Do we have a right to not go to my mom's eye doctors so often?

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Do we have a right to not go to my mom's eye doctors so often?

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My mom is 96 yrs old. My problem is her eye doctors are high pressure appt drs. They want her to come to office 6 x per year. I used to do it and we would sit there 2 1/2 - 3 hrs each time. Every time we are told everything looks good. I don't feel comfortable doing it any more because she is very frail and I am afraid for her safety. They are very high pressure and even sent a certified letter to get us to make more appts. Please let me know your thoughts.

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You don't say what she is being treated for but in any case I think you are absolutely justified in reducing the eye appointments. Sending a certified letter? Unless she has an out of control communicable disease that is 100% over the bounds of appropriate communication. Who do these people think they are?

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My mother's opthamologist wanted her to come in every four months. She had formerly only been going once a year. She is on maintenance drops for glaucoma. There is no way to improve her eyes. I told her doctor that we should make it every six months. That was okay with him. It really isn't their clients' job to fill their books. It wastes time and money for old people who are simply on maintenance.

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Thank you for your answer. She has macular degeneration and glaucoma but little has changed in the 15 years she has gone there. Her eye pressure is always "good". And she can still see and read with a magnifying glass. She is 96 bless her!

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Dear Luvmymum,

Good of you to look out for your mom. My father also had macular degeneration but his eye doctor only saw him twice a year. But I too hated how they made my father wait in the office for sometimes over an hour for his appointment.

I find 6 times a year excessive. I hate to even say this but it feels like the doctor only wants to see your mom to get more money out of her. I wouldn't hesitate to seek out a second or third opinion.

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At almost 99, my father's on a 6 month schedule. Unless your mother has MD and glaucoma that might have a propensity to accelerate rapidly, I wold agree that 6x a year is far too much.

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Not knowing your mother's actual history it is difficult to comment but in general I would think six times a year is overdoing it. Once or twice should be sufficient for someone whoose eye health does not change. Talk to Mom's PCG. and see what is recommended. No one can make you go to any Dr's apointment. As long as grandmother is cared for properly there should not be a problem.

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Medicare allows for one eye doctor appointment per year if you have diabetes. That is a condition that could damage your eyes, and yet once a year seems to be enough.

Six times a year? Maybe for the first year after her conditions were diagnosed, but since they are stable I can't imagine that is justified. Does her insurance cover all these visits?

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Thank you all for your answers. It's very comforting. I believe that we are being taken advantage of but it's for my mom not me. I'm sure you all agree we worry more for them then ourselves. We are going to her PCP Thursday. I will ask him. After receiving that certified letter saying if we don't respond in 30 days they will assume we found another doctor. After 15 years! Really really made me question their ethics. That's why I question our rights. Thank you so much. And yes she has supplemental insurance which covers all.

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You didn't answer - does insurance pay for mom's visits, or is there an out-of-pocket for her (or does she pay the full shot herself)? I would question whether they're making more money off of her than most.

I would totally do what you are doing and find another doctor group that is not so high pressure.

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Yes insurance pays all.

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I don't know... at 96 years old you might want to stay with the doctor she knows, rather than break in a new one at this late date. I would ask the office if twice a year would be better. Macular degeneration at her age is probably to be expected to some degree. Since she is 96 the only thing I imagine they can do for it is nutritional supplements. And no one really knows if those help. Glaucoma would be maintenance alone, most likely.

My mother is legally blind. She has numerous problems with her eyes, but none can be improved upon. If she went to the opthamologist six times a year it would make no difference. All her doctor does is test the pressure and write prescriptions for her drops.

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I would assume Mom is still using drops. Law says you need to see a doctor every six months when getting prescriptions. My Mom's primary was doing the every two months thing. Didn't realize this until I started paying Mom's bills. I asked her why she said Maybe Medicare makes you. I took her to her next appt. Nurse is a friend and asked me why I was there. Told her what I found. She told me Mom didn't have to be there that often. I told her if his first words were "and why are you here" I was stopping the two month thing. He did and I only took her back if she needed to go or needed to renew a prescription. Medicare allows every two months I guess if the doctors words the paperwork a certain way. I agree, run it by your primary. Every six months should be enough since Mom seems stable. I would question how this group goes after patients. Certified letters are expensive to send.Wonder if the doctor knows how notices are being sent. When you call to set up an appt tell them to stop harassing Mom with constant reminders and threats. Which this is.

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It was getting hard to get Mom to her doctor's. Most were every six months. Mom had gotten to the point her tests had been good so I requested that she go once a year. One still wanted her test run but would have only had her come in if something was wrong. When it comes to blood draws, see if there is a company who will come to your home. That way you don't have to take Mom out.

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I would go for twice a year, since prescriptions are only good for 6 months. It is most practical. The doctor may choose to drop your mother as a patient, luvmymum. That isn't something you can control. I hope that his office will see things your way so you don't have to find another opthamologist.

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Do we have a right to not go to my mom's eye doctors so often?

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