WHAT IS A D.O.?

D.O. ABBREVIATES: DOCTOR OF OSTEOPATHY.
A D.O. OR DOCTOR OF OSTEOPATHY, IS A PHYSICIAN WHO IS FULLY LICENSED IN ALL STATES AS A FULLY QUALIFIED DOCTOR OF MEDICINE. THE TRAINING AT OSTEOPATHIC MEDICAL SCHOOLS IS EQUAL TO THAT OF M.D. DOCTORS, EXCEPT THAT D.O. PHYSICIANS HAVE ADDITIONAL TRAINING.
THIS TRAINING IS OSTEOPATHIC MANIPULATIVE THERAPY WHICH OFFERS THESE DOCTORS ANOTHER METHOD FOR HELPING PATIENTS. OMT HELPS PATIENTS BENEFIT FROM RELIEF OF PAIN AND OTHER SYMPTOMS BY A HANDS ON TECHNIQUE TO MANUALLY INFLUENCE THE MUSCLES AND THEIR ATTACHMENT TO THE BONES. THE REFERENCE TO THE BONE AND RELIEVING PAIN WITHOUT THE USE OF MEDICATION, IS ACTUALLY WHERE THE OSTEOPATHIC NAME COMES FROM.

THE MEDICAL SCHOOLS ALSO PROMOTE CERTAIN PHILOSOPHIES INCLUDING: TREAT THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM, NOT JUST THE SYMPTOMS; TEACH ALL DOCTORS FIRST TO BE QUALIFIED TO BE A GENERAL DOCTOR WORKING IN A RURAL AREA EVEN IF ALL OF THE SUBSPECIALTIES AVAILABLE; AND TEACH DOCTORS TO HELP THE PATIENT PARTICIPATE IN THEIR HEALTH SO THAT THE BODY CAN HELP HEAL ITSELF.

D.O. PHYSICIANS REPRESENT ALL SPECIALTIES, THE SAME AS M.D. PHYSICIANS DO. BOTH ALLOPATHIC (M.D.) AND OSTEOPATHIC (D.O.) DOCTORS WORK TOGETHER IN GROUPS AND HOSPITALS AND MAKE MUTUAL REFERRALS.
     
WHAT DOCTOR WILL TAKE CARE OF ME IF I NEED TO BE ADMITTED TO A HOSPITAL?

DR. MILLER IS ON STAFF AT ALL TULSA HOSPITALS, BUT DOES NOT ADMIT OR WORK AT HOSPITALS ANYMORE.
WHEN IT IS NECESSARY FOR A PATIENT TO BE HOSPITALIZED, THE DOCTOR WILL DIRECT A PATIENT’S CARE TO A PHYSICIAN WHO WORKS AT THE HOSPITAL (HOSPITALIST), OR TO THE SPECIALTY DOCTOR DEPENDING ON WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. SHE LIKES TO MAINTAIN HER EMPHASIS ON TAKING CARE OF PATIENTS IN THE OFFICE WHERE SHE WILL FOLLOW UP WITH THE PATIENT AFTER THE HOSPITAL STAY.
 
WHAT MEDICAL INSURANCES ARE ACCEPTED AT MILLER MEDICAL?

ALL PPO MEDICAL INSURANCES ARE ACCEPTED.
HMO INSURANCES ARE NOT ACCEPTED.

INSURANCE PLANS DIFFER SO IT IS MOST EXPEDIENT IF YOU HAVE A COPY OF YOUR INSURANCE BENEFITS INCLUDING YOUR OFFICE VISIT COPAY AND WHAT DEDUCTIBLE HAS BEEN MET. IT ALSO HELPS THE DOCTOR IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU PAY FOR YOUR PRESCRIPTIONS. IT OFTEN INVOLVES DIFFERENT PATIENT PAYMENTS FOR GENERICS, BRAND NAMES THAT ARE PREFERRED BECAUSE THE INSURANCE HAS NEGOTIATED A LOWER PRICE WITH THE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY, AND A HIGHER COPAY FOR HIGHER PRICED MEDICATIONS NOT ON THE INSURANCE BEST PRICE AGREEMENT.

