PLEASE HELP!! HOW MUCH DID YOUR PSYCH EVALUATION COST?

I so very sorry to hear that doctor is taking advantage of us (morbidly obese people in need of this surgery) like that. I was told the test would cost about $300 where I live in CA but I was already seeing a psychiatrist for OCD & other issues. He ended up charging me for a regular visit which ended up costing me my $20.00 copay and my insurance (that's right my insurance paid for the visit) a total of about $30.00. I very happy to have a great doctor that was there for me when I needed him the most and it just makes me mad that you didn't get the same treatment. I would file a complaint with that doctor's office manager, the doctor that gave you the list to use, and then I would report the doctor to your state's medical review board or whatever they call it in your state for unethical practices. Where I live, we had a therapist that was charging a lot of people a lot of money they didn't owe and he ended up losing his license over it. God Bless you and good luck. If you get the corrected report and don't need that doctor anymore, I would also let them know you are reporting them to the state for what they are doing.

I'm sorry. I didnt realize you had already had the psych evaluation. I think you were cheated big time. My psych eval lasted only 1 hour. There is no way that your psych visit for wls clearance should have exceeded 1 1/2 hrs. Also I was not administered battery tests during my eval. Please seek legal advice.

Is she a contracted provider with your insurance? If so, she gets the contracted price they pay her and she can't come to you for any more. That amount is way too much.

My insurance did not cover my psych eval - and it cost $600, I had three sessions of an hour each and she told me she took about 3 or 4 hours to write the report. So the time doesn't sound outlandish - but the price sure does!

Did they give you any vaseline to go with that psych evaluation? Mine cost $150 that included typing it up and sending it to the surgeon.

OMG!!!!!!! These people are out of their minds. I was upset that I have to pay $125.00 but now that I have heard what you are going through it dosn't seem like much @ all. The nerve of them!!!!!Do these people think we are made of money? (oh I forgot I have a tree in my backyard that grows money) NOT !!!!!!! I wish there were some way I could help you. Don't give up the fight you keep on going and before you know it you will be on the losing side cause I know I will be too!!!!!!! Evelyn

Hi Judi, I want to start by saying that if they were not up front with you about what they were going to bill you that is an ethical violation and you could technically report that to the state liscensing board. However, it sounds like you had a battery of tests run which in the field of psychology=Big$$ (I know of people practicing that charge upwards of $500 and hour for assessments that require testing) but nonetheless you should have been informed of the costs upfront to allow you to make an informed decision as to whether or not you wanted to use their services. Did your surgeon require the battery of tests or just an evaluation? I know mine just required an eval which I was relieved about due to the cost of testing. Do you have any documentation of what they had originally told you they would charge? If so, I think you definetly have grounds to fight the charges in excess of what they quoted you. I'm sorry you had such a bad experience with them and I hope you are successful in fighting the charges! Kim 4/21/03 -117

Mine, in the Northern NJ area, was about 350 and insurance picked up most of it. That sounds entirely excessive. No one needs that much psych time. They just need to determine if you fit the criteria or not.

WOW! MY APPT WAS ABOUT HALF AND HOUR FOR THE TESTING AND THEN A HALF AND HOUR TO MEET THE DOC. ALL I HAD TO PAY WAS A CO-PAY. SORRY YOU'RE HAVING THIS TROUBLE. KATY

I live in Michigan and paid 250.00 I had one visit to take the test and one visit of 45 minutes to talk to the doctor. good luck, Michelle