Rheumatologist - Surprise, AZ

"Appt was on 7/26/23 as a referral from Banner/Aetna for arthritis symptoms & pain. Checked in as a new patient on time but still had to wait 20 min. Front desk staff was not welcoming, unfriendly, & looked stressed & irritable. Physician Assistant & Dr. was the opposite. Dr. requested needed X-rays from lab on site. Front desk never reviewed with insurance on coverage to confirm. Almost a year later, I receive a bill of deductible due because the lab they use Sonora Quest, was out of my insurance provider's network! They should have written out an Xray referral for me to get the x-rays done within my insurance's network choices of lab & had the results sent to them to avoid me paying out of network! I blame it on the front desk not doing their job to research, confirm and alert patients. As a past medical billing receptionist, that was my job. To leave no surprises and any extra costs for patients to have. But hey, surprise! I receive an out of network cost for lab almost a year later that I owe! Be careful when you go to these "specialist referrals!" Double check your insurance cost and out of network expense. If any office needs lab work done, have them refer you to one within your network! So, basically do your own homework or ask that front desk "IS YOUR LAB IN MY NETWORK?!" Because they won't go out of their way to tell you. It's more money in their pocket. I never went back and chose another location that is much more professional, patient friendly & do their job so much better! "