Experience With A Local Md

[ish001]

Hi,

I am a patient as well as a caregiver for a few people.

Most of my patients I have referred to Dr. Frederick Neumann on Van Dyke just north of Plumbrook in Sterling Heights. I had found Dr. Neumann's contact information from the forums here on this site, and his policy has been that the cost is $200 paid upfront, however if you do not get approved for the recommendation that you will receive your $200 back. In the past, I have always escorted my patients to his office and witnessed first hand the secretary stating the above mentioned guarantee upon paying the $200 fee.

 

About a month ago I made an appointment for a new patient. The person is very qualified to receive their recommendation and has detailed medical records. My patient arrived to their appointment, did the paperwork and paid the fee, then proceeded to wait for over an hour in the waiting room even though he had an appointment, which was further exacerbated by an even longer wait between the two exam rooms he was shuffled to/from. Eventually after waiting nearly 3 hours, my patient's schedule forced him to leave. A second appointment was then made a for the following week.

 

My patient arrives the next week for his appointment and is out within 1.5 hours although he still has no recommendation. He said that Dr. Neumann wanted more medical records, which he had by that Friday and personally delivered that day.

Upon delivering the records, He was instructed to call on Monday after 2pm, he showed up instead, only to be given another appointment date for a few days later......

(why couldn't an appointment be booked when he was there on Friday?)

After seeing Dr. Frederick Neumann he was told that he did in fact qualify for a recommendation, however he would NOT be receiving one!!

Furthermore even though he received no recommendation, he will also not be receiving his $200 back!

 

My qualified patient paid for a recommendation, but instead got jerked around, wasted his time, and lost his money!

 

I then faxed his same medical records given to Dr. Neumann in to the THCF and within 24hours he was approved and had an appointment, which they themselves state that if you are given an appointment, it is basically synonymous with a guaranteed recommendation. They take your records up front, so you are qualified before you ever step foot in the office,...no wasting your time, no wasting their time..

 

He has since received his recommendation from yet a different more local facility again based solely off of his medical records.

 

 

Dr Neumann's office has lost any & all future business that would have been directed their way, and I have encouraged my patient to file a small claims suit against Dr. Frederick Nuemann Jr in effort to recover his $200.

 

 

 

Has anyone had an experience similar to this?

 

What type of action would you take?

[Guest finallyfree09]

my experience with dr neumann was great. hope he doesn't start doing this to everybody

[mizerman]

He treated my wife great. We thought he was wonderful.

 

The only thing that wasn't wonderful was the $200. I am shopping around for a cheap renewal as my card is up in July. $200 is not an option. I am already a patient AND I am disabled.

 

I may make an appointment with my pain mgmt physician this week and finally lay all the cards on the table. Show the doctor my Medical Marihuana Card and that I am taking far less prescriptions and see if I am kicked out of the office.

 

Maybe there's a way for them to see if I am getting the prescriptions filled?

 

Stay tuned!

 

Mizerman

[mizerman]

Yes there is, any Dr. treating you can find out any and all prescription narcotics you have ever had filled, and when you had them filled.

I was hoping so. Maybe this way I can show them I have quit taking the Lyrica, Flexeril, Mobic, Elavil and far less Percocet.

 

As long as Sister Sativa and The Godfather continue their masterful growing 'ol Mizerman and bride will be some extremely happy campers!

 

Some day I hope to be able to grow myself and duplicate what Soul Sister Sativa and The Godfather have done.

 

Mizerman B)

[bobandtorey]

He treated my wife great. We thought he was wonderful.

 

The only thing that wasn't wonderful was the $200. I am shopping around for a cheap renewal as my card is up in July. $200 is not an option. I am already a patient AND I am disabled.

 

I may make an appointment with my pain mgmt physician this week and finally lay all the cards on the table. Show the doctor my Medical Marihuana Card and that I am taking far less prescriptions and see if I am kicked out of the office.

 

Maybe there's a way for them to see if I am getting the prescriptions filled?

 

Stay tuned!

