I think I failed. After 3 sheets of answering (more or less) a bunch of questions about drinking smoking and drug use, and how many servings a day of veggies I consumed and if I worried about war …and then seeing my 28 year old dr in a black mask and black Jammie’s …I decided I was OK snd left.

I doubt I’ll have nightmares about it but here I am awake so next time they ask that question I’ll be able to check off one of their boxes on the form.
As far as that list of things they would like to have tested or have me take, I doubt I’ll change my mind about volunteering for any of them. I also got accused of listening to Fox news...

Must have disappointed the lad as he went to get another dr to witness that his patient had got their exam..!

Box checked off for him!

I guess this is modern “primary care”.

Meanwhile my hip still hurts and I can't tie my right side footwear.

Thanks for nuffin.

Sure miss my retired Dr.

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Remain Viable

Perhaps you should write to the AMA pointing out that black scrubs don't sit well with Vietnam vets. As for the mask, that seems to have become SOP with many MDs these days.

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Release the Kraken

My doctor tossed her mask when the panic subsided and most time she just wears regular clothes. The nurses wear scrubs but the doc not usually.

The only thing I've done at the doctor's office is draw a clock. I nailed it!

As I stare directly at 65 and medicare in February, I am frightened by the stories I've heard. I have a meeting next week with a consultant to hopefully put me at ease and point me in the correct direction.
I truly try to be well versed in every major decision I make. To date my knowledge of the whole medicare system is woefully lacking. Hopefully there is a program out there that is better than the high deductible plan we were forced into from the "Affordable Healthcare Act".

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paws for friendship

The Medicare "Wellness Check" is a big joke as far as I'm concerned. Billable time, duh! Most likely it is NOT an actual doctor, but just a paper pusher. If you have any medical concerns make an appointment with an actual MD or DO.
After my regular doctor retired several years ago I got shuffled thru a couple of nurse practitioners who didn't listen to my concerns, ordered expensive tests and prescribed meds that made some things worse. They never went back to any of my 25+ years history with the same clinic/office. I'm now seeing a young DO who listens to me and and gets things right.

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Super Snooper

I had mine a few weeks back. My regular Dr. came in after the visit to draw blood and stool sample the week before. We had a good visit and he told me I was eating too good. I have had that talk before. No forms to fill out and no stupid questions.

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Front sight and squeeze

Have had that a few times, My Dr's nurse asks about 10 questions (that she would have anyway), and then my Dr and I have a pleasant discussion about shooting, (and my current health). Glad I've had the same primary Dr for the last 40+ years.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I actually agreed to have one of these wellness checks. When you get done supposedly they send us a 100 dollar gift card. I may sit down and talk to someone...but if they start asking stupid questions I WILL be outta there. They've been after me to do ths for 3 years. Is the whole question answer session intrusive?? If so I will just cancel it

The purpose of this wellness stuff is to try to discover potential problems ahead of time. It's obvious what they are looking for, so tell them what they want to hear. Just don't lie if you are having constant issues.

In my case because I do it my monthly premium is zero and they deduct money from my Medicare payment. Who can complain about that?

Besides, with the PSA blood test results, my doctor no longer has to "use his finger".

Well I don't know about the PSA and fingers. My PSA numbers continue to drop...a little every 3 months. The only real issue I have is like one respondent said not being able to always tie my right shoe...40 year back problems from work. Don't think they'll solve that over the phone

It's a basic cognitive test, not a probing attack on your Constitutional rights, for Pete's sake.

Don't be a baby about it.

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Pisgah

Well It may be a basic cognitive test... But it looks to me to be a way for an insurance company to bill the government for a doctor visit...in your name of course...no other way for them to reduce your premium, copay or send a 100 dollar gift card to you unless it's out of the kindness of their heart. Insurance companies? Do the insurance companies have hearts??

You should have "studied" for the test


https://www.sutterhealth.org/pdf/for...stionnaire.pdf

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Still Running Against the Wind

I answered all of 'em doc...can you send my gift card now??...Oh....did I pass the test??

Just don't start to breath hard and giggle if the conversation turns to guns...........

