We see this type of behavior quite a bit in our clinics as well. Patients don't understand the problems that can come up from treatment without seeing the patient. We have 4 screen steps to get a patient into the clinic before its ever even brought up to our doctors. Most of the time it works and we have fewer evening calls now than we used to.
I personally would LOVE to be a cash only basis. The contracts and power of the insurance companies are ridiculous! They can now come back and do a retro denial and refund request on a paid claim 2 years AFTER the date of service, while the time frame for submitting a claim to them is dropping lower and lower for the doctors. (ok, sorry off my soap box now).
What would be great, is if the insurance companies would actually pay for the telephone service codes - they exist, they are valid - just mostly not covered. Perhaps that is something that could be implemented in your clinics. State up front that telephone calls and advice come with a charge that may not be covered by insurance. See if they still want to keep calling when they know it comes out of their pocket!
