Midwest Hearing Aid Systems

The actual business is within the Midwest ENT Specialists business. They disclose this in their business summary.
I would never go back to the main offices for ENT care and I cancelled an allergy testing appointment with their allergy branch of their parent company for fear that I would be billed incorrectly.
I had three appointments here, one at the St. Paul office and one at the Maplewood Office. I’m new to the area and this is the first ENT I’ve seen here. Biggest Complaints: unnecessary testing, poor medication application for treatment, and unethical billing for non-​consensual «surgical» procedures slipped into follow-​up appointments.
1) The practice will have you schedule a CT scan administered by their practice. The co-​pay for having it performed at their «surgical center» (e.g. office) is more than if it were performed at an imaging center. I verified with insurance. I only knew to check the copay b/​c I’ve had other CT scans.
2) I found out through billing that my, and I quote my appointment title, «follow-​up» appointment got reclassified by the doctor slipping in a quick 10 second «surgical procedure.» A small want instrument was inserted and without my consent and is also considered over testing if a CT scan was performed. Co-​pay $ 150 for surgical classification that I didn’t need to sign for consent. I have submitted a formal complaint to my insurance company and will contact the Minnesota State Medical Board.
3) The billing office played dumb and kept saying «our policy». They never said I consented to the «surgical procedure.» What they said was that b/​c the financial agreement form for new patient processing says that «additional procedures may be performed in an appointment,» that this means I agree to what the doctor decides to do in advance of him doing it. I AM NOT JOKING.
4) The notes in my medical chart were inconsistent with my care. For example, my CT occurred right before my follow-​up appointment as directed by the doctor. The CT technician walked me through each step including the use of a nose spray that numbs/​relaxes the sinus and nasal areas to enhance the CT imaging. But according to the business office the record stated that the numbing agent was applied for the endoscopy.
5) The summary at the top describes what I thought of the actual medical care provided. I would have gotten the same or better result doing everything through my primary care physician. I feel purposefully exploited. I cannot recommend this practice for any reason.
6) As for their allergy testing I disclosed that I had already been tested for the different allergen groups. The doctor said new state could mean new allergies. Talked to my hubby with the chemistry degree from Cornell. The only allergy culprits are treated the same as any other nose or sinus symptom — over the counter stuff. I already have a nasal steroid spray for previously diagnosed Non-​allergic Rhinitus.
See your GP first. They can treat you the same. If medication courses don’t solve your problem and the CT scan of the sinus and nose doesn’t show a problem, then sure, get an endoscopy. But I first saw an ENT because I required medically necessary surgery and have a permanent structural issue.