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Dr Jemsek policy updates

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Posted 4/22/2023 2:48 AM (GMT 0)
Check your emails if you’re a patient.

Just got an Email from the J clinic.


Policy Updates for 2023
Dear Patients,

“We have recently updated our policies which will go into effective on April 24, 2023.

These changes will help provide the best care to all patients, keeping in mind that our practice has both domestically and internationally. We encourage you to please review these updates that will be available on your patient portal.”
Posted 4/22/2023 10:53 AM (GMT 0)
Yup. My big suggestion is that if you need a refill or have issues with them calling in your rx (like they don't do it, not sure what the issue is with this now), ask through the portal so there is a record of the time/day you made the request.
Posted 4/22/2023 4:27 PM (GMT 0)
If I need meds I will buy them online at AllDayChemist.
Posted 4/22/2023 4:31 PM (GMT 0)

trkane said...
Yup. My big suggestion is that if you need a refill or have issues with them calling in your rx (like they don't do it, not sure what the issue is with this now), ask through the portal so there is a record of the time/day you made the request.

They shouldn’t have a problem - it’s just I haven’t been to the clinic for over 3 years (pre pandemic) so they won’t continue giving me prescriptions
Posted 4/22/2023 4:51 PM (GMT 0)
I should have worded that differently. It wasn't meant as a suggestion to you in particular given your situation. More to jemsek patients in general given my experience with them. I have had my share of issues with the rx department. Stuff doesn't get called in. Wrong doses etc. They dont respond to refill requests from pharmacy. I have had them say that pharmacy didnt call it in. That is a big deal especially if it is a controlled substance. I fear it will turn into a he said/she said. And you get the big fee.
Posted 4/22/2023 5:31 PM (GMT 0)
I have had a few issues with them too - re: prescriptions.

But my situation is a little bit complicated.
Because I’m in Canada - the US scripts can’t be used at the pharmacy.

So the prescriptions are sent to a pharmacy in Canada - and a pharmacist there rewrites them.
They fill them and mail them to me.
Posted 4/23/2023 11:34 AM (GMT 0)
just out of curiosity - what were the changes in policy?
Posted 4/23/2023 5:20 PM (GMT 0)

trkane said...
That sounds very complicated. Given the issues I have and that I am in the US, I am surprised you can even get that done.

I shouldn't be so snarky about them.

Wow 3 years! I am happy to hear he does that. Did anything change because of Covid and the difficulty with travel so he would do this for you?

I wish I could go 1 year. Living 45 minutes away that is a no go.


Nothing to do with Covid - it was done from day 1

Otherwise I would have had to fill them in the US - and I wouldn’t have got my 80% reimbursement from blue cross and also risk them be confiscated at the border
Posted 4/23/2023 5:27 PM (GMT 0)
I’m having trouble with my internet - so I’m having to rewrite/repost
There may be duplicates
Posted 4/23/2023 8:56 PM (GMT 0)

Garzie said...
just out of curiosity - what were the changes in policy?



Dear Patients,



We have recently updated our policies which will go into effective on April 24, 2023.



These changes will help provide the best care to all patients, keeping in mind that our practice has both domestically and internationally. We encourage you to please review these updates that will be available on your patient portal.

jemsek policies
Appointments
If you arrive 30 minutes past your appointment time, you will be charged a late fee of $175. This is also taking into account other patients’ travel schedules.

If you are an stablished patient and your visit exceeds your appointment time by 15 minutes or more, you will be subject to pay an additional $175.We ask our patients to make a list of their questions and top concerns. These will be reviewed by the provider before and during the appointment.

Medical Inquiries
Triage correspondence should only comprise of 2 issues unless there has been an appointment within the past week. If there is a complex complaint, numerous symptoms, or excessive use of triage, this is subject to requiring an appointment to provide better care and comply with the intended use of triage.

If you contact the clinic after hours for a non-urgent issue and request to speak to a provider, you are subject to a $50 fee at the provider’s discretion. Providers are still unable to write prescriptions since they do not have access to your medical records on hand.



*IV patients do have access to on-call after 10pm for emergent issues.

jemsek policies

Medications
All patients are required to have an onsite appointment once every 12 months to continue receiving prescriptions. If you are calling for a refill of a controlled substance, you must have had an onsite appointment within the past 12 months and either a phone consult.



