This letter explains how fees for Uninsured Services are managed by PatientSERV.
This is a list of fees for the Uninsured Services you may commonly encounter.
(Note: HST is *included* where applicable)
This form is to register for a flat rate "Annual Plan". Alternatively, you can sign up online here.
Prescription Renewal Fee
Effective Mar 31st, 2023 there will be a $20 fee for prescriptions without a visit by phone or in person for Dr. Bathe’s patients.
Please know that the primary purpose is not to collect revenue from patients but to decrease the tremendous administrative burden of avoidable prescription requests.
Alternatively, patients who do not wish to pay this fee can book an appointment to obtain their prescriptions. Fit in “prescription renewal appointments” will be made available the same day or next day. If a fit in appointment cannot be provided in 2 business days, the fee will be waived.
What Else Has Been Tried Before This?
Please know that charging a fee for prescriptions without an appointment is something our office has tried to avoid. We have tried to synchronize all of a patient’s medications so that they all come due at once. We have tried to ensure patients have ample repeats on their prescriptions. We have tried reminding patients to check for repeats through multiple methods before contacting our office. We have tried to encourage patients to call in for all their medications at once, rather than one at a time. We have tried to encourage patients to get their prescriptions renewed during actual visits, rather than calling in later. Unfortunately, these measures have not resulted in a satisfactory reduction in the amount of time being spent dealing with avoidable prescription requests.
How Will Charging a Fee help?
For years, many physicians’ offices have already been charging fees for prescriptions without visits. These offices report the following advantages:
Patients take increased responsibility and improve organization of their medications.
The number of prescription requests drops significantly, down to less than a few per day, in most cases.
This frees up staff and physician time to care for patients. It also frees up the telephone and fax lines for more urgent matters.
In many cases, if a patient is running out of medications, it is time for the patient to come in for a visit anyway, which in turn improves patient care.
Please know that charging a fee is not an attempt to collect revenue from patients. Rather, the primary intent is to decrease the tremendous administrative burden of avoidable prescription requests.
Yours Truly,
Dr. Stephen Bathe