I have been going to this doctor for about 12 years and went last week for a follow up visit to discuss recent test results. When I arrived at the office, I was asked for my $20 copay before seeing the doctor. This has always been the case and I have always had the $20 in cash or check to pay. As a matter of fact, there was a 2 year period several years ago during which Dr. Gold was not in my medical plan and I simply paid for the $60 office visit in full since I don't change doctors based on copays! 

On this particular day, I found that when I got to the office and was asked for the $20 copay, I realized at that point that I only had $13 dollars on me. The office does not take credit cards and I was told that I would have to leave the office and go to the ATM located in the shopping center or I could not see the Doctor. My jaw literally dropped to the floor and I asked to speak with the office manager Karen. When Karen came up front she mechanically said, 'Greg, the office policy is that your copay must be paid in full prior to seeing the Doctor. There is a sign posted on the wall that says that'. I assured Karen that I would mail a check for $7 dollars when I got home that night. She again, in robot-like fashion, repeated the copay policy! I asked her to speak to Dr. Gold to get permission to allow me in to see the doctor. She went into the back, came back out and repeated the policy again. I asked her specifically if she spoke to Dr. Gold and she repeated the policy without answering my question. Since I thought this situation was ridiculous and that it truly goes against the oath that all Doctors take, I left the office and went to work.

I made 2 calls to the Doctors answering service over the next 2 days since Dr. Gold had advised me in the past to let her know that if I ever have a problem with the office staff, that I should contact her directly. Instead of getting a call back from Dr. Gold, Karen the office manager called me back. She asked why I needed to speak to Dr. Gold and I said to discuss recent test results. Her answer was that I should make an appointment to discuss results. I then said that I wanted to speak with the doctor personally to ascertain if the doctor herself refused to see me the prior day because I was $7 dollars short of my copay. Karen again in robot form, said I told you yesterday that Dr. Gold was aware and that she did say to collect the copay prior to allowing me in to see her.

I have been seeing Dr. Gold for around 12 years and find this behavior unacceptable and unethical. I placed calls to 2 other doctors and they were just as shocked. They told me that this happens in their offices from time to time and their staff is instructed to simply provide an envelope, stamped with the office address, to serve as a gentle reminder when the patient gets home that day. I could see if I was a 'repeat offender' and had not paid in the past. This was the first time this occurred in 12 years and I feel that I should have been given the benefit of the doubt.

Obviously, I plan to change doctors, unless I get a call back personally from Dr. Gold explaining why she feels I am not trustworthy.

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