Cleveland Clinic to bill up to $50 for MyChart messages

[cbabe]

https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/healthcare-information-technology/cleveland-clinic-to-bill-up-to-50-for-mychart-messages.html

Cleveland Clinic to bill up to $50 for MyChart messages

(Also Chicago, Seattle)

Tuesday, November 15th, 2022

Cleveland Clinic will begin to bill for Epic MyChart messages requiring a provider's clinical time and expertise beginning Nov. 17.

Patients have been able to send MyChart messages for free, and providers typically respond within three business days. But now the health system plans to bill for messages about medication changes, new symptoms, changes to long-term medical conditions, checkups on long-term conditions and requests to complete medical forms sent through MyChart, according to a news release from Cleveland Clinic.

Messages to schedule an appointment, get prescription refills and ask questions that could lead to an appointment will remain free. Patients can also give providers health updates without any extra charges.

Cleveland Clinic plans to bill for any interactions taking five or more minutes for providers to respond and will bill insurance companies. Medicare patients with secondary insurance will not have co-pays, but some Medicare beneficiaries may see a $3 to $8 fee.

Many privately insured patients will not have a copay, but if they have a deductible or their plan does not cover MyChart messaging, patients could be billed $33 to $50 per message.

[MineralMan]

1. Doesn't surprise me.

I suppose anything that takes up a provider's time needs to be paid for. I'm not seeing the problem, really.

[MagickMuffin]

2. I guess we will have to resort to calling in for assistance

Take up the receptionist time. Then you’ll have to wait for a returned call. Our time is just as valuable.

Most people can’t afford to lose $50 for accessing their medical needs.

I rarely use MyChart. I have in the past, but mostly to review my test results.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

3. Bring back the clinic nurseline.

[Tree Lady]

4. Won't be long until the rest

Of them do it. Right now it's the easiest way to contact your doctor.

My plan has a free nurse 24 hr hotline, but if you ask them anything beyond something you can figure out yourself, they will say go to doctor, urgent care or ER.

[Diamond_Dog]

5. So, in most cases,

The insurance company covers part or all of the bill.

And we’ll see our premiums going up accordingly …