 

Mizerman

 

hello i want to be just like you one day when i get my grow going am going to stop taking my pills little by little right now i just don't have the Meds i/we need but am on my way with a little help from my friends Peace

[______]

Ish001,

 

Your patient has no real basis for a small claims suit. He/She paid for an appointment with a doctor to get the doctors opinion on whether MMJ would be of benefit to the patient. The doctors opinion was that the patient would receive no benefit. So, unless the doctor put in writing that the money would be returned if no he did not recommend marijuana for said patient, where is the lawsuit? The doctor did provide a recommendation, that recommendation was that the patient would receive no benefits from marijuana.

 

It sucks that he chooses to do business this way but it is not illegal.

[MightyMightyMezz]

Ish001,

 

Your patient has no real basis for a small claims suit. He/She paid for an appointment with a doctor to get the doctors opinion on whether MMJ would be of benefit to the patient. The doctors opinion was that the patient would receive no benefit. So, unless the doctor put in writing that the money would be returned if no he did not recommend marijuana for said patient, where is the lawsuit? The doctor did provide a recommendation, that recommendation was that the patient would receive no benefits from marijuana.

 

It sucks that he chooses to do business this way but it is not illegal.

 

After seeing Dr. Frederick Neumann he was told that he did in fact qualify for a recommendation, however he would NOT be receiving one!!

 

I think stating it verbally is a form of a contract also. I'm not a lawyer, so what the hell do I know? I would think there is a case, though.

[ish001]

Dr Neumann's policy had been,...$200 up front, but he guaranteed a full refund if the patient was unable to be qualified. The people that I sent to him can attest to that fact, as they were told of the deal upon paying.

A statement to the same effect was posted in the forums on this site before it turned 2.0. I still have parts of the topic saved on my computer.

 

The money back guarantee he offered is the main reason why I sent several patients (not just mine) to him.

 

When my patient in question requested his money be returned in lieu of not receiving a recommendation he was denied and eventually offered an undated piece of paper stating that Dr Neumann's guarantee policy had changed..?!/?,!

 

 

My patient was eligible to acquire his rec from the THCF clinic in Ann Arbor this coming week, however he has already received his recommendation from a different local doctor. This person has good health insurance and does not need to pay cash to go see a doctor. He paid $200 to Dr. Neumann for a recommendation, not to get his time wasted and lose almost a month towards getting his card due to the lack of a physician recommendation.

 

 

 

 

Thank you, I appreciate the replies!

[christinax4]

my experience with dr. neumann was great also, he spent a good 45 minutes with me, found a new problem area in my back that several other specialists had missed...explained in great detail what would be a simple, slow, and careful weaning of pain meds to mmj exclusively...i thought he was not only a great physcian but he really got into my head and helped put somethings in perspective for me, with depression and pain cycles in firomyalgia, and other things. i think if i ever get to go back to work, he is someone i would be intersted in working for.

 

i also have to say i worked in the medical field for 25 years, and every time there was a full moon, seriously, we would get the most off-the-wall bunny muffin and loads and loads of drama. (period cycles do frequently follow the moon cycles and in women who are in close proximity together). to an outsider i know that it somethimes looked like complete chaos. i think u might have caught them on a bad day. i would write dr neumann a letter, and explain to him your experience in his office. doctors usually take hand-written letters from patients and read them. and i would push for the &200 back.

[Meadow]

My previous experience was dr.neumann was GREAT while it was the Plumbrook Medical Center. At one point, i was recommending him to quite a few people even. However, things at the new "alternative Medicine Center", (same place, different name) things seem to be much differently. I personally know of 5 people who all went to Dr.Neumann, heard the "i think your a great candidate" but nobody received a recommendation from him. Neumann basically told my cousin that although he has "metal plates and pins in his wrist and elbow from previous injuries, that he wouldn't be able to recommend him. Basically saying that "it wasn't a debilitating condition, and that he would have a hard time "proving" that he was indeed suffering. Not only would Neumann not recomend him, but he wouldnt accept his insurance either, for either vist and was forced to pay upfront! Neumann didn't have a problem taking the $200 fee, from everyone, several times. 4 of the 5 people i knew, all went to see Neumann for a follow up visit because they were told by Neumann they were great candidates, but hadn't seen any medical help in a few years, so they needed a return visit.

