Need a New OB ASAP - Refused Care by Dr. and Am 8 Mos Preg!

Updated on January 07, 2008
D.H. asks from Tampa, FL
10 answers

Please be warned about this Dr. and any suggestions for GOOD OB's in Tampa who will accept a new patient who is 8 months along would be greatly appreciated! Currently live in the Citrus Park area..
....I have been going to New Tampa Ob/Gyn/Dr. Eliott Cazes my whole prgnancey and am currently 8 months pregnant and he is now refusing to give me care or see me anymore. The whole time I have been going there they told me all they needed was 1K for my deductible for 07 AND 08 and they needed it by the 32nd week of my pregnancy regardless of what my EOB's said and what services I recieved. They always refused to give me a detailed or itemized receipt, the receipt always just said towards deductible, which anyone who knows about HRA's or FSA's (which I have) knows that is not sufficient...BUT I complied and paid it. My last visit, the first week of Jan, I go in and they say since my employer changed ins. companies for 08 I now owe an additional 1K and had to pay 500 right then. They never told me about this or called me before this visit to tell me I would owe additional money, so like most people I do not have 500 right then and there to just give them (they only accept cash or checks) so I had to cancel my appointment. I called back and requested detailed receipts of my previous visits in 07 of which consisted of 5 office visits that I paid 1K for and the rude lady said I can come pick it up and that Dr. Cazes has dismissed me from his care as a patient and will no longer provide me with pre-natal care. I asked why and was told b/c I did not pay for services rendered. I said I have given you 1K already for 2007 which was the amount I was told that I owed and have NOT received any services since then or in 08 to which I owe any money for....and then all she could say at that point was well per Dr. Cazes we will no longer provide you with care, you are no longer a patient and you need to find another Dr.!!! On top of that, with the exception of 1 lady, the whole staff is rude, including the office manager. I changed my phone number on one visit, the next visit I drove all the way from my home in Citrus Park to New Tampa and as soon as I walk in all they say is, "he's not here, we tried calling you twice." I asked what number did they call and they said the old number I had given them and when I said I changed it the last time I was in there all they said was well that was done by a girl who is no longer here and it was not updated in their system...NO apology, nothing. So now I am out of 1K for services consisting of 5 office visits AND am 8 months pregnant with no Dr. b/c I have been "dismissed" as a patient and am being refused care by Dr. Cazes FOR NO REASON, the Dr. whom I have been receiving care from my entire pregnancy.

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So What Happened?

Thank you to everyone for all your suggestions and sympathy!...I was able to find another OB, USF Health, who were GREAT! On my first visit they told me they actually had several other new patients who also just came from and had the same problems with Dr. Cazes. I am still having problems with their office. They still have not submitted claims for my 5 office visits and I need them to submit these to generate my explanation of benefit statments from my insurance co so they can reimburse me some of the 1000 I paid to them in Dec. To date they still have not submiteed them, and do not return any of my phone calls. The last time I called I was told the office manager is the only one who can help me and she was busy/could not talk. I got upset with the receptionist and then a couple min later the too busy office manager called me back on my cell, but did not help or answer any of my questions, rather she was very hostile and told me that I will never call their office and be rude to any of her employees again and then hung up on me. The whole situation and their office and that manager has been and is an experience from hell.. Extremely unprofessional, unethical and rude.

Featured Answers

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B.W.

answers from Tampa on

I agree that you need to report the DR. The OB that I went to for both pregnancys is Dr Brown who is a part of Tampa Bay Womens Care. She is located on Virginia Ave off MLK. The office is close to St Joesphs Womens Care. She and all the other DR in the office are great. The office staff is also great. Everyone in the office cares about their patients and are very willing to take time to answer any questions.
They also want payment up front before delivery but they don't expect you to pay all at once. They let me make payments. They were also understanding when I missed a couple of payments. If you run into problems just talk to them and explain and they try to work with you. If you are interested let me know and I will give you their address.

