I am writing to express some concerns regarding my visit on October 22, 2024, for my regular yearly checkup with Dr. Scott. While Dr. Gontarek has been my eye doctor for years, there are a few issues related to communication during this visit that I would like to address. During my routine eye exam, it was discovered that I had abnormal eye pressure in my left eye, and I was referred to a specialist at Virginia Eye Consultants. Dr. Scott's assistant informed me that I could be seen by them that day, which I greatly appreciated. However, there were several important details that were not communicated to me at the appropriate times. First, I was not made aware that my regular eye checkup had turned into a medical appointment, nor was I informed that I should assume this based on the additional testing and referral. I have VSP vision insurance, but my medical insurance is not in-network, which I am fully aware of, and Dr. Scott even asked me about my insurance during the appointment. After I informed him of my insurance provider, he mentioned that your office does not accept it. Given this, I was shocked when, after the appointment, I was told at the front desk that I owed $364 for the medical portion of the appointment. I was not prepared for this, as no one had informed me of additional medical charges beforehand. As a result, I had to charge this amount to my credit card because I did not have the necessary funds available. When I spoke with April in billing on January 31, 2025, she asked why I didn't speak to Dr. Scott about this at the time. My response was that I didn't want to cause an issue, and I was not made aware that this was an option by the receptionist. I also did not want to avoid paying the bill. In retrospect, I believe the additional testing could have been done at Virginia Eye Consultants, where they accept my insurance. Had your office been more upfront about the potential medical charges, I would have declined the extra services and sought care elsewhere without any issues. Additionally, while I was grateful to be seen the same day at Virginia Eye Consultants, I was not informed that this was an emergency appointment, and I left the appointment with more confusion and questions than answers about my condition. I also want to mention that when I spoke with April today, I was made to feel as though I should have assumed what the final billing would be, given how the appointment evolved. This is not something I deal with regularly, and I believe there should have been more transparency regarding the financial aspect of the appointment. As a patient who was not prepared either mentally or financially for the change in the appointment, I would have appreciated being given clearer options on whether to proceed with services. Furthermore, I was asked for feedback within a day or two via text or email, but your office has no record of this communication because I did respond. Given this, I feel my concerns have not been fully addressed.I was a patient woukd have appreciated more clarification on these matters and hope that future communication can be more transparent to avoid any misunderstandings. read more
