Doctor needs to perform surgery but with charity care, seemed unhappy

[onlyj]

My mom had to go to a specialist doctor (proctogloist- colon and rectum doctor) because every time she had a bowel movement, she felt part of her rectum come out. I found online that it was something called rectal prolapse. She doesn't have insurance and cannot afford healthcare, but I took her to see the doctor. The doctor asked her to push to see the rectum come out, but couldn't see it. She asked me to take a picture of it because she needs to be 100% sure. She saw that we didn't have insurance so she asked us how we would pay and said out of pocket. She asked if we were able to pay and there's something called charity care in which we apply through the hospital. She said we should apply since my mom might require surgery. She said it takes a few weeks for the papers to be processed, and then she made a statement. She said, unfortunately she wouldn't get paid since it's through charity care, and I felt bad and embarrassed. She said to come back in a few weeks when we get the charity care approved and with the picture. I feel horrible that the doctor wouldn't be paid at all when she had to perform surgery and a colonoscopy. Is there any other way I can do something?

[mustlovepoodles, RN]

Does your mom live in the US? If so, i'd talk to the hospital social worker about applying for Medicaid for your mom.

[leslie :-D]

the dr. is in the appropiate specialty, since she sounds like a tactless ass.

shame on her.

op, you just cannot get upset over people like that.

this shortcoming is on her, and not on you.

go apply asap.

hope everything works out.

leslie

[CaregiverGrace]

I guess I'm not sure why a doctor, who has spent probably hundreds of thousands on their degree, and which they're still probably paying off, owes the public "freebies". I can't think of any other profession that is expected to pay so much for the education, and then expected to provide "free" work to potentially any customer that comes in. If she wishes to offer free care, then good on her, but it certainly should not be expected or required. You know, I have insurance, barely make ends meet, but still pay big $$ for medical bills that the hospital and physician groups send to me. It honestly doesn't even cross my mind to say whoa is me, I'm sick and everyone else should pay my medical bills.

[TiffyRN, BSN, PhD]

I can't think of any other profession that is expected to pay so much for the education, and then expected to provide "free" work to potentially any customer that comes in. If she wishes to offer free care, then good on her, but it certainly should not be expected or required. It honestly doesn't even cross my mind to say whoa is me, I'm sick and everyone else should pay my medical bills.

Providing charity work has been a part of all the hospitals where I've been employed. The OP's situation seems like precisely the kind of people that these sort of programs should be helping. I read one of her other threads, these are working people falling between the cracks. As far as professionals being required to provide "free work", lawyers and "pro bono"?

[ErinBSN]

Exactly as PP it's a write off, they can use it as charitable contributions on their taxes. So boo hooo for the doc. It was UNPROFESSIONAL of her to say that. In addition, some docs who still have loans to pay for their education, they get a certain amount of loan forgiveness by doing charity care. So it's a win win, while the doc was not professional, it is doing a service and while the cash flow would not be recieved she will be compensated in some form.

[CrimsonAlchemist]

Just my opinion, but should someone be denied potentially life saving/altering care because they can't pay for it?

[leslie :-D]

Just my opinion, but should someone be denied potentially life saving/altering care because they can't pay for it?

millions of people either live w/serious injuries, or die because of inability to pay.

it happens every single day.

also, our country is in deep debt, partly because of those we pay for...our healthcare is in crisis.

anyways, i'm just not convinced that a prolapsed rectum qualifies as "life saving".:)

leslie

[iwanna]

I believe that you are required to apply for medicaid, first. And, if you are rejected, than you can apply for charity care. My husband had emergency admission, a few years, ago. He is a veteran and usually goes through the VA. I was not able to drive him over 80miles to the VA hospital, as I have night blindness. We were advised to get him checked out at local hospital and maybe VA would pay for bill. Anyways, he qualified for temporary medicaid which paid for most of his hospital stay.

[kalevra, BSN, RN]

The doctor is just stating a fact. In the end they are performing an operation for free, I mean the equivalent to that would be me going on shift for free. Most people would be bugged if the company they worked for told them they had to work without compensation. Be thankful you don't have to pay for it. It was nice of the doctor to tell you about the charity care the hospital provides. You could always bring a plate of vegan cookies!

[kalevra, BSN, RN]

Providing charity work has been a part of all the hospitals where I've been employed. The OP's situation seems like precisely the kind of people that these sort of programs should be helping. I read one of her other threads, these are working people falling between the cracks. As far as professionals being required to provide "free work", lawyers and "pro bono"?

Pro-Bono work isn't mandatory by the American Bar Association. Its a choice that the individual councilor makes for themselves if they should work a free case/ volunteer some hours. Being told you have a surgery to go in for on X day, and you will not get paid is a whole other issue.

[linearthinker, DNP, RN]

I don't understand what unprofessional thing the physician did? What am I missing?

[dudette10, MSN, RN]

I don't understand what unprofessional thing the physician did? What am I missing?

This part of the OP's post.

She said, unfortunately she wouldn't get paid since it's through charity care.

I'm not all up in arms about it either. From the entire OP, it sounds like the doc is pretty nice, actually. She was the one who brought up the charity care option in the first place.