Robb
Oto-Neurology
Clinic
206 East Morris Dr.
Phoenix, AZ 85012
Ph: (480) 303-1133
Fax: (602) 759-1280
Website last updated: 03.18.21
Hours
Please call the 24/7 operator at 480.303.1133 with your chief complaint, best email, and contact numbers. Medical offices may send referrals via fax but please include patients' email as much as possible. Email facilitates scheduling and other important communications now.
Practice Scope
Including, but not limited to:
- Hearing
- Deafness
- Tinnitus
- Sound sensitivity
- Misophonia
- Discomfort in ears
- Ear fullness
- Vertigo
- Dizziness
- Lightheadedness
- Imbalance
- Difficulty walking
- Falls
- Nystagmus
(eye movement abnormalities) - Tremor
- Incoordination
- Sleep difficulties
- Fatigue
- Ill effects of chronic stress
- Chemotherapy decline (chemobrain,
brain fog) - Mood disturbances
- Mild traumatic brain injury / post-concussion syndrome / symptoms (headache, dizziness, difficulties with memory, personality and sleep, sound sensitivity, light sensitivity, tinnitus / hearing loss, blurred vision, other)
About the Clinic
Frequently Asked Questions & Answers for Patients and Professionals
How do I refer patients to you? Patients may call me directly at (480) 303-1133 and leave a name with contact phone numbers. I will return their call, conduct a brief interview, answer general questions, explain my practice model, fees and services, and offer to schedule an appointment for them. Patients can typically be seen within two weeks or less. Appointment slots are always reserved for semi-urgent and emergent cases. The practice is strictly an outpatient clinic at this time. Alternatively, referring office staff may call or fax the patient name, phone numbers and any pertinent office records/test results to (602) 274-6559 and I will contact the patient myself.
Are all patients at liberty to be seen in the oto-neurology clinic regardless of insurance status? Yes. Since the clinic is driven by patient power (direct patient-doctor payment at time of visit), patients with or without insurance are welcome. Since I am not contracted with any third party insurance companies, Medicaid or Medicare, the neurology/oto-neurology clinic is open to all patients regardless of age, insurance plan, or financial status. The fact that I am not contracted with third parties does not mean that I will not see patients who are contracted with these entities. People without insurance are welcome. Patients with HMOs, PPOs, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are all welcome. Even the indigent patients are welcome. A receipt is provided to the patient at the conclusion of the visit which records all the pertinent coding information required for out-of-network processing. Patients are encouraged to submit these bills to their private insurance carriers, with whom they have a contract, for potential consideration and reimbursement.
Can patients with private insurance obtain out-of-network reimbursement? Yes. Patients with PPO insurance have been obtaining reimbursement after their out-of-network deductibles have been met. Often, the initial visit is not covered due to the outstanding deductible, but the follow-up visits are reimbursed at a substantial amount. Should patients with HMO insurance wish to obtain out-of-network reimbursement, a referral authorization is required. This authorization does not preclude the requirement that patients pay me directly at the time of visit to the best of their abilities. However, the authorization increases the liklihood that the insurance company will reimburse the patient for the visit. Payment plans and reduced rates are graciously arranged when personal or familial hardship arise.
Do you see Medicare patients? Yes. All Medicare beneficiaries are welcome to see me, but are required by the Code of Federal Regulations to sign the "private contract" between patient and opted-out physician. I "opted out" of Medicare officially on January 18, 2005 in order to disengage myself from unconstitutional rules and regulations that interfere with the sanctity of the patient-doctor relationship and the joy of practicing medicine. The private contract simply says that Medicare beneficiaries are responsible for the full amount of the bill. Secondary plans may or may not pay. However, Medicare has paid for the following interventions I have ordered in the past: special hearing and balance tests, radiological scans, and physical therapy/vestibular and balance physiotherapy. My opt-out status does not prevent patients from undergoing a proper medical workup and receiving standard of care. I routinely network with physicians, surgeons, audiologists, and physical therapists who are contracted with Medicare in order to orchestrate the best in multi-disciplinary care for my patients. Lastly, my opt-out status does not interfere in any way with the relationships patients may have with other Medicare physicians and health care practitioners.