 

I know Dr.Neumann has written more MM rec's than any other DR in Michigan. So, i dont know if now he is starting to become more strict because he knows he is being closely watched or what.... but i personally will never refer anyone there again, and will be having a different doctor renew my recommendation.

[ms.clark]

My brother is my patient and I paid all his fees for getting his card. He went to Dr. Neumann and witnessed several people who were turned down and lost their $200. Since then I have heard about a Compassion Club on Hall Rd, just east of Van Dyke in the Beck Bldg that will refund if you do not qualify. Anyone know about this club? I would like to refer others who are patient candidates.

[ish001]

My brother is my patient and I paid all his fees for getting his card. He went to Dr. Neumann and witnessed several people who were turned down and lost their $200. Since then I have heard about a Compassion Club on Hall Rd, just east of Van Dyke in the Beck Bldg that will refund if you do not qualify. Anyone know about this club? I would like to refer others who are patient candidates.

 

 

 

I sent my patients records to them and they got him approved (as he rightfully should be) extremely quickly!

The THCF had previously approved him, yet an appointment with them was scheduled for such a distant date/time.

I highly recommend the Beck building ppl, they require records going back no further than 18months (THCF 3yrs), but are easier to deal with IMO.

[ish001]

My previous experience was dr.neumann was GREAT while it was the Plumbrook Medical Center. At one point, i was recommending him to quite a few people even. However, things at the new "alternative Medicine Center", (same place, different name) things seem to be much differently. I personally know of 5 people who all went to Dr.Neumann, heard the "i think your a great candidate" but nobody received a recommendation from him. Neumann basically told my cousin that although he has "metal plates and pins in his wrist and elbow from previous injuries, that he wouldn't be able to recommend him. Basically saying that "it wasn't a debilitating condition, and that he would have a hard time "proving" that he was indeed suffering. Not only would Neumann not recomend him, but he wouldnt accept his insurance either, for either vist and was forced to pay upfront! Neumann didn't have a problem taking the $200 fee, from everyone, several times. 4 of the 5 people i knew, all went to see Neumann for a follow up visit because they were told by Neumann they were great candidates, but hadn't seen any medical help in a few years, so they needed a return visit.

 

I know Dr.Neumann has written more MM rec's than any other DR in Michigan. So, i dont know if now he is starting to become more strict because he knows he is being closely watched or what.... but i personally will never refer anyone there again, and will be having a different doctor renew my recommendation.

 

 

 

Interesting stuff, especially...."Dr.Neumann has written more MM rec's than any other DR in Michigan."

[MLM]

Ish001,

 

Your patient has no real basis for a small claims suit. He/She paid for an appointment with a doctor to get the doctors opinion on whether MMJ would be of benefit to the patient. The doctors opinion was that the patient would receive no benefit. So, unless the doctor put in writing that the money would be returned if no he did not recommend marijuana for said patient, where is the lawsuit? The doctor did provide a recommendation, that recommendation was that the patient would receive no benefits from marijuana.

 

It sucks that he chooses to do business this way but it is not illegal.

 

Thanks for being the one to state exactly what I was thinking! Sorry to the patient to whom this happened, I hate to hear that someone would ever be treated like that, especially at a Dr. office.

[ish001]

Thanks for being the one to state exactly what I was thinking! Sorry to the patient to whom this happened, I hate to hear that someone would ever be treated like that, especially at a Dr. office.

 

 

 

I believe do you're correct, however my patient has requested that I cover his loss as I was the person that referred him to Dr. Neumann.

I feel bad about how things worked out for him financially, not to mention the significant loss of his professional time.

I feel obligated to reimburse him for his $200 loss, and unfortunately I have no leverage with which to recourse.

It Sucks, I would have rather donated the money to clean up the shores off Louisiana, IMO a more deserving cause.