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I.P.

answers from Tampa on

Hello D.,

I am sorry to hear about your case. There are a lot of unethical professionals outthere and unfortunately for you, you had one of them. My advice to you is get a lawyer. I personally have a prepaid legal plan for situations like this. If you want details about it, please don't hesitate to ask. You will be able to have access to the best lawyer for a minimum monthly payment.

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L.C.

answers from Tampa on

I highly recommend Dr. Hardy Hunter. her # is ###-###-####. Her office is at St. Joes. I switched to her when I found out I was preg. b/c the practice I was going to was going to have me see a nurse pract, but have to go to a different office because I was 'High Risk'. And I had to wait 1 month for an appt. So a friend recommneded her. She delivered my daughter 1 yr ago. I ended up owing her after my delivery & she worked with me. She was suprised that the insurance didn't cover more. Whether she will take a new pt who is 8 mo along I don't know. I would definitely get a copy of your records, regardless.

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T.P.

answers from Tampa on

I think you need to report that Dr to the AMA.

I went to Dr. Gutierrez on Bruce B. Downs and Fletcher, very close to the USF Campus. He is an old fashioned, laid back, fun person. I thoroughly enjoyed my care and his experience is overwhelming. He was recommended to me by many moms. I don't know how the insurance thing works etc or if he's located conveniently for you but at your stage you won't have many more visits, and will be in the hospital delivering soon!
Good luck:)

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C.W.

answers from Tampa on

I don't know any OBs, but you need a consumer advocate:

Contact 8 On Your Side Problem Solver Stacie Schaible
with consumer complaints. (Go to www.TBO.com)

If she can get your story on the air soon, someone will step up and come to your rescue, and it will expose this practice to the public.
Good luck.

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E.R.

answers from Tampa on

I just wanted to say I'm sorry, I've dealt w/having no doctor late before. IF nothing else you want to think about going to the health clinic on Sheldon Rd. I'm not sure the exact name. But you pay based on your income I believe. And they have OB (or midwife) services. Sorry, good Luck!!

~E.

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J.B.

answers from Tampa on

I used the Woman's Group on MLK near St. Joes, but they also have an office in New Tampa I believe. Dr. Rousch delivered my son, but all of the Dr's there were great. They are also all women, if that matters to you. I don't know about insurance or payment arrangements, but you could call and ask. Their number is ###-###-####.

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A.G.

answers from Tampa on

I live in Lutz on the Tampa border, which is not far from Citrus Park. I used a DR in NPR It's called Tampa Bay Women's Care. There are 3 really good DR's there, and they were able to work out a payment schedule with me. Their phone # is ###-###-####. Hope this helps! Good luck.

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L.L.

answers from Tampa on

Have you contacted your insurance company? I had a similar situation where I owed more money because of insurance change. You do sign a document when you at the initial visit stating you will pay for all service rendered.
Your insurance company should have a website where you can
pull what has been paid for by them thus far.

Still, to not work with you after 8months of care is a little hard. I went to Carrollwood OBGY in westchase. That's not far from Citrus Park at all. Try contacting them for an appt? ###-###-#### I believe.
Good Luck with everything.

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S.E.

answers from Tampa on

OMG, I cannot believe that the Dr. would not let you work out some sort of payment with them so you could continue to get the important prenantal care you need. I am 37 weeks and I started going to Dr. Abdel-Aziz in Brandon, I know it seems far away, but he is the best Dr. ever!!! I changed Dr.'s at 14 weeks for a similar problem and I am soooo happy I did. Dr. Abdel-Aziz is the only Dr. in the office so you see him each and every time you go and you know he will be the one to deliver your baby. Also you can try the Genesis Clinic in Tampa, it's part of Tampa General and they cannot refuse anyone for their inability to pay. Good luck and make it your absolute priority to find a new provider. You should also definitely call a news channel about this, I think it's pretty scandalous that a care giver would do this, and you know if it happened to you and me, it's happened to many other women.

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