Annual physical vs Treatment of Symptoms

[drmar]

I have a question about treatment vs preventative care (annual physical).

Although I went in for flu symtoms, since it was my first visit with a doctor, he recommended I get a physical. He asked me questions about my family, and took an EKG. I'm 30 years old.

After listening to my flu condition, my doctor recommded I get an HIV test. but when I got the bill, there were 4 other blood tests performed. I was not made aware of these tests, until I returned for the HIV results. In the bill he claimed all tests were for the annual physical. My medical insurance only covers for diagnosis and treatment, not preventative measures. The doctor refused to change the codes for the HIV test.

My questions are:

Is a doctor obligated to explain to the patient what she/he is gooing to perform and test for in an annual physical?

Can a doctor test a patient for whatever he/she wants, or is there an accepted protocol of reasonable tests for asymptomatic clients?

If a doctor recommends a test, after hearing my symtoms, should that specific test be considered treatment rather than preventative? How can I prove this?


Thank you for your time,

David






What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Maryland

 

[Proserpina]

did you ask the doctor what would be involved in the annual physical and which blood tests would be performed?

You weren't asymptomatic, btw - you said yourself you had symptoms of flu. You had never seen this doctor and he - not inappropriately - advised you to get an HIV test (flu symptoms can mimic many, many other conditions - HIV/AIDS being just one of many).

 

[ecmst12]

I'm guessing the other blood tests were standard chemistry, blood count, cholesterol....things which are part of your annual physical. Did you read the order you gave to the lab? Did you ask why they were taking more then one vial of blood? There is no reason you should have been surprised by the multiple tests, if you'd been paying attention.