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Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446

The nurse practitioner told me she would give me 3 words to remember. So I said 'orange, banana and boat'. Really thru her for a loop, those are the words she's given me for the past several years. Yep, long term memory is good.

I get that every so often. Last time I knew the day and month, could spell World backward, and given three words that I could smart *** back in my old G.I. German. Helped me recall them some minutes later! Win! Was told I would not get those words next time! Apfel, Tafel, Fenster in case you do.

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It's what I do, not what I am.

I actually had the opposite thing happen to me. My regular doctor, of over 40 years, retired about 3 years ago and sold his practice to the PRISMA group. In my town, both PRISMA and Bon Secours are the major players. My retired doctor’s practice was wasn’t specifically with either group. After his retirement PRISMA completely restaffed the place. As a creature of habit I decided to continue going there to see if I liked them. I ended up being assigned to a younger nurse practitioner and really like her! Unlike pawngal, before she saw me for the first time, she had studied my medical history and went over it extensively. I was with her for almost an hour. For the last couple of years my retired doctor would see me for 10-15 minutes max, and forgot things often.

Unfortunately, I got a letter from PRISMA last month saying that her last day to see patients will be December 29. She will be leaving to pursue a non clinical role with PRISMA. So, I guess I will get to roll the dice and start over again! Some of my family members have gone the Intern route with luck.
Larry

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Miss Buddies crsides & fat tom

So many times I've wanted to answer the one about " Have you fallen lately?" with "only when I'm drunk."

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Why duck?? It's a 9mm!

In anticipation of this kind of test I take my drawing compass to the doctor's office.

I got a new Primary Care doc this year. He did the "wellness check" in that we talked about guns, cars, sex and food. I told him fill out the questionnaire so the .gov pays. I read the "notes" next day, I had no idea I'd given such thoughtful answers to so many inane questions. Good for another year. Joe

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Behavior Creates Destiny

Chair, sunset, banana.......been the same for the last four years

We do not, did not do the welfare test BS, more government garbage.

My urologist recently retired. I graduated in the same high school class with him. This guy has incredibly large fingers and the first time he did the "digital exam" I thought someone had driven a truck up my rectum. About a year later I show up for my second exam. Just before the insertion I told him that I wasn't complaining about his roughness but the day after the last exam I found a Rolex in my toilet. He was much more gentle after I told him that. My new Doc is a drop dead gorgeous lady with much smaller fingers. Things are much more pleasant now.

Went thru the wellness check last week, did OK but failed the eye test & propherical thing .Asked me if I wore glasses all the time, I said only when I sleep' I remember Ronald Reagan's sayings" I'm here from the Govt. and here to help. BOCA.

Have I lived under a rock? I've been on Medicare three years and have never been offered such a test. Had a keratosis cut out and commiseration on a torn gastrocnemius, but that's it.

Like biku I have been on Medicare for 5 years and have never been subjected to a test even remotely like that.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

Due to an episode with the VA over the mental health questions, I no longer answer them. My Doc said he had to put something down, so I told him to put whatever he wants.

There is one major overseas contracting company that had mental health folks screening new hires at pre-deployment sites. Any answer to the standard, "Have you ever killed anyone?" question beyond, "No," or or "Yes, but I felt bad - it was part of the job," got you permanently excluded from contracting with them. I knew three excellent contractors independently tell me about this - all happened at the same company, and all were superb employees where we worked (in very difficult places).

Apparently the company was hypersensitive about potential PTSD in contractors. Never heard of anything similar from any other company.

Exactly. Since the advent of EMR's (electronic medical records) there are strict protocols to be followed for Medicare reimbursement. Joe

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Behavior Creates Destiny

I’m 62. So far I’ve managed to not go to the doctor unless it’s for an insurance exam or something like that. And after that Covid scam I’ll never trust them again. Trauma care is one thing but treating a disease or illness is another. They are mostly pharmaceutical pill pushers. But that’s just me. A conspiracy theorist.

