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8/18/09 |
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I went to her for a routine physical, and she decided to run all blood panels under the sun, including bilirubin for jaundice (err...). Many of the panels weren't standard, so they weren't covered by my insurance, and I wound up paying around $100 extra in costs. I called to ask them for a copy of my test results, but I never received it. I called back two more times, and they said they would "get around to it", but I eventually gave up. Also, they overcharged me $20 and then said I owed money because they had some typos. I worked out the typo issue, but they refused to look over my insurance statements, so I never got my money back. $20 isn't a lot, but I was still miffed. Three good things: you don't have to wait 3 months to schedule a physical (one or two weeks in advance worked just fine); she's actually pretty funny; and the secretary seems nice when she's not dodging my questions... I think they saw that I'm young and took advantage of my naivete. Doctors should really be nicer.
Insurance: CIGNA
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5/15/09 |
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I'm shocked by the negative comments. I've gone to her for years, and she's the best I've been to by far. I've had many more problems with other doctors I've seen before and since I found her. Never had a billing dispute with her - though I've had plenty of fights with insurance companies. She always sees me the same day for acute illness, and it's very rare I wait more than a few minutes later than my appt time to see her, and the exceptions were always due to some emergency she accommodated. I've called her just for refills and advice with no complaints. She is what some might call "abrupt" - but I call it no-nonsense and honest; she listens to me and respects my time and her own; she gets paid peanuts by insurance and has to see a lot of people to make ends meet. I think her policy on labs is common, but I can always call her to check. She's been right about everything I've come to her with, even if I didn't like hearing it. As for drug reps - they're in every dr. office now!
Insurance: Blue Cross / Blue Shield
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5/11/09 |
2 |
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1 |
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I will never recommend this doctor to anyone! I completely agree with what many other reviewers have said: she is too quick to write prescriptions, does not listen to her patients, and spends barely any time explaining things. Most upsetting to me are her horrific communication skills. A few years ago, one of my lab tests came back with an unexpected and rather scary result. Her assistant called me to tell me the result; I insisted on coming in to review it with the doctor, but during my appointment the doctor was nothing but rude. She treated it like it was no big deal, even though I was visibly upset. When I tried to ask questions (for example: whether it could be a false positive result, what the risks of treatment were, etc.) she blew me off by saying things like, "plenty of women your age deal with this." My *ONLY* positive comment about Dr. Esparraguera is that her office referred me to my current OB/GYN, who is one of the best health care providers I have ever met.
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12/1/08 |
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3 |
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Awful. She rushed me in and out of her office while barely making eye contact. I do not trust her medical knowledge or judgment. Overbilled me and has not returned my repeated phonecalls to her office in 4 weeks.
Insurance: Blue Cross / Blue Shield
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7/22/08 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
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The staff has is always friendly, welcoming and helpful. Dr. Esparraguera has a fantastic disposition and very is knowledgeable. A refreshing doctor's office to be in because of the personalized service. More than once, I have been fit in with a last minute appointment. I've recommended three friends, all had the same experience.
Insurance: Aetna
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7/2/08 |
5 |
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I was looking for Dr. E's number and accidentally came across this and had to write because the person (and her staff) doesn't sound like the wonderful, caring physician I've been lucky enough to have treat me. Last year, I dropped by her office with my dad after taking my son to his Dr. I was worried about dad, who'd had cancer since 1989, but he seemed to be...declining. Dr. E, her mother and Tess were all SO TOTALLY wonderful. We had no appointment, but the Dr. spoke to my dad and was so sensitive, kind, and interested. She advised us on what Dad really needed to have done right away. And we were not charge a DIME! Not a penny! My father and I walked away so grateful to her and her staff. My experience is that she is passionate about what she does and is willing to help out people in a tough situation, even without any personal/professional gain.
Insurance: Blue Cross / Blue Shield
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6/26/08 |
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Contrary to these negative reviews, I found Dr. Esparraguerra to be EXTREMELY thorough & knowledgable. I am sure that the Dr. has THOUSANDS of patients that are very pleased with with her services. I have visited other doctors in the past & have never had a doctor that pays attention more than Dr. Esparraguera. She does everything because she does not have a nurse.
Insurance: MAMSI
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6/19/08 |
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I have to agree with what has been posted over the last two years. Dr. E use to be a great dr. but something changed her. She does not listen to her patients and rushes through exams. There are always drug reps waiting in her office. I am very dissapointed that it has come to the point that I felt compelled to write this review. I really use to have full confidence in Dr. E. I no longer feel this way.
