The next time you send your doctor an email, don’t be surprised if they charge you a fee to answer.
More healthcare groups are charging fees to answer patients’ electronic messages, often the ones you exchange via their portal. Doctors say it’s only fair if they’re spending time on the messages and note that an email discussion can often save you the time of having to come in.
The typical cost of an email message claim was $39 in 2021, including both the portion paid by insurance and by the patient, according to a Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker analysis.
Some patients have been taken aback by the charges. They are surprised at the notifications on portals about the change, and irritated at the idea of a new fee.
Dr. Lauren Oshman, a family physician and associate professor at the University of Michigan Medical School, says she initially experienced some patient resistance and anger about the prospect of being billed for emails.
Now, she says, patients are typically pleased that they are able to get a direct response from her through a portal message.
“They’re thrilled when they get me directly,” she says.
Here is more from the WSJ, via the excellent Daniel Lippman.
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