TTMA Picking an RE

[thechickencoop]

So if this cycle's a bust we are *officially* scheduling with an RE. I feel like I've said that the last 2 or 3 and just keep putting it off.

H's SA came back today mostly normal, only abnormality was his morph at 15% but from what I've been reading, that generally isn't an issue. And my midwife was no help, when she called with the result she couldn't even figure out how to find the actual abnormal result, she just read me the interpretation notes and sounded confused ::eyeroll::

We seem to be fortunate moving forward though that we have a myriad of RE options in the area. Insurance is kind of a moot point because a good chunk of our diagnostics are already done and any further procedures are OOP.

So what made you go to one RE vs another? There are such a variety of hospital affiliations so I guess they would work with different OBs then? I'm not stuck on my previous OB so...yea. Other than general 'getting along with them' what are some things we should be looking for?

[Rama]

When I was looking for a RE, I Googled "reproductive endocrinologist in [city]", then looked at reviews and their personal websites. My RE kept coming up and after I met her, I knew I made the right choice.

Hospital affiliation wasn't a consideration point because she's technically in a different city/state than I live and where I'm going to have any kids.

[mikaela20]

When I'm picking any medical doctor I usually start with the rate mds site and see what recent patients are saying www.ratemds.com/doctors/

[housecarder]

My OB recommended one that was in the same network as her and had an office in the same building. One of my BFFs had used him and his credentials were impressive.

[piccyami]

I had the choice between a group that was in town full time and a guy that splits his time between 4 cities. You can probably guess who I chose.

[thechickencoop]

Oooooh thank you guys! And thanks for the link mikaela20. I check reviews for everything but it didn't occur to me to check for a dr. Duh.

[joy]

I asked a friend for a recommendation. She said she loved her RE so I scheduled an appointment. He's part of the biggest medical network in Philly, had offices close to me and accepted my insurance.

I enjoy him so it has worked out well.

His one office is a few blocks from my job. It makes all those monitoring appointments and IUIs veeeeery easy for me. I schedule early and am at work by 8:30/9am and I'm gone for maybe 45 minutes for an IUI. The proximity has made this all much easier to handle (and hide) in regards to work.

[daisy818]

I'm in a similar boat right now - internet reviews have been sparse, but there is an RE in my city that can see me Jan. 11, and then there is an RE that's about 45 minutes away from where I live/work who is booked until the end of February. Apparently they are both good, but have very different personalities. One friend had her IVF with the guy who is further away after she found she wasn't a personality match with the local guy, but she said she has other friends who have used and liked the guy in town. I am thinking of going to the Jan. 11 appointment and if I get a bad vibe I'll wait to see the other guy, but if he seems alright I may go ahead and get started on some testing. I wish there wssn't a two month gap in wait times!

[requiressnacks]

I went for the RE closest to my work because I feel like I'm there every fucking week. DNW to drive far for a 3 second blood draw.

I also liked that the RE I chose had special payment options for unfortunate souls like us who are 100% OOP.

[daisy818]

Dec 9, 2015 9:08:42 GMT -5 requiressnacks said:

I went for the RE closest to my work because I feel like I'm there every fucking week. DNW to drive far for a 3 second blood draw.

I also liked that the RE I chose had special payment options for unfortunate souls like us who are 100% OOP.

Oh, yes, I did see that one clinic mentioned special payment schedules for people OOP, so that is also something I'll be factoring in. IF not being covered by insurance just makes me so ragey.

[rooskie]

Dec 9, 2015 9:23:14 GMT -5 pippacricket said:

Ditto what everyone else has said about googling REs.

I also checked the reviews for my clinic on Facebook. I find with some places, there are a lot more reviews on there than google.

I pretty much stalk my RE's Facebook. They post a lot of really good articles and when babies are born they have them come in and do footprints on the wall, so there are always success stories. I've seen people I know in the pictures so that helps too.

[doodler]

thechickencoop, am I remembering correctly that you have mentioned Shady Grove in the past? I hope I am not mixing you up with someone else!

[goldenlove3]

The first RE I went to was just through the hospital I was at for my OB appointment. She gave me their number when I told her we'd been trying for almost a year. I did my basic workup and 3 IUIs with them but knew I wanted to find another place if we needed to go further. I wasn't very happy that I NEVER saw the RE and just didn't get a great feeling in general. So I looked at www.sart.org to see who had the best stats in my area and I read up on the place I'm at now. My acupuncturist also said they are the best to work with around here. It was a huge bonus that they are pretty close to my work. It makes it easy for me to go to an appt on my way in or sneak away when needed.

[lilsneezy]

Have you checked Resolve.org yet? They have a professional directory under "Resources" and you can search for REs, clinics, pharmacies, counselors, acupuncturists, etc. Lots of good info on there!

[thechickencoop]

Dec 9, 2015 10:20:23 GMT -5 doodler said:

thechickencoop, am I remembering correctly that you have mentioned Shady Grove in the past? I hope I am not mixing you up with someone else!

That was me! That is where my OBs office refers to; however, they are one of the more inconvenient locations to go to so that's why I'm just kind of working from scratch. We'll see I suppose.