Insurance: Aetna
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5/30/08 |
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When I first starting seeing this Dr., almost none of these bad reviews had been posted. They are ALL CORRECT. Dr. E doesn't listen to her patients, pushes whatever meds the pharma companies tell her to (there's a big pharma rep in the office every time I've been), never follows up on lab work, and is extremely rude. The final straw: I called in a prescription refill for maintenance antidepressants after hours (it's Friday) and she decided to charge me a $25 emergency refill fee. "It's a new policy," she said. While these fees are not unheard of, I get the impression she made this one up on the spot. They are also apparently usually only $5-10, and not used for maintenance meds or antidepressants. I just emailed my ob/gyn who I love for a referral for a new primary care doc.
Insurance: United Healthcare
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5/16/08 |
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She is the absolute worst doctor I have ever been to. She is rude, and her mother, who "works" in the office, is also extremely rude. She openly mocked me, because I have sinus allergies and then caught a cold.
Insurance: Blue Cross / Blue Shield
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5/13/08 |
1 |
1 |
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I would not recommend this doctor to anyone. She completely rushed through my exam and made inappropriate/demeaning comments. When I asked for tests she said I was "probably fine" so there was no need to run them. Additionally, she overcharged me on more than one occassion and refuses to reimburse.
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5/7/08 |
3 |
5 |
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No-nonsense Dr. with a dry wit. Tells it like it is. Her style is not for everyone but I like her very much. I wanted to rate her becauseI thought she's better than her ratings show on this site. She is closed at lunchtime and on Fridays but is quite available otherwise. Never have to wait.
Insurance: United Healthcare
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4/27/08 |
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ok doctor skills but I echo all the comments here about the billing issues. her staff made wild errors in billing me, which led to her being paid by both me, out of pocket($400+), and the ins company. so she was double paid. when I tried to get refunded (as I should not have paid out of pocket in the first place), she scolded me for asking her to work "for free." I spent hours getting evidence of both payments (her staff was unhelpful), in the end she told me I would have to contact her bank FOR HER to prove she had cashed my check. when I protested this, she told me she would "sever our relationship" ie, she fired me as a patient. I finally got refunded after sending a letter copied to the Better Business Bureau and have never gone back since. Also never regretted it, as I've never encountered such billing issues elsewhere with other good doctors.
Insurance: CIGNA
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4/25/08 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
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Horrible bedside manner. Dr. E does not like to be asked questions, she acts like her knowledge is being questioned. I had an ear ache that she said was an infection, two weeks later after I saw an ENT who said I had TMJ and there was never an infection. Maybe she has reason to be defensive.
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4/25/08 |
3 |
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1 |
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As a person Dr. Esparraguera is okay. As a doctor, I am not so sure. I have been to the office at least 5 times.Each time I go I swear that I will not go back but I really want to patronize a minority woman doctor. This time I will definitely not return. All of my visits have been extremely rushed. She has not examined me for more than 10 minutes at any time. She does not listen to my health issues. She is prescription happy. This last time I was quite sick so I decided to get a second opinion instead of just filling the prescription which did not sound right. Once I did, I found out that the antibiotics prescribed did not work well on respiratory infections. Not wanting to believe this I consulted another doctor who told me the same thing! While I always felt that she didn't take enough time diagnosing and treating me, these two other docs gave me the proof that I need to move on. My goal is to find a doctor who will take the time to answer my questions! I should have trusted my gut!
Insurance: Blue Cross / Blue Shield
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4/15/08 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
Office visits are extremely rushed and it is definitely true that Dr. E nickels and dimes her patients. Her staff took months to resolve a billing dispute--which was, of course, ultimately decided in Dr. E's favor.
Insurance: Blue Cross / Blue Shield
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3/20/08 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
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AWFUL. I went in for a bad sinus infection and bronchitis. She spent all of 3 or 4 minutes examining me and then prescribed an extremely harsh antibiotic without bothering to mention side effects or anything else I might encounter. When I had a bad reaction and began vomiting for 12 hours, I tried multiple times to reach her office to see if they would put me on something else. When I finally did, they said they would call back right away. I didnt hear back so I called again 3 hours later - they put me on hold for 15 minutes and then left for lunch. When I called back, her answering service informed me i'd need to wait another 2 hours until they returned from lunch. Would not recommend this doctor to ANYONE.
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3/13/08 |
1 |
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1 |
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She is extremely unhelpful and a rip off. She won't take minimal consultations by phone and asks you to come to the office so she can charge you for answering nothing. she does not admit calls for refills after hours, which includes fridays. She does not have the ability to listen. I am truly dissapointed at my friend who recomended her. She speaks spanish and that may be her only advantage.
Insurance: Blue Cross / Blue Shield
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3/11/08 |
1 |
3 |
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3 |
I have never experienced more unhelpful service; I am desperately trying to find another doctor.
