I’ve about been at my limit with the pediatrician’s office. We were supposed to get a call almost a month ago with the referral appointment. (We did get her blood test results a ways back—I thought I posted but maybe not?—and there was nothing definitive so the doc wanted her to see a specialist.) Since they were supposed to call me, I kinda forgot about it. Then once I realized they hadn’t called, I called—and one of the phone tree options is “for referrals” so I left a message there. I didn’t hear anything after a few more days so I called back again (to the referrals request number) and gave more explanation. Days later, still no call. So I called back planning on just talking to the front desk because I’ve been patient long enough…and surprise! They’re having problems with their phones so all calls are being routed to their sister office who can’t help because Katie isn’t their patient. I call back repeatedly over the next two days and the sister office is still answering. Then it was the holiday weekend. It’s been over three weeks. RIDICULOUS.
So fast forward to today, when it’s time to get this figured out. Come to find out, they weren’t authorized as our PCM (completely unbeknownst to me, of course!)—but the kicker is they got the denial letter on AUGUST 25 and apparently no one felt it necessary to LET ME KNOW (and I didn’t get any denial letter from Tricare, either). GRRR. I asked why no one bothered to let me know. “Uh, um, stutter, stammer, I’m not sure.” Lovely.
So I called Tricare to find out that it’s MANDATORY we’re assigned to the army hospital WHICH MIGHT HAVE BEEN NICE TO KNOW A MONTH AGO. Their online system let me pick a civilian PCM back in July and I even double-checked afterward to make sure it was confirmed (it was). I asked why I hadn’t been informed and she said there should have been a letter. Well, if there was, I either missed it or didn’t pay attention because I ASSUMED IT WAS CONFIRMING THE DOCTOR I PICKED (why would I think otherwise?!). So, basically, no one has any idea what happened. But now I get to wait NINE more days for the first available appointment for the new PCM and then likely have to wait AGAIN for the referral from him (and I get to pay to have Katie’s records copied for the new doctor). I AM PISSED. The only silver lining is that Tricare still paid for (or the doctor’s office accepted the lower payment for) the first two appointments even though we technically weren’t assigned there.
What a mess. But, from the looks of it, even though I liked the doctor we saw, it appears the office staff isn’t that great…so maybe it’s a good thing we’re no longer going there.