Dr. Alan James Scharrer, MD

Dr Scharrer has taken care of all my children from infancy; including our premier born at 29 weeks from the moment she was discharged from the NICU. The care and love he has provided us over the years is beyond measurable.

Dr. Scharrer was terrific! He took the time to listen, was very informative, has a very warm personality, and seemed genuinely concerned about my health. However, the office staff was not so accommodating and the office manager is unreasonable. I say this because of a problem I had regarding my insurance coverage. When I called to schedule a new patient appointment I informed them that I had Coventry. When I filled out pre appointment information I again told them I had Coventry. However I did not have my insurance card with me and could not give them an electronic copy because St. Luke's has blocked both Internet and cellular services in their buildings. I was told it was no big deal and that I could bring my cars in the following morning when I reported for lab work. After fasting all night, I returned to the office the next morning for my blood to be drawn and gave the staff my insurance card. They told me that Dr. Scharrer doesn't accept healthcare marketplace Coventry plans.… However that when that is not caught by the staff prior to the appointment that the office be generally waives any fee. But, she would need to talk to the office manager first. After waiting nearly 20 minutes the receptionist finally returned and said that I could not have my labs drawn and that I would be 100% responsible for the prior days appointment fee. I explained to them that I had told them multiple times that I had Coventry and that they should have asked if it was a marketplace plan if that was going to be an issue. Moreover, I easily could have provided my card the day before except for the total lack of internet service in their building. To this, the reception stated, "well you did sign a waiver saying that you would be reaponsible for any costs not covered by insurance and that no accommodation would be made. I replied thanks and walked off. I understand that I signed a waiver but it's a sucker punch to site that as the reason I would be 100% responsible for the bill (disregarding the fact that I was told when this type of situation is missed that they often waived the fee). I accept my responsibility in the issue but the office has their responsibility to as my healthcare advocate as well. They did not communicate effectively, they lost Coventry as an accepted plan without mentioning anything about the Marketplace exception, and then were completely unwilling to shoulder any of the responsibility and accommodating me with the fee. I highly recommend Dr. Scharrer as a primary care physician but would have difficulty recommending to anyone that they go to his office because of the unreasonable office staff. In the very least I would strongly caution people from assuming that just because the insurance plan is listed as an accepted plan, that his office manager will accept their specific type of plan. The support staff at his office is more interested in the bottom line than patient advocacy.