comprehensive -WSS

comprehensive

author：focus 2025-09-27 13:02:24 - browse：72978

Photo of a doctor holding a cellphone. -- first opinion coverage from STAT — Adobe

Thinking about messaging your physician about a weird rash? You may want to hold off on it. Some hospital systems have started charging patients for digital messages to their doctors via the electronic medical record, either a flat rate (like a copay) or on sliding scale depending on the time or complexity of the physician’s response. Sometimes it’s billed through an insurer, sometimes as a direct cost to the patient. Costs have ranged between less than $10 and $100 for a message.

Now that at least 22 hospital systems have implemented the practice, a great debate has broken out in the medical profession: Is charging patients to send a note to a doctor just common sense or an unjust expense?

In asking family, friends, and colleagues about this, my grandmother’s response was the most enlightening: “I’m surprised doctors ever stopped charging for phone calls!”

Get unlimited access to award-winning journalism and exclusive events.

Subscribe Log In

Previous article： Guidelines to prevent youth baseball injuries need more muscle
Next article： What to expect as Trump is arraigned on his Jan 6. indictment

knowledge

WSS

National panel will explore requiring free Covid tests

5 important ways Henrietta Lacks changed medical science

Republicans love RFK Jr. What's that tell us about health in 2024?

Wildfire pollution widens asthma inequities on Long Island

People can get long Covid without testing positive for virus: Study

Amazon expands telehealth clinic nationwide

hotspot

comprehensive

hotspot

Medicare proposal to cover medical devices draws a mixed reaction

Abortion policy in the spotlight at Republican debate

Activists slam private health insurers over coverage restrictions

Hospital at home shows how to bring innovation to health care

BioMarin wins approval for gene therapy to treat hemophilia A

National panel will explore requiring free Covid tests

Hollywood unions extend contract negotiations for actors

Hyundai and Kia recall nearly 92,000 vehicles and tell owners to park them outside due to fire risk

Wildfire smoke exposes gaps in outdoor worker protections

What the US credit downgrade means for the economy, your finances

knowledge

Meadows told special counsel he could not recall Trump ever declassifying Mar

Adults seen as increasingly susceptible to measles

People can get long Covid without testing positive for virus: Study

What the US credit downgrade means for the economy, your finances

Trans patients at the end of life deserve respect and dignity

Mega Millions pot grows to $1.25 billion after no winner

leisure time

hotspot

knowledge

knowledge