I made an appointment for a calcium scan at a local branch of a firm specializing in X-rays, CAT-scans and the like. I knew the procedure is not covered by insurance (I don't know why) and the lady making the appointment reminded me of that again.
When I came at the scheduled time, they asked for a doctor's prescription for the exam, claiming that they "cannot perform it" without such a prescription. When I asked, if this inability is due to their own firm's policy or an actual law, they said -- after some hesitation -- that it is the latter. That no exam can be performed without a doctor's request for same.
No one in the office was able to cite the actual law, which makes me doubtful.
Is it really illegal for an X-ray provider, for example, to take a shot of (or through) your hand without a doctor prescribing it first, or is it simply the corporation's own policy -- created up above to avoid problems with insurance companies who might refuse to pay for non-prescribed exams, and then applied down below (foolishly) even to the procedures that are not covered by any insurance to begin with?
It makes no sense to me,that I can go to a barber for a shave -- which, with the sharp blade next to major blood vessels is much more dangerous than a CAT-scan -- whenever I want but must pay hundreds of dollars for a cardiologist to prescribe a heart-scan before I can have one performed.
