Hi all,

I booked an appointment with the Neurology services at Mayo Scottsdale four months ago for my visit this week. I was a little shocked that Mayo does not contract with Blue Cross Blue Shield of AZ but that's the way it is.

When I got there the patient area at the registration/check desks does not have any chairs to sit down. I have never seen that before. My appointment was for Monday but I had another two days of testing and appointments no one mentioned. I have never heard of ordering tests before getting a history/exam but maybe this is the Mayo way.

Out of the three and a half hours spent sitting around, I probably had half an hour of time with the attending/fellow.

My attending neurologist had the personality of a dish rag and seemed very distant. I have been improving and did not feel the advanced sensory testing/autonomic/EMG studies were necessary. Anyway they would cost me quite a bundle since the hospital has no contract with my insurance carrier.

Overall I was not impressed. I would have been even more upset if I had spent hours flying/driving there. I live only three miles away.

I am a physician and strive to treat my patients better than what I experienced.

Glenn

Hi, wow sorry you had a bad time but if you check they give all imformation
on all of the Mayo Clinics,on the page on the Mayo hospitals. It did
say something about,the insurance,and just curious why you didn't
realize that there is a big differences in those hospitals,and that Dr. could
of been fired. I was at the one in MN. and there's a big difference
I'm sure,but I still check on the insurance before I make a appointment.

I checked everything at the Cancer Hospital Barnes Jewish and
the Drs. I would be seeing..If you don't have the time a family
member could e-mail or call. I'm sorry you had such a bad time. Sue

Hi,

I knew the Mayo in Scottsdale did not take Blue Cross of Arizona when the appointment was made. The trouble with out of network is as follows. If a bill is 5000, the carrier will only pay 60% or so of what they consider the usual charge of what the service should cost. So if their vision is 3000, they will pay 1800 of the bill. The poor patient needs to pay 5000-1800 for the balance of the bill. The doc told me that the Mayo in MN and Fla do take Blue Cross.

I am sure that anyone could get a bad meal at a five star restaurant. I am sure most would have a good experience at the Mayo. My experience left me disappointed.

Glenn

Appreciate feedback on Mayo in AZ - my docs have told me to go to Mayo - but my only option because of costs, travel, etc - would be AZ - (I'm in Calif)... and they arent contracted with Medicare either (I'm on SSDI) - and they told me they would bill them but they may or may not pay the charge and I'd be completely responsible.... I have heard many good things about their amyloid program (my docs have gone back and forth on this with me - had a positive biopsy in the past they couldnt repeat so was considering it)... but never heard about their neuro department....

Also, if you received such poor care as a physician - and dont you think physicians tend to sometimes have more respect for each other when treating - that a "civilian" may even have worse luck????? Just curious, 'cause my docs are still talking about me going and I'd hate to get out there and have a similar experience????

Have you checked out UCLA? They are listed as one of the top ten neuro centers by US News and World Report. UCLA would likely have a contract with medicare.

I have seen four neurologists over the years. Half were quite strange. I have had good luck with the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix AZ.

Good luck,

Glenn

I tried scheduling an apt at Scottsdale Mayo in July and they finally called me in February to see a neuro there. I had become so tired of waiting that I began with another Scottsdale neurologist and have decided to give her a fair try before I go to Mayo, so I cancelled and postponed until summer. Their insurance is really bizarre as I'm on medicare with AARP supplement and still may have to pay some overages on allotted charges. Tom

Glenn, I actually started my neuro experiences with them when I first got sick - they did great NCS/EMG's they even repeated the test twice in the same day on different machines cause they were doubting the results) and my sural nerve was sent to them for biopsy from another center and it was very thorough too, but often an appt would streach out for 6 hours waiting for resident to consult with attending - then they would eventually come back... their conclusion at the time (now they are quite a trek from me to get down there) - was "we've never seen someone's sensory nerves completely die in six months - and we will consult with other centers, etc... and get back to you"... never heard another word... if you have a name of someone that maybe I could get a private appt with that would be wonderful though - I know they have a PN support group that meets down there so they definately have an interest in it! (they definately do have contract with Medicare - Mayo was one of the few that didnt!

(in regards to UCLA I should add - I have gotten excellent cardiac care there, in addition to excellent MOHS surgery, and they have some of the best natured nurses and assistants I've ever come across)

(I was hoping first Mayo cause then they could look at all at once - gatroparesis - cardiac - back pain - abd stuff, etc. instead of constant trips to different docs etc... I wish they would just toss me in the hospital even here and do all the tests at once - dont know why they just cant do that for people who have multiple issues and cant get around easily, etc... but I have a feeling has to do with insurance also!)

Thanks