My Single Mom Life

Let's do all the bad stuff ok?
Ok!

Snotty fucking medical office workers need to learn how to be honest with patients in front of their office managers.
That little weasel, lied to her office manager making me look like a liar.
Here's what happened.
On Friday at 3:30pm, Joann from the PMDs office, (Pain Management Docs) called me to remind me of my appointment today at 1pm.
This is precisely how that call went.
Me: Hello?
Joann: Hi, is this Kathleen Cooper?
Me: Yes.
Joann: Hi! This is Joann from PMDs office, I am calling to confirm your appointment on Monday January 15th at 1pm.
Me: Yup, thanks, I'll see you then.
Joann: Great, have a nice weekend!

Today, Joann tells me I have to pay a copay today because Medicare said so.
Me: Well I would be happy to pay that had I known about it, but I just paid all my bills and don't have that right now.
Joann: Well then PMD can't see you today.
Office manager: Ma'am, is there a problem I can help you with?
Me: I didn't know I had a copay today and Joan is telling me if I don't pay it, I can't be seen. I have waited a month for this appointment, just took the bus all the way here and now, I have to turn around and go home because I didn't know?
Joann: I did tell her when I called her Friday that she had a copay.
Me: No you didn't.
Joann: Yes I did.
Me: Really? What time did you call me?
Joann: I called you at 1pm on Friday, confirmed your appointment and told you your copay and deductible was going to be $119.00 and to make sure you brought that with you.
Me: Joann, you called me at 3:30pm and confirmed the appointment. You made no mention of a copay. If you had, I would have blown off the phone bill and water bill so I could pay it today and I would have paid those later.
Joann: I did tell you.
Me: No. You. Did. Not. Do not sit here and lie to cover your ass. You called after my kids came home from school Friday. They get out of school at 3pm. And Joann, you did not tell me I had to pay that.
Joann: Yes I did.
Me: For fucks sake Joann, I'm not an idiot. Stop lying and admit you made a mistake.
Office manager: Ma'am, she did tell you. Can you pay that or do we need to reschedule? We've turned away 7 other people for the same reason today.
Me: Are you people calling your patients liars to cover your butts right now? Your staff fucked up, she needs to admit that.
Office manager: Can you pay that?
Me: Can she admit that she lied about the time and the copay please?
Office manager: Do we need to reschedule?
Me: One fucking minute. Joann, you are a liar. *Step outside, make a call and get money.*
Me: Here ya go, here's the money. Now, can Joann admit she made a mistake?
Joann: I am not lying.
Me: You are pathetic.
Office manager: Please have a seat and fill these out.
*See PMD. While I am in the little room, I hear all the office staff at the desk asking what the yelling was about. Office manager tells them that I called Joann a liar about informing me of the copay. They all said and I quote; "Are we supposed to tell them they have a copay due before they are seen? We haven't been doing that when we call to confirm appointments." Office manager tells them to keep their voices down.

*sigh* I knew I wasn't crazy. Joann did not tell me, and hearing all the rest of them admit they haven't been telling people, confirms I am not the liar. That bitch lied to cover her ass.
All 7 of those other people had not been told and were turned away. They had no one to call for money help to pay their copays.

After I see PMD and he writes new script to try, I get copay/deductible shit in writing from office manager because Joann is a fuck up. Get new appointment for March and leave*

Then, I waited 45 minutes for the bus home. Stop at Walgreen's where they were obviously sucking much ass today too.
Other customers were yelling at them as I walked up.
I hand over my script, wait 30 minutes for it, and then go get Mark the 3 ring binder he needs for his new classes, and walk home.
Sebastian had come down to meet me at Walgreen's so I didn't have to walk home alone.

I am frigging pissed off still. They have not been informing patients of the new Medicare policy, and Medicare has not sent out patients the new rules for it obviously. 7 other people had the same problem I did today. All those people yelling at Walgreen's, were probably having the same copay issue as well. Knowing how Medicare works, I'll probably get that letter informing me of the new policy next month if I get it at all. The only thing I have ever gotten from them is the card. No letter explaining copays and deductibles or how much, nothing.
Our problems we faced today were not our fault. We are not liars or trying to get away with something, we don't know about the new policies for 2007 because Medicare hasn't sent them to us and doctors offices are not telling us when they call to confirm appointments.
I don't appreciate being treated that way by an office full of 18 month medical assistant college graduates who bob their heads back and forth at me while their big gold hoop earrings sway back and forth and waving their mile long fake nails at me.
They lied. They did not tell patients about it, but then have the nerve to call us the liars.
And yes, I did swear at them like that. They fucking deserved it.