Antigone

I'm considering Dr. Samuel Chantillis and Dr Karen Lee in Dallas, who were originally recommended by my regular endocrinologist. I've also looked at Dr. Ellen Wilson. Any experiences with them, particularly with financial matters and self pay, would be appreciated. Also any other recommendations in the DFW area.

I'm currently seeing Dr. Sy Le and Dr. Derek Haas in Irving. Dr. Le was recommended to me by a colleague and he is great. However, I was only able to see him for my initial consultation. For my first cycle I have been seeing Dr. Haas. I guess it is harder to get an appt with Dr. Le. I'm not very impressed with Dr. Haas and he hasn't been good at communicating with me and answering my questions. I feel really helpless and in the dark about this whole situation.

I'm also really unhappy with the practice as a whole for a number of reasons:

• Did not communicate with me effectively about billing. I went to my 1st consultation appointment and labs. Insurance paid in full. I scheduled my 1st ultrasound and showed up for my appointment. Receptionist demanded $125. I said what about insurance. She said insurance doesn't cover it because it's "treatment". Well, it would have been nice for them to tell me that before I showed up, so that I could have been prepared. $125 may be a good price for an ultrasound, but it's a lot of money to me. This pattern has continued each time I have been there.
• Dr recommended a semen analysis. Finally got the situation with my insurance cleared up and determined that they cover diagnostic testing but not treatment for infertility. So I thought, semen analysis is clearly a diagnostic measure, shouldn't have a problem. I show up with the sperm in hand and no other options and they demand $160. I say what about insurance? They say, "our lab doesn't contract with your insurance." even though I have out of network benefits and should at least get deductible credit for this. They refused to bill insurance, or allow me to go to LabCorp, which my insurance does cover, to get the semen analysis done.
• They never give me an itemized receipt that shows what I'm paying for. As soon as I show up in the office they demand money. When I ask for an itemized receipt, which is necessary to get money out of my FSA or to send it to insurance because I think it is covered, they tell me they can't do it because my chart isn't ready. Um, how can you charge me but not be able to produce a receipt that says what you're charging me for?? I asked them to mail me the receipt when it was ready but never received one.
• They NEVER give me my lab results. They don't call when the results come in, they don't email, they don't even give me a copy when I'm in the office. They don't even mention the labs when I'm in the office unless I specifically ask. Other ladies know their husband's exact sperm count. I don't. Dr. Haas asked if I wanted to do intercourse or IUI. I said, well I thought the semen analysis was supposed to determine that. He said well, it's ok, morphology is on the low side but you can try intercourse this time. "on the low side?" WTF???? this is not enough information.
• And the straw that broke the camel's back. I came in for my 2nd ultrasound. they told me I was ready for the HCG shot and would I like them to do it? I said yes. A nurse came in and spent roughly 3 minutes administering the shot. A week later I get a bill for $10 for them giving me the injection. (I had already bought the medicine and the syringe at the pharmacy). Once again, they didn't tell me ahead of time how much it's going to cost so I can make an informed decision. $10 isn't that much, I prob would have just done it anyway, the point is they should have told me.
• Front desk staff is just plain rude and insensitive. They treat you like a walking wallet and are not interested in customer service or doing anything to accommodate you or even informing you of things in advance. They also gave me crap because my husband and I have different last names and forced me to bring in a copy of our marriage certificate, which I have never had to do before even when we bought a house together.

Sorry that was so long, I just had to vent because I'm so frustrated with my experience so far. I'm in the 2WW right now and not sure if I want to continue on with another cycle if I'm not pg. I'm really torn because I've heard this office is the most affordable for those who are self pay. The price isn't that bad, it's unexpected and frustrating considering our insurance premium is $700 a month, but all in all, not that terrible. But I'm sick of not getting labs or receipts and being treated like crap by the front desk staff. And I never get to see Dr. Le anyway. So I'm considering looking for another doctor, but I just don't know if they will be any better.

I need a doctor who is going to be sensitive to my financial situation, attempt to bill insurance for things that actually are covered, and let me know in advance how much each treatment is going to cost before I start the cycle. I don't think this is too much to ask. They have to have a list somewhere of all the treatments they do and how much they cost for those w/o insurance coverage, otherwise, how would they know how much to bill? (And they CERTAINLY know how much to bill). I also want an office who empowers the patient by sharing lab results with me and being able to answer my questions.