Dr. Peter Edward Godfrey, MD

I would like to start by stating that I have had my two youngest children under the care of Dr. Beier. Even after a really horrible experience with Dr Goddfrey and the office manager I continued to go because Dr. Beier understood and did not disregard the medical complications I had during my pregnancies. Recently I was diagnosed with a ruptured cyst and my GP referred me to Dr. Goddfrey. I called to schedule my appointment and was disappointed that Dr. Beier is no longer practicing there. But because this practice is the only OB/GYN in Culpeper I scheduled an appointment out of the convenience. One the phone they told me that when I come in they would like a credit card on file for "my convenience". I was told I would get an email and never did. So I looked up to see if I could find information about this online. On their website they state "If you do not have a credit card or debit card, or you do not wish to participate in this program, then you will need to pay for the… estimated cost of your deductible and co-pay at the time of your visit with cash or check.". I show up for my appointment and I am greeted by name by Patty. Which is surprising since it has been about 3 years since I have been in there She gives me the new paperwork to sign and tells me about their "MANDATORY" policy to have a credit card on file. That they will be able to charge up to $75.00 and will notify you if they have to charge more than $75.00. So I tell her I am a stay at home mother, haven't worked for years and do not have a credit card in my name. She says she will talk to someone about it so I step out to call my husband. When I come back in, she asks me what I decided. Here I thought she was going to talk to someone about seeing me without the credit card. I told her I have my insurance (which is a great policy) and I have my copay in cash. So I asked if they were going to see me and she repeated that unless I have a credit card they won't see me. I left the office without being seen. It's amazing that a practice who has dealt with a patient for two high risk pregnancies, a patient with great insurance and the money to pay their co-pay is kicked out of the office because they want a credit card on file. While talking to her she repeated the word "mandatory" over a dozen times. Verbally they will repeat it's mandatory but not show any documentation in writing using that word. Their own website doesn't say mandatory, the form they gave to fill out did not say mandatory and the mysterious email they were going to email me that included the mandatory never showed up in my inbox. We live in a world where hackers are getting information just by you making a purchase at Target. But sure let me write my credit card information on a paper for you to leave where you want to and charge when you want to. No I pass. As I am sure many other responsible patients of that practice will. So what happens to the low income person who is on medicad? Clearly if a woman is on medicad she doesn't have credit. Do they refuse to see and treat those women? I think it's time for a new OB/GYN to put a practice in Culpeper. Let's see how "mandatory" their credit card policy is when they have competition.