PPO- PREFERRED PROVIDER ORGANIZATION
THE ORGANIZATION OR ACTUAL MEDICAL INSURANCE COMPANY GETS DOCTORS (CALLED PROVIDERS) TO TAKE A REDUCED PAYMENT FOR MEDICAL SERVICES. THIS HAPPENS BECAUSE DOCTORS WANT TO STAY IN BUSINESS AND PATIENTS WON’T GENERALLY COME TO A PHYSICIAN AND PAY THE FEE WITHOUT INSURANCE PAYING THEIR SHARE.
SOME PATIENTS REALIZE THAT THEY WANT TO SELECT THE PHYSICIAN OF CHOICE AND ARE WILLING TO PAY BECAUSE THEY FIND THE CARE WORTH IT. PPO INSURANCES PAY THE DOCTOR A VERY REDUCED FEE SO THAT THE INSURANCE CAN PROFIT.

HMO- HEALTH MAINTENENCE ORGANIZATION
THIS TYPE OF INSURANCE HAS HISTORICALLY MAINTAINED THE PHILOSOPHY TO DO THE LEAST AMOUNT POSSIBLE FOR THE PATIENT. THAT IS WHY DR. MILLER DOES NOT ACCEPT THESE PLANS. THEY PAY A PRIMARY DOCTOR A SMALL AMOUNT (USUALLY $10 - $20 A MONTH FOR AN ADULT) WHETHER THE PATIENT COMES FOR AN APPOINTMENT OR NOT. TO MAKE MONEY, THE DOCTOR NEEDS THOUSANDS OF PATIENTS TO SIGN UP UNDER THE DOCTOR TO MAKE ANY MONEY. THEN THERE ARE OFTEN MORE PATIENTS ASSIGNED TO THE DOCTOR THAN THERE ARE ENOUGH APPOINTMENTS. CONSEQUENTLY, HMO DOCTORS MAY NEED TO SEE 50 OR MORE PATIENTS A DAY. THAT IS REASONABLE IF THE PROBLEM IS SIMPLY ONE NONCOMPLICATED SYMPTOM LIKE A SORE THROAT, EAR INFECTION, OR URINARY TRACT INFECTION. IN REALITY, MANY ADULTS AND EVEN TEENS HAVE MULTIPLE PROBLEMS THAT NEED TO BE SOLVED AND CAN’T BE DONE IN 10 MINUTES.

PRIVATE MEDICAL INSURANCE
UNTIL THE MAJOR DEDUCTIBLE ($500-$5000) IS MET BY THE INSURED PATIENT, THE PATIENT WILL PAY THE FEE AND SEND THE CHARGE SHEET FROM THE DOCTOR’S OFFICE TO THEIR INSURANCE FOR THEIR REIMBURSEMENT. MILLER MEDICAL WILL FILE THE PATIENT’S CHARGES AFTER THE DEDUCTIBLE IS MET. THE PATIENT WILL THEN PAY THE PERCENTAGE THAT THEIR INSURANCE REQUIRES AFTER THE DEDUCTIBLE.

NO INSURANCE
PATIENTS WITH NO INSURANCE ARE WELCOME. IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT MEDICAL INSURANCE IS NOT REQUIRED FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT.

INSURANCE DOES NOT PAY FOR OTHER PERSONAL AND HOUSEHOLD EXPENSES. THE DOCTOR’S APPOINTMENT IS NOT THE EXPENSIVE PART OF MEDICINE COSTS. ACCOMADATIONS ARE MADE WHENEVER POSSIBLE. DEPENDENT ON THE AMOUNT OF TIME REQUIRED TO TREAT THE PATIENT’S PROBLEMS.

MEDICARE
MEDICAL INSURANCE FOR 65 YEARS OLD AND OLDER, AND FOR PATIENTS WITH DISABILITY SOCIAL SECURITY. THE DEDUCTIBLE FOR DOCTORS OFFICES IS $124 EACH YEAR. A FEW SECONDARY MEDICARE OR GAP INSURANCES PAY THE DEDUCTIBLE. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO GET DOCUMENTATION FROM YOUR SECONDARY INSURANCE IF THEY PAY YOUR DOCTORS OFFICE (PART D) DEDUCTIBLE. IF A PATIENT DOES NOT HAVE A SECONDARY INSURANCE (OR HAS MEDICAID), THE PATIENT WILL PAY 20% OF WHAT MEDICARE ALLOWS (THE FEE THAT THEY WILL PAY).

MEDICAID
MEDICAL INSURANCE THAT IS NOT ACCEPTED BY MILLER MEDICAL.
IF A PATIENT HAS MEDICAID AS A SECONDARY INSURANCE FOR MEDICARE (SOMETIMES THE CASE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY PATIENTS), THE PATIENT WILL NEED TO PAY THE 20% OF WHAT MEDICARE ALLOWS.