[thechickencoop]

And thank you thank you THANK YOU guys for all the website references. I need to sit down tonight and really go through them all.

[emilie]

I had a couple recommendations from my OB, but I also used Yelp liberally, with a backup of Google (there are numerous doctor review websites that come up when you Google a doctor's name).

[thechickencoop]

Ok so I just wanted to shout out a THANK YOU again guys. I scheduled today for December 30th (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) at a Shady Grove. Our initial consult fee will end up being upwards of $300 (yikes). 

Interestingly enough, Maryland requires companies and insurance providers to provide IF coverage but ONLY if your company has >50 employees. DH's averages FOURTY FUCKING NINE employees so nothing is included and we're basically SOL for now. Luckily we have a good chunk saved in an FSA (uhh, for a pregnancy ha.HA) so at least we won't feel too big of a hit right away.

I'm anxious and SUPER EXCITED that they had an opening so soon!

Oh, ETA, duh, and the RE we're meeting with has excellent reviews so that gives me all the warm and fuzzies

[ghostmonkey]

Dec 15, 2015 19:45:56 GMT -5 thechickencoop said:

Ok so I just wanted to shout out a THANK YOU again guys. I scheduled today for December 30th (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) at a Shady Grove. Our initial consult fee will end up being upwards of $300 (yikes). 

Interestingly enough, Maryland requires companies and insurance providers to provide IF coverage but ONLY if your company has >50 employees. DH's averages FOURTY FUCKING NINE employees so nothing is included and were basically SOL for now. Luckily we have a good chuck saved in an FSA (uhh, for a pregnancy ha.HA) so at least we won't feel too big of a hit right away.

I'm anxious and SUPER EXCITED that they had an opening so soon!

Oh, ETA, duh, and the RE we're meeting with has excellent reviews so that gives me all the warm and fuzzies

Your initial consult might get covered as a specialist co-pay (depending on what that is with your plan). 

[thechickencoop]

Dec 15, 2015 21:39:06 GMT -5 ghostmonkey said:

Dec 15, 2015 19:45:56 GMT -5 thechickencoop said:

Ok so I just wanted to shout out a THANK YOU again guys. I scheduled today for December 30th (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) at a Shady Grove. Our initial consult fee will end up being upwards of $300 (yikes). 

Interestingly enough, Maryland requires companies and insurance providers to provide IF coverage but ONLY if your company has >50 employees. DH's averages FOURTY FUCKING NINE employees so nothing is included and were basically SOL for now. Luckily we have a good chuck saved in an FSA (uhh, for a pregnancy ha.HA) so at least we won't feel too big of a hit right away.

I'm anxious and SUPER EXCITED that they had an opening so soon!

Oh, ETA, duh, and the RE we're meeting with has excellent reviews so that gives me all the warm and fuzzies

Your initial consult might get covered as a specialist co-pay (depending on what that is with your plan). 

That's what I was hoping originally because I knew we didn't have IF coverage but I was thinking we'd at least get *something* covered for exams/consults, but...yea. Most likely not unfortunately. I was on the phone with SG and our ins for a bit earlier and while the billing code is for a specialist/new patient consult, it's coming from an RE so it'll be coded under IF. Gah.

The financial plan person is supposed to call me sometime this week just to confirm though so I still have a glimmer of hope. But, it is what it is I guess.

[ghostmonkey]

Dec 15, 2015 22:24:02 GMT -5 thechickencoop said:

Dec 15, 2015 21:39:06 GMT -5 ghostmonkey said:

Your initial consult might get covered as a specialist co-pay (depending on what that is with your plan). 

That's what I was hoping originally because I knew we didn't have IF coverage but I was thinking we'd at least get *something* covered for exams/consults, but...yea. Most likely not unfortunately. I was on the phone with SG and our ins for a bit earlier and while the billing code is for a specialist/new patient consult, it's coming from an RE so it'll be coded under IF. Gah.

The financial plan person is supposed to call me sometime this week just to confirm though so I still have a glimmer of hope. But, it is what it is I guess.

I have a feeling that person is new because that's not how it works. 

[thechickencoop]

Dec 15, 2015 22:35:35 GMT -5 ghostmonkey said:

Dec 15, 2015 22:24:02 GMT -5 thechickencoop said:

That's what I was hoping originally because I knew we didn't have IF coverage but I was thinking we'd at least get *something* covered for exams/consults, but...yea. Most likely not unfortunately. I was on the phone with SG and our ins for a bit earlier and while the billing code is for a specialist/new patient consult, it's coming from an RE so it'll be coded under IF. Gah.

The financial plan person is supposed to call me sometime this week just to confirm though so I still have a glimmer of hope. But, it is what it is I guess.

I have a feeling that person is new because that's not how it works. 

Uh, that would be awesome. I don't know much about the billing details as far as what kind of providers matter, etc., but it did strike me as odd that she wasn't able to look the code up when I called. She said she could google it.

Thanks!

[mikaela20]

That's awesome thechickencoop! So fast too.