Controlled substance requests need to be submitted to JSC 10 days prior to running out of medication. Please contact us directly at extension 220 as opposed to relying on your pharmacy. There will be a $50 charge if there is a refill needed within 2 business days. All other prescriptions requests should be submitted within 3 business days.

If you have any questions, please give us a call (202) 955-0003 or email us and we will be happy to assist you.



Sincerely,

The Jemsek Specialty Clinic
Posted 4/23/2023 9:03 PM (GMT 0)
It's just clinic based stuff. Nothing crazy. The only thing that makes me kind of gives me a weird feeling is the charging 175$ for the appt going over by 15 minute policy. I would expect the provider to warn me when if the time is approaching this possibility. If the appointment was happening organically and we went over and they tried to charge me 175$ I'd prob balk at paying it. In addition, I hope they don't get too stingy with their time. I've always thought going to LLMDs and paying big bucks for the appt was supposed to be partly justified by the appt lasting longer than a regular doctor's 15 minute wam bam and done appointments. LLMD appointments are supposed to be longer and more detailed.

For anyone that is considering going to Jemsek's clinic I have so far seen two PAs and Jemsek. I saw a PA for my first visit and I saw Jemsek for my last in-person visit. My first visit and two phone visits were with Rachel. I would highly recommend her. I've had the best experiences with her by far. I've had 5 appointments in total. Two in-person and three on the phone. I do find it odd that a clinic of their size and rep doesn't do video appointments instead of phone appointments.
Posted 4/23/2023 9:46 PM (GMT 0)
“If you are an stablished patient and your visit exceeds your appointment time by 15 minutes or more, you will be subject to pay an additional $175.”


“ The only thing that makes me kind of gives me a weird feeling is the charging 175$ for the appt going over by 15 minute policy. ”

Well I can say that one appt I had - I had to wait half an hour because he was backed up. Some people get long winded and expect to talk for as long as they want. I know one of his patients and when she calls me - she drones on and on… so he needs to have limits.

He (and his staff) end up staying over for an hour or more.
Posted 4/24/2023 11:10 AM (GMT 0)
thanks for posting

all sounds reasonable to me

i don't think they are really trying to charge patients more - but more just to try to encourage people to stick to turning up on time - and not running over - so they can be fair to all other patients.

charging for these things is one of the only levers they have to do that

but as lymie24 says above - you would expect in that case for the practitioner to be very clear with expectations and manage time during the appointment - not just slap a charge on you after they actively participated in making the discussion/appointment longer

in a similar scenario - i have had instances in the past where legal fees went well over the estimate i was given at the initial appointment - and no one at the firm flagged this till it was final bill time - and that final bill was double the estimate. in the end the firm honoured the original estimate.

there was no argument that the firm had spent the time - but that was not visible to the client as they had neglected to inform - as a result expectations were broken - so they took the hit.
same principle should apply here.

if it were me though - at the start of each appointment i would state something like - " we have lots to talk about, but i really don't want to go over and be charged - so can you please flag the time to me when we near the end so we don't go over"

its part of their service to manage time and client expectations - but doing so makes it absolutely clear
Posted 4/24/2023 3:16 PM (GMT 0)

Girlie said...
“If you are an stablished patient and your visit exceeds your appointment time by 15 minutes or more, you will be subject to pay an additional $175.”


“ The only thing that makes me kind of gives me a weird feeling is the charging 175$ for the appt going over by 15 minute policy. ”

Well I can say that one appt I had - I had to wait half an hour because he was backed up. Some people get long winded and expect to talk for as long as they want. I know one of his patients and when she calls me - she drones on and on… so he needs to have limits.

He (and his staff) end up staying over for an hour or more.

Yep, I figured there were good reasons why they made this policy change. I have no doubt occasionally people want their appointments to last forever and that causes issues. I have no problem with the spirit of the policy. I was just saying I hope, in the situation an appt is going longer in an organic fashion, that they will warn the patient that their time limit is coming up. I have had no problems thus far and don't expect any, but I was just thinking outside the box. Don't try to charge me 175$ without a warning lol.
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