In healthcare, time is worth money

Re: “Doctor’s Note? It Might Cost You” [Aug. 28]: Everyone from the president to the general public complains about the “rising cost of healthcare.” No one seems to notice that insurance companies are continuously raising premiums (waving the “rising cost of healthcare” flag as a reason), but are pocketing billions of dollars in profits while decreasing reimbursement to doctors and hospitals and denying medical care to the insured.

Why shouldn’t doctors charge for phone calls or e-mails or forms? Lawyers and accountants charge for every phone call, fax, copy and e-mail.

Is our advice or time any less valuable than theirs?

DR. CONNIE SHIH

Los Alamitos

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It is not surprising that physicians, particularly primary care doctors, are beginning to charge for services that they once performed for free. Telephone diagnosing and treatment, filling forms for medical leave, drivers’ handicap forms, prescription refills and other services all require a doctor’s time and judgment. And all carry potential for malpractice allegations. Yet none of these are paid for.

Primary care doctors are suffocating under insurers’ financial restraints. Thus it is only natural that they want to charge for these services. This will soon become a national trend, I am sure.

DR. EDWARD J. VOLPINTESTA

Bethel, Conn.

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Now that many doctors are conducting their practice solely as a business enterprise (billing patients for refilling prescriptions and filling out forms), it is time for patients to extend business transactions to their physicians as well.

Patients should get refunds for a misdiagnosis or for medications that don’t help. And let’s not forget a refund when arriving for an appointment on time, only to endure inordinate delays before being seen. Patients’ time is worth something too.

HILMA COHN

North Hollywood