Dr. Vincent P Cariati, MD

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Poor business practices. Switching after 10 years--and they don't care.

My husband and I have been patients of Dr Ladrum's for many years, covered by insurance the whole time and punctually paying all balances. I quit my job in December and thought I had covererage until the end of the month--but learned after Jan 1 that my coverage ended 12/15 (my new coverage became eff 1/1/15), so I was without coverage for 2 weeks. Unfortunately, I had my annual physical on 12/19, which I would have moved ahead 2 weeks if I had known about the coverage lapse ( since insurance pays 100%--and, obviously it was not urgent). When I realized what had happened, I asked the office to give me a break off their "billed" amount to what they would have received from my insurance company if my insurance had continued those two weeks. Apparently, the other doctor's wife, Mrs. Cariati, handles finances and said she would only extend a 20% discount! rather than the 40%~50% they would have given my previous or current major insurance company. So, they were wanting to receive MORE from me personally than if I had the insurance. They also told me that if I were a private pay patient, they would have charged me even more than the the full billed charges they send to insurance companies! Very unethical. When I said to ask Dr Landrum if he was willing to lose two long-term patients over wanting more $ than they would have received if I had been covered, Mrs. Cariati told the girl to tell me that "that's fine". I need to pay the amount they requested and if I wanted my medical records to provide to another doctor, it would cost me $35.

Dr Landrum has ben a good doctor, but the greed shown by the other doctor's wife has caused him two patients. Of course, Mrs. Cariati wouldn't agree to ask Dr Landrum if he was willing to lose us over her wanting to receive more than they would have received if myinsurance were effective during that 2 week gap. Terrible business practices (and, I question legality), which reflects poorly on the practice and Dr Landrum himself. Shame on Tatum Internal Medical Associates! Do not use them. Plenty of great family doctors in the Phoenix area.