Onc In SF South Bay?

[meatie]

We are having trouble finding a oncologist for my mother. The main problem is the language barrier. She only wants to see a chinese-speaking oncologist, even if I agree to accompany to all doctor's appointments and interpret for her. Her health insurance is anthem blue cross pathway PPO. She has been rejected by a few (chinese-speaking) oncs already. It is getting frustrating. Could anybody recommend a chinese-speaking oncologist in the south bay of the san francisco bay area?

[Bev G]

Why has she been "rejected" by these once? Are they not members of her plan?

[meatie]

@Bev G

Some doctors reject certain insurance plans because of low-balling by insurance. If a doctor does a procedure and think it is worth $1000 and bills the patient that amount, the insurance company would claim that the procedure is only worth $700, then pays the doctor, for example, $600, with the patient chipping in the final $100. The doctor tends to think that he is out $300.

[Bev G]

Hi Meatie,

I am very well aware of negotiated rates between docs and insurance companies, and the fact that some docs are not enrolled in some plans. I was simply asking if the "rejection"by the once you are referring to is because they are NOT participating in your mother's plan. If this is the case, you need to get a list from the insurance company, and look at the list they have of oncologists, and go from there. They will NOT let you go out of network simply because of the language your doc speaks. Your mom might just have to get used to you translating for her. I can well understand that she would prefer to speak directly in her native tongue, but that's just not always possible.

Best wishes,

Bev

[ccpt1958]

Ideally, you should not translate for your mom in the medical setting, unless you are trained to do so. Many south bay facilities utilize translation services that provide phone or video translators during the actual appointment. You may want to ask providers about this, once you get a list of oncologists who participate in her plan.

You may also want to try this link: http://www.cancer.org/treatment/finding ... ters/index

I hope this helps.

[Valorie]

Meatie: My Onc is part of the Palo Alto medical Foundation. If you go on their website PAMF.org you can put in find a doctor and put in Onc and there is also a search for languages spoken by the physician. I know they take several Blue Cross policies from the Calif. Insurance exchange if that is where your mom obtained her insurance. I have been given excellent care through them. Hope this helps.

[trapbear]

Meatie,
My husband had excellent care at PAMF in Mountain View and then Sunnyvale. Please PM me and I can let you know the name of our doctor.
Bill

[nkoske]

I don't recall any Chinese GI Oncs at Stanford.

[meatie]

I just found out that PAMF does not accept Blue Cross Pathway PPO. That crosses off quite a number of target doctors we thought about calling up. It seems that the "Pathway" in Anthem Blue Cross Pathway PPO is the magic word that got us rejected so many times.

[Quilter]

Raymond Lee on Jose Figueres. He's the best.

[Dori W]

I went to Southbay Oncology Hematology Partners in Campbell (near San Jose). I don't think my doctor speaks Chinese (she is Taiwanese, I think), but it might be worth calling to see if any of their doctors speaks Chinese. I think very highly of these folks. I really can't say enough positive things about them. Here is their website: http://sbohp.com/.

They are in the process of becoming part of Stanford, but they will remain in the South Bay.