Need New Neurologist

Dio

Has anyone sought 2nd or 3rd opinions on dementia diagnosis? Does Medicare (Part A & B only) need a referral for second/third opinions for neurologists treating dementia, more specifically a Lewy Body specialist? I'm not happy with our current one who seems only knowledgeable in Alzheimer's. I tried looking for an answer on the Medicare site, but answers were too ambiguous.

Vitruvius

The first neurologist for my DW was at a major university dementia clinic that only did assessments but did not provide continuing care and suggested, but did not formally refer us, to a local neurologist. We just called and asked if they were accepting new patients, and they were.

Because of my DW's rare Semantic Dementia the first neurologist also wanted my DW to be seen at another major national university that has specialists in rare dementias to confirm her diagnosis. Both the first and second neurologists referred my DW to the third neurologist. DW had Medicare and a Medicare supplement plan (G), all visits were fully covered.

I got the impression that the referrals were only necessary to the third neurologist to filter out patients who were not really appropriate. I think Medicare didn't care about the referrals, they only cared about the way each neurologist "coded" the visits. This was true when my DW was given a PET scan which Medicare paid for. Before the scan I wanted to make sure it would be covered as I read that it wasn't for some. The first neurologist was the one who ordered it and told me that it was necessary to "code" it properly as being necessary for a diagnosis or it could be rejected.