You may be asked to sign a form during your visit with your physician that refers to Medicare denial of payment for services. Medicare and the government have to make decisions regarding what they consider "Reasonable and Necessary" when it comes to medical care. These decisions are obviously heavily financially based decisions.

Medicare requires that we inform you when you might be affected by this policy. This is why you are asked to sign this form during your visit.

When it comes to your care, your physician makes decisions and recommendations specific to your health problems and history. Despite Government and Medicare regulations, we believe certain tests are very appropriate in maintaining your good health.

These tests and procedures are widely accepted by many health agencies as being important in health screening and maintenance. The American Cancer Society, the American College of Physicians, and the American College of Gynecology all support cancer screening methods. There are immunizations that are widely accepted by physicians and health agencies to be important in keeping you healthy.

Often there are times when a "panel" of laboratory tests are ordered in order to assess the function of the internal organs. Medicare is now stating that there needs to be a diagnosis that supports ordering each of the individual tests in that panel. In addition if you are asked to get some testing prior to surgery and there are not preexisting medical reasons for the tests Medicare may not pay for these tests.

We at Thunderbird Internal Medicine recognize that the cost of health care is one of the most important issues facing society today. We try to be as cost effective as we can and are constantly looking for better ways to serve your needs. However we will continue to make recommendations based on your health needs.

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