Docs are now billing for texts and emails, report says

Wondering why you might have gotten a doctor’s bill in the mail, even though you did not have an appointment? 

According to Axios, more and more doctors are billing patients to respond to texts and emails. 

These added costs, which can amount to a few hundred dollars, are a new phenomenon as many of these services have historically been delivered free of charge. 

Doctors should be paid for providing medical care, but even things as simple is writing a sick note, refilling a prescription, or signing patient documents may now result in a fee.  

These new charges add up fast and are going to hit patients hard. 

Patients will likely either be forced to pay out of pocket or see their insurance premiums increase.Businesses who provide insurance for their employees will see expenses go up. 

If costs keep climbing for every medical service, it will threaten access to care and affordability.