# I Pit Practice Management Fees **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 21, 2016, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-practice-management-fees/743802 "2016-01-21T18:19:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![4d3fect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/4d3fect/32/9728_2.png) [@4d3fect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/4d3fect)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-practice-management-fees/743802/1 "2016-01-21T18:19:36Z")
My GP just got around to sending out December’s passive-aggressive letter of the decade (note, she just mailed it to me YESTERDAY) They’re going to try to stick us with $200 a year on top of all the co pays, etc, because reasons. As if paying $25 to get a prescription for Zpac when I have the sniffles is worth paying $200 a year in perpetuity is worth it.:mad: Time to look for a new doc in the box ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-practice-management-fees/743802/2 "2016-01-21T18:26:06Z")
Maybe you should stop pointlessly taking antibiotics when you have a cold while you’re at it. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-practice-management-fees/743802/3 "2016-01-21T18:27:40Z")
Pretty much that. You don’t need fucking medication every time you have sniffles. YOU are the reason we have both overuse of antibiotics and AB resistant drugs. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-practice-management-fees/743802/4 "2016-01-21T19:59:05Z")
Is there some history here that I don’t know about? I’d be pissed if my doctor charged me $200 a year just to keep being my doctor. I would soon have a new doctor. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-practice-management-fees/743802/5 "2016-01-21T20:16:21Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Is there some history here that I don’t know about? I’d be pissed if my doctor charged me $200 a year just to keep being my doctor. I would soon have a new doctor. And I would report it to my HR department and the Insurance company. ---
**Author:** ![4d3fect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/4d3fect/32/9728_2.png) [@4d3fect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/4d3fect)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-practice-management-fees/743802/6 "2016-01-21T20:25:27Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Is there some history here that I don’t know about? I’d be pissed if my doctor charged me $200 a year just to keep being my doctor. I would soon have a new doctor. in process. ---
**Author:** ![4d3fect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/4d3fect/32/9728_2.png) [@4d3fect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/4d3fect)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-practice-management-fees/743802/7 "2016-01-21T20:26:34Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > And I would report it to my HR department and the Insurance company. Done, they say, to paraphrase, “take it up with your health care provider” ---
**Author:** ![4d3fect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/4d3fect/32/9728_2.png) [@4d3fect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/4d3fect)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-practice-management-fees/743802/8 "2016-01-21T20:28:25Z")
posts 2 and 3, that was an example. And thanks, …for nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-practice-management-fees/743802/9 "2016-01-21T20:39:10Z")
> [@4d3fect](#): > > Done, they say, to paraphrase, “take it up with your health care provider” Really, and is the insurer going to pay for this? Or will it at least count toward your annual deductible? ---
**Author:** ![4d3fect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/4d3fect/32/9728_2.png) [@4d3fect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/4d3fect)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-practice-management-fees/743802/10 "2016-01-21T21:11:23Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Really, and is the insurer going to pay for this? Or will it at least count toward your annual deductible? By their response I take it that it’s up to me financially. Haven’t verified that yet. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-practice-management-fees/743802/11 "2016-01-21T21:45:14Z")
I’ve heard about this, that some doctors’ practices are charging you just to be a patient. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-practice-management-fees/743802/12 "2016-01-21T21:53:46Z")
> [@4d3fect](#): > > posts 2 and 3, that was an example. And thanks, …for nothing. Was a stupid example that deserved the scorn. But at least it was free. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![4d3fect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/4d3fect/32/9728_2.png) [@4d3fect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/4d3fect)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-practice-management-fees/743802/13 "2016-01-21T22:02:08Z")
and worth every penny!😉 ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-practice-management-fees/743802/14 "2016-01-21T22:24:21Z")
Unfortunate antibiotic example aside, I fully endorse this pitting. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-practice-management-fees/743802/15 "2016-01-21T22:26:57Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > And I would report it to my HR department and the Insurance company. What the hell does your employer’s HR department have to do with your GP? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2016, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-practice-management-fees/743802/16 "2016-01-23T00:46:47Z")
Some doctors will accept just anybody as their patient, others charge a fee like the OP notes to keep out the riff-raff. My patients must provide proof of their convictions before I will see them. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2016, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-practice-management-fees/743802/17 "2016-01-23T00:54:36Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > What the hell does your employer’s HR department have to do with your GP? If the OP has insurance through work, it’s an HR matter. It’s possible the doctor’s contract with the insurance company forbids fees like the OP is complaining about. ---
**Author:** ![4d3fect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/4d3fect/32/9728_2.png) [@4d3fect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/4d3fect)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2016, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-practice-management-fees/743802/18 "2016-01-23T01:17:21Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > If the OP has insurance through work, it’s an HR matter. It’s possible the doctor’s contract with the insurance company forbids fees like the OP is complaining about. That’s what I’m hoping, haven’t had time to get on my HR phone carousel yet to verify :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![4d3fect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/4d3fect/32/9728_2.png) [@4d3fect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/4d3fect)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2016, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-practice-management-fees/743802/19 "2016-01-23T01:20:05Z")
Also, I just realized a fair amount of the practice’s patients are Medicare clients so I’m beginning to think its income stream needs to be replenished by younger suckers, erm, I mean clients. ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2016, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-practice-management-fees/743802/20 "2016-01-23T03:32:09Z")
> [@4d3fect](#): > > Also, I just realized a fair amount of the practice’s patients are Medicare clients so I’m beginning to think its income stream needs to be replenished by younger suckers, erm, I mean clients. It’s entirely possible that decreased reimbursement rates from Medicare, Medicaid and even private insurance means he’s having trouble paying his staff, rent, utilities, etc. Instead of closing his doors for good and leaving those patients without a primary doctor he is asking that the patients make up the difference. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-practice-management-fees/743802.md?page=2)