny medical services to patients who choose not to participate. Because complaints about noninsured services can become cause c l bres, medical associations would be wise to have a committee in place to help resolve them. It should meet regularly to address emerging issues.