Insurance: Blue Cross / Blue Shield
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2/1/08 |
3 |
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2 |
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She does not take HMO, only PPO. Did not return a call with the results of a lab test and did not give any guidance on what to do about an issue.
Insurance: Blue Cross / Blue Shield
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1/24/08 |
3 |
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1 |
2 |
I found the office visit fine, but there is no follow up at all on lab results, she doesn't return my calls, and when I had an emergency situation when the office closed she refused to call me despite the fact that I was leaving the country the next day. I won't return and I will tell others not to as well.
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3/30/07 |
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1 |
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I’ve been going to Dr. E for yeas. At first she was fine-she shared office space with other doctors. When she went out on her own things changed. She started nickling and diming me. She insisted that I come in for an office visit just to get a prescription refill - on a prescription I’ve had for years! She was hustling me so she could get some extra billings. Then she started rushing through exams. The final straw was yesterday. (See Part 2, I need more space!)
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3/13/07 |
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5 |
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Dr. Esparraguera has been a great physician. She has been a no nonsense physician who gives pertinent and timely medical advice and clinical service. I have noticed a slight less professional demeanor from the staff at the front desk, but I usually don't interact with them very much as Dr. E is always on time with her appointments. I have also never had a problem with the billing in the several times I have gone to see her. Additionally, I was in need of a specialist a few months back and her referral was spot on. She continues to be one of the few medical professionals that understand their patients need more than medical jargon and a quick diagnosis. While extremely efficient and hands-on, she is thorough and always fully answers my questions. I think that if you don't like someone with a direct personality you should look elsewhere. But, if you enjoy the candor and professional respect, go for it!
Insurance: Blue Cross / Blue Shield
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1/31/07 |
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4 |
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I really feel comfortable with "Dr. E." and have widely recommended her. I feel that she is direct, forthcoming , and has no pretense like a lot of doctors who make you feel small and unworthy of their time. She is the4 genuine article and always has time to talk about my questions. Even when it is a long time between visits, I am always impressed she remebers little things about me. I highly recommend her.
Insurance: Blue Cross / Blue Shield
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1/17/07 |
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5 |
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I have been seeing Dr. E for 8 years - and even pick my coverage based on whether her office accepts it or not. She takes plenty of time to discuss your life and over all health with you before discussing the various medications available and how they may or may not affect you individually. I think she is wonderful and will continue to recommend her to friends and family. In regard to the billing issues people bring up, it happens with all doctors, the real issue is the billing system used by insurance companies [mandated by congress by the way]. I have had difficulty regarding bills with PHCS, CareFirst and Cigna over the years with almost all health care providers, not just one.
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1/11/07 |
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This is my 2nd time posting, and now I'm ready to declare that Dr. Esperaguerra is NOT a good doctor AT ALL. I've 2 issues with her (1)the mismanagement of billing and (2) her tendency to rudely cut me off, insisting that I'm the one bringing up the issues even when it's clear that I'm just trying to clear up mistakes that resulted from misunderstandings between her office and my insurance co. I've been congenial with her, but she & her assistants have been curt and deprecating to me at times. Further, she miswrote her 1 year prescription to my drug mail order and selected 1 refill instead of 1 YEAR of refills; she's insisting that it's the mail-order drug's mistake. maybe it is, but she's being unhelpful and this is clearly not my fault so I feel very victimized b/c now i dont have my medication b/c she insists she's already wrote me a prescription already. Also, she collected a copayment from me even though I told her office that I shouldn't have to pay one under my plan.I had paid the bill out of confusion but when I checked with my insurance, it turns that it was their mistake. they still
Insurance: CIGNA
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12/28/06 |
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5 |
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I'm a patient who had billing problems; I assure you that it was not a result of "problems of my own." Medical care involves great trust -- I find it hard to trust a doctor who bills patients in error and then is unhelpful about it. It's a legitimate concern that may (or may not) reflect on the quality of her judgment and care.
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12/12/06 |
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5 |
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Obviosly, the people who have complained about Dr. Esparragueras' office practices have had billing issues, except for the one with the complaint about a mouth sore, yet I believe there are two sides to every story and these people all seem to have their own problems. She has always been an extremely caring and wonderful Dr. over the years. I know from my insurance statements how much she gets actually paid, and in my opinion it is not enough, given my derm doc took one mole off in one second and got paid three times as much as she did for my physical exam. I hope more people sound off in her support, one she greatly deserves!
