Pros:
1. Doctors can provide personalized care and address patient concerns effectively.
2. Thorough discussions can lead to accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
3. Charging for follow-up questions may incentivize patients to prioritize and ask important questions. 4. It can contribute to better time management for healthcare providers.
Cons:
1. Financial burden on patients who already face high healthcare costs.
2. Charging for follow-up questions may deter patients from seeking necessary help.
3. Potential negative impact on mental health outcomes if patients avoid discussing concerns due to cost.
4. Inequality in access to mental healthcare; not all patients might be able to afford follow-up charges.
A woman’s experience reveals that while completing a free routine depression screening is guaranteed by federal law during an annual checkup, answering follow-up questions from the doctor may come at a cost.
