Haroon W Siddique, MD

Write a Review940-626-1848

We were visiting our son in Springtown, TX and my husband became ill, with what we thought was either Sinus Infection or Bronchitis. We could not find an Urgent Care or clinic in the area, for him to be seen so that antibiotics would be prescribed. One of the places in Azle, suggested we call Wise Regional Health System and go to the Emergency Room, because they had a 'fast track' or something like that. We called. They said come on over.

Everyone was very kind and he was soon in a cubicle where we waited a few minutes for the doctor. He came in, looked at my husband's chart and said he wanted a chest x-ray, so they took him out for a chest x-ray. After he returned, the doctor came back in a few minutes and said that he did have bronchitis and wrote a couple of prescriptions. We were not in the facility for more than 30 minutes and only saw the doctor for about 5 minutes, for which he inquired about our home in Wyoming for about 3 minutes....

When we were ready to leave, the lady came in and asked how we were going to pay and since we are self-employed in Wyoming and do not have Health Insurance, we said that we would put it on our Credit Card. When she brought the paperwork back for a signature, the amount was $630.00! We couldn't complain, because we were desparate to see a doctor, but that was more than our fuel to get to TX and back. Then, after we were home for a few days (after spending about $5,000 in Texas on lodging, fuel, meals and entertainment), we received the bill from Dr. Key ---another whopping $621.00. Add to that, the XRay and the Pharmacy, the total bill came to $1381.00. That is pure highway robbery.

I talked to our local hospital, 45 miles away and asked what the charges would have been at their facility and they said that $600 should have covered everything!

I feel violated because we were in a strange place and the other people in the waiting room were obviously on welfare and I knew that they would not have to pay. Why should we have to pay such high charges, just because we could, even though it works a hardship on us, because our vacation in TX lasted so long. We may have to make other arrangements to visit with our son and grand-daughter next time. For $1300, we could probably go on a cruise and I think the cruiseship provides medical attention.

I doubt that this complaint/request helps us any, but I thought it was worth a try sending it.