What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Illinois
I had extensive cervical spine surgery and was forced to go on public health insurance (medicaid) temporarily. I recieved a letter from Illinois Health Connect stating I needed to pick a PCP. The letter did not state that my current provider may not be a provider with the program therefore I did not immediately get online to choose a different provider. My assumption was "well, I already have a doctor so I don't really need to do that." I have been with this provider for approximately 10 years and I have a chronic condition that I must take medication for and I have to see him every 3 months to have the medication refilled. I was on my last refill and was starting a new job (which has a 3 month probationary period during which I can not request time off). I made an appointment with my physicians office so I could have my refills covered before starting the job. When I handed the receptionist my public aid medical card she said "is this all you have, no other insurance"? When I told her I had no other insurance she said he couldn't see me. I was also told that I could not self-pay with a medical card and that they could not call me in any prescriptions due to the fact that I had a medical card. Didn't my physician have a duty to at least see my that day, prescribe my refills and at the very least explain to me that he would not be able to by my doctor anymore and why and to provide me with resources to assist in finding another physician. As it stands now, I was turned away and I have no medication refills and I can not get time off from my new job to see another provider before I run out of meds. I know rules are rules and I understand if I have to find another provider but doesn't the way his office went out it constitute patient abandonment?????What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?
I had extensive cervical spine surgery and was forced to go on public health insurance (medicaid) temporarily. I recieved a letter from Illinois Health Connect stating I needed to pick a PCP. The letter did not state that my current provider may not be a provider with the program therefore I did not immediately get online to choose a different provider. My assumption was "well, I already have a doctor so I don't really need to do that." I have been with this provider for approximately 10 years and I have a chronic condition that I must take medication for and I have to see him every 3 months to have the medication refilled. I was on my last refill and was starting a new job (which has a 3 month probationary period during which I can not request time off). I made an appointment with my physicians office so I could have my refills covered before starting the job. When I handed the receptionist my public aid medical card she said "is this all you have, no other insurance"? When I told her I had no other insurance she said he couldn't see me. I was also told that I could not self-pay with a medical card and that they could not call me in any prescriptions due to the fact that I had a medical card. Didn't my physician have a duty to at least see my that day, prescribe my refills and at the very least explain to me that he would not be able to by my doctor anymore and why and to provide me with resources to assist in finding another physician. As it stands now, I was turned away and I have no medication refills and I can not get time off from my new job to see another provider before I run out of meds. I know rules are rules and I understand if I have to find another provider but doesn't the way his office went out it constitute patient abandonment?????What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?