Insurance: MAMSI
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12/4/06 |
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4 |
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While those who posted that Dr. Esparraguera was punctual, straight to the point, and no nonsense are correct, this behavior can also be detrimental to your health. She is widely recommended in our office and a colleague visited her with a painful cut in her mouth a few months ago. The doctor promptly sent her off with a prescription for a medication that was topical and not to be swallowed or used inside of your mouth. This colleague realized this error when she received her prescription and called the doctor to ask her for an alternate medication - no question of the error in prescription was made. Dr. Esparraguera returned the call and instead of offering apologies for the error proceeded to admonish the patient for interrupting her with such a frivolous request. To make matters worse, the office then proceeded to overcharge for the visit. While I agree that she is a very efficient provider, sometimes her rush can lead to poor clinical behavior.
Insurance: Unicare
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12/1/06 |
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5 |
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I think she is solid, honest, clear spoken and I have recommended Dr. Esparraguera to friends. The office has never mis-billed me, nor has there been any confusion. I am thrilled to have a GP that I feel so comfortable with.
Insurance: Blue Cross / Blue Shield
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11/30/06 |
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5 |
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Doctors like Dr. Esparraguerra are impossible to find in this day & age of health care. Not only is she extremely personable, she is extremely knowlegable & thorough. Dr. Esparraguera does not have a PA or a nurse. She is an incredible doctor!
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11/25/06 |
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5 |
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I think the complaints about Dr. Esparraguera's office sound valid, having observed a fair amount of confusion there myself, but cannot stress enough how magnificent this doctor is. She is one in a million. I love and trust her. I'm sorry she hasn't found somebody to keep her records better, but I will happily trade that for the usual non-committal and vague treatment I have had at the hands of other doctors. Not only is she my kind of person, she has referred my family to specialists many times and has thus introduced us to other doctors who are themselves exemplary in the same ways: intelligent, funny, honest, and just plain great.
Insurance: Blue Cross / Blue Shield
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11/20/06 |
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While I agree that Dr. esperraguera is a fine doctor (she's to-the-point and no-nonsense), her business practices are a patient's nightmare. If you care about your money, I do not recommend going to this office. Her office misbilled me - charging me for a medical visit (which cost a sizable chunk of $$$) when it should have been a regular phsycial (which should have cost me nothing). I called her billing office, who tells me to talk to her office to get things cleared up; i called the office who then refers me back to her billing office, who then refers me back to the doctor's office. this occurred for 2 months until my insurance company finally intervened on my behalf and defend my rights (to my own money). i still do not have my money back at this point. dr. esperraguera's a fine doctor - medically, but like i said, if you care about your money and if you dont want to have to deal with dimissive staff and unreturned phone calls, this might not be the place for you!
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11/1/06 |
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5 |
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I agree with everything written here. I was so thrilled to have found the perfect, no-nonsense doctor -- until I got a random bill for $10. Totally unclear what it was for and definitely an error of some kind on the part of her office. She quickly referred this weird bill to a collection agent! Wow, was I disappointed. I do not believe that last person is a cry baby -- if you're interested in this doctor, you just need to decide if the excellent medical care is worth the bad business practices.
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10/26/06 |
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I am a new client, and in the DC area it is very difficult to find a doctor that you like much less feel comfortable in talking with. On my first visit she set my mind at ease, told it to me straight. She does not just send you on your way, she discussed all differnt options with me. I appreciate all her help and would be happy to refer clients to her.
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5/25/06 |
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5 |
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She rocks...don't listen the last cry baby...she is very fare and generous with her time. Any issue that arose would be worked out equitably. I have never waited more than 5 mins and she takes the time to answer all my questions.
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12/1/05 |
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5 |
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I absolutely adore Dr. Esparraguera and have recommended many friends to her (She was recommended to me by a friend as well). Benefits: when you go to her office, you see her, not a PA or a nurse. She's straightforward, caring, direct, helpful and willing to try different solutions if the first thing doesn't do the trick. I could not be more happy with the level of care I have received from her over the past four years. I'm grateful that she's in my area. Cons: none other than it's sometimes hard to get street parking near her office and I occasionally have to pay to use the garage. She rocks.
Insurance: Aetna
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10/8/05 |
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After many years of loyal patronage and no payment problems, I was contacted in November 2004 by the doctor's new patient billing vendor about an alleged outstanding debt they had uncovered while cleaning up the previous patient billing vendors records. The alleged debt was $114.00 for two missed appointments and a small amount not covered by my insurance company for services rendered in 2000 and 2001. I questioned the validity of the documentation, given that the new patient billing vendor admitted they were brought in to clean up "the mess" and was told that to dispute the outstanding debt was my burden of proof. Rather than writing this off as a business loss and keeping me as a patient, Dr. Esparaguerra has asked me to bear the brunt of her business mistakes. She hass reported this alleged outstanding debt to a credit bureau and shown me blaming others for her mistakes and $114 is more important than our doctor-patient relationship.
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