I have a friend, who I had considered to be one of the most laid back people I've ever known. He was a cop for 40 years, and seemed to be almost unflappable. We were talking one day, and he said, "The VA is finally going to get me some help with my issues!". I said, "Your knees?". "No, my PTSD, I've had it since Veitnam!". I thought, "PTSD?", the guy seems to be almost too laid back most of the time. I've known him close to 40 years now, and that wouldn't even have crossed my mind. He's had a huge number of both minor and major medical issues over the last 15 years, starting almost exactly the day he retired. He just had his first clock drawing test at 75.

Been on Medicare for 10 years and never heard of the exams.

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Eccentric old coot

What is this "clock drawing test" that you guys are talking about?

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'Merica!

Not a clue. Never had an ounce of interaction with Medicare other than paying them.

My reply to the question - Do you own a gun?

Not enough of them!

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Bill

I did the clock test last year. When the doctor came in he said that's not a clock. I told him I'm not an artist. Lol. He told me to try again. The clock was not round and the numbers were not in the right spots. Lol.

I get nagged (via email) about the wellness exam but have never had it. I suspect some of you are on Medicare Advantage who might be more aggressive about it. I’m on regular Medicare with a UHC medigap. It costs, but much better if you get really sick or need to go out of area.

On another chat board years ago, a guy who was did medical ethics wrote that questions about guns should be answered "boundary violation".

When asked to draw a clock set at 12:30. I drew a rectangle with "12:30" written in it.... The nurse and doctor got a laugh out of it. The 'words to remember', half the time I must remind them to ask me what they were. As for gun ownership, the question has never been asked.
Due to government entanglement, this is one way the providers put food on their tables. It's a bit sad to see how things have evolved over the last six or seven decades.

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NRA Endowment Member

Just wait till you get the question "Do you think you would feel better off being dead?" I had a good laugh at that one when I told both the DR and the Nurse, No there are people out here that I haven't met yet just so that I could piss the off. They even laughed at me for that answer.

Some people simply don't go to the doctor until they are VERY sick. Then, curing you will probably cost the insurance company megabucks.

The purpose of the wellness visit is to try and spot potential, problems BEFORE they happen so that they don't turn out to be catastrophic.

Looking at my bills, the insurance company only pays a very small fraction of what the doctor bills them. Since it's a zero copay, it cost me nothing.

To me this visit is simply cost effective for the insurance company. Besides, I feel that a routine checkup benefits me as well.

If your insurance company does not provide this free service, maybe you should look at the fine print in your policy. Its likely that they don't cover much either.

When they ask questions I don't want to answer I tell them to write NA (not applicable). Larry

My favorite question of the test: "Do you feel safe in your home?" Me: "Condidering I have enough guns to outfit the Costa Rican Army and ammo to fight a 12 year war, yes, definitely." Joe

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Behavior Creates Destiny

I had a new nursing graduate asking me some pre-op questions before one of my surgeries a few years ago. One of the questions was about whether I suffered from stress or depression. Shut her right up when I said "of course I do - I'm a lawyer." She was also amazed that I was able to predicted my pulse, BP and the like as she did them. I wish I had answered differently, like "I enjoy them, I'm a lawyer".

I know that there is a bigger push to ask MH and safety questions now, and it is not just medicare. I have the same docs, same umbrella groups, no BS related to Medicare.

The SW at my dialysis program is well aware of cops and the waste of time to social work us, so she does not bother me. She worked for CPS in her past and has a delightfully bad attitude.

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NHI, 10-8.

Yeah...had the similar test last month.

As a card carrying Martian there is a lot of stuff that I can't discuss or disclose.
That usually makes for a short interview.

My Osteopath quit to go to private practice; She would not play the party line to push Big Pharma. I don't take seriously the pandemic of phony heart disease requiring liver killing statins. At 73, I passed my stress test despite LDL/HDL not paperwork perfect. She concurred after I described my daily diet of the four basic food groups, and two mile hike every day. Ain't it funny that soon after Affordable Care Act we have a hysterical world wide epidemic requiring abstinence from outdoor exercise in the sunshine but promote indoor alcohol consumption?

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"Don't Give Up the Ship"

Those 'bird-beak' masks like they wore during the Plague.

Attached Images

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"