Thinking about messaging your physician about a weird rash? You may want to hold off on it. Some hospital systems have started charging patients for digital messages to their doctors via the electronic medical record, either a flat rate (like a copay) or on sliding scale depending on the time or complexity of the physician’s response. Sometimes it’s billed through an insurer, sometimes as a direct cost to the patient. Costs have ranged between less than $10 and $100 for a message.
Now that at least 22 hospital systems have implemented the practice, a great debate has broken out in the medical profession: Is charging patients to send a note to a doctor just common sense or an unjust expense?
advertisement
In asking family, friends, and colleagues about this, my grandmother’s response was the most enlightening: “I’m surprised doctors ever stopped charging for phone calls!”
Get unlimited access to award-winning journalism and exclusive events.
Subscribe Log In
Previous article：
NIH director takes cautious approach to Biden drug pricing priority
Next article： Cancer drug shortages should be causing more outrage
Next article： Cancer drug shortages should be causing more outrage
