I have concerns that they are forcing unnecessary appointments on my parent.
About 2 weeks after seeing a neurologist, I, the invoked health care proxy, sent a question via the patient portal regarding questions related to the appointment. The front desk staff demanded we set up another appointment with the aging parent to get the question(s) answered.
The parent though struggling with cognitive disorder did not like the neurologist so I really do not want to expose her to another appointment so quickly. I am used to my doctors who easily answer questions via the patient portal. If I have too many questions my doctors may demand an appointment but will do their best to answer the questions first via the portal first.
Perhaps finding a better neurologist and office might be the better choice. I am concerned my parent is being force to an unnecessary appointment and thus her Medicaid is being used wrongly.
I had other concerns about this office. They wanted me to sign a blanket, general consent allowing them to do an array of tests and procedures as opposed to asking for consent for each individual test or procedure. The neurologist seemed honest and did not order unnecessary tests but was upset that I would not sign a blanket, general consent. When I told this to my elder attorney, she also expressed concern and dismay regarding the blanket, general consent.
Sadly, this neurologist was highly recommended by a health care provider I greatly respected and trusted. We waited about 2-3 months to get an appointment.
"Access to primary care for Medicaid patients has long been a concern among patients and policymakers. Previous research has demonstrated that up to one-third of all physicians refuse to accept new Medicaid patients, and these percentages have not changed significantly over the past decade."
Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9924217/#:~:text=Access%20to%20primary%20care%20for,concern%20among%20patients%20and%20policymakers.&text=Previous%20research%20has%20demonstrated%20that,significantly%20over%20the%20past%20decade.
Is the office aware of you invoking the heath proxy? If not, then the office cannot talk to you. You will need to supply them with a copy. They do not have to talk to you until you prove you are now Moms proxy.
Then ask your questions when the nurse calls back.
Sometimes the ones answering the portal messages are following a script and told to do B if the request is A - for all messages. This way you speak to a person directly. They may still tell you that it requires another appointment - but describe it as "appointment follow-up questions" and see where that gets you.