Will you see patients with AHCCCS/AZ Medicaid? Yes. Payment plans, disounted rates and charity care have all been extended to patients in need. I am willing to work with patients so that they can obtain the neurological care they need without undue delay. The referring primary doctor and staff are instrumental in facilitating my recommended workup and treatment recommendations within the Medicaid and/or HMO system.
Do you provide care to military veterans who are "service connected" for a neurological or oto-neurological problem? Yes. Veterans may take advantage of the "fee-basis" option which allows them to seek specialty services outside the VA system when no such specialty exists at a particular VA hospital. Veterans are advised to see their local VA neurologist, otolaryngologist, internist or other doctor first, after which time a fee-basis referral can be considered. If the consult is approved by the medical director, the VA fee-basis department will pay for the veteran's visit, workup and treatment within a given time period.
Do you see patients registered with the Indian Health Service? Yes. Special arrangements can be made for these patients to go out of network for oto-neurological care.
Do you see children with neurological and oto-neurological complaints?Yes. Do you make house calls? Yes, with pleasure when necessary. Do you see patients involved in worker's compensation cases and/or litigation? Yes. The nature of my training and subspecialty places me in a unique position to evaluate, treat and render expert opinion for patients who present with tinnitus, sound sensitivity, hearing loss, vertigo, and dizziness after automobile accidents, head injury, occupational noise trauma, and other unfortunate situations.
Are you interested in treating patients with general neurology complaints?Yes. I received excellent general neurological training from the Queen Square Institute of Neurology in London, UK, the University of Wisconsin in Madison and the Barrow Neurological Institute/St. Joseph's Hospital. I will gladly render care for these patients.
Will you be signing up with insurance plans and/or Medicare in the future? Not for the foreseeable future. The current simple practice model outlined above ultimately benefits the patient in a very significant manner. Patients treasure having more time with their doctors to address important questions and concerns. By disengaging myself from unconstitutional third party rules and regulations and breech of contract tactics, I am able to devote more precious time in the office listening to patients, conducting thorough evaluations, answering important questions in detail, and offering that personal "healing touch." Customized otoneurological care is orchestrated and the patient plays a key role in the decision making process. Consequently, the joy of the practice of private medicine is experienced as the patient and doctor enter into a unique, trusting, win-win relationship.
I have made a moral and philosophical choice not to allow myself to be subjected routinely to insurance company or government policies and procedures which interfere with the sanctity of the patient-doctor relationship and the private practice of medicine. The medical doctor knows what is best for the patient, not the insurance company or government entity. Patients know what is best for themselves as well, not third party representatives.
The third-party-free model returns authoritative power and responsibility back into the hands of the patient and the doctor. Moreover, medical care is ultimately less expensive if patients take advantage of their constitutional rights and liberties to manage and invest their own health care dollars via health savings accounts (HSA, formerly referred to as medical savings accounts). An HSA is a tax-deductible retirement plan primarily intended for routine health-related expenses which requires ownership of a catastrophic high-deductible insurance plan (minimum deductible $1,000) for hospitalizations and emergencies. Annual contributions up to approximately $2,650 for singles and $5,750 for married couples are allowed and are completely tax-deductible even if tax returns are not itemized. HSA investment earnings also accrue tax free. HSAs are portable and remain the property of the patient regardless of employment. At the end of the year, if only a portion of the HSA is used for health care needs, the balance carries over to following year and remains the private property of the patient.
Thus, HSAs were distinctly different from employer-sponsored flex plans where unused balances are forfeited at the end of the year and return to the employers account. New legislation has put a stop to this activity, however, and Flex plans may now be reconfigured to function as a health savings account (HSA). Please discuss this as soon as possible with your employer's HSA expert or other knowledgable benefits representative. As best I can tell, there is no distinct advantage of a FLEX account over an HSA in the long term. Funds allocated for health care remain the property of the patient year after year until they are drawn out for appropriate use and/or withdrawn at retirement age without penalty.
After over twelve years of debate in Congress, HSAs now offer a smart alternative to the employer-provided health insurance dilemma with a free-market design that returns property ownership (personal income, health insurance policy) to the rightful owner, the patient. The liberty of consumers to allocate personal resources for health care needs annually fosters a new discipline of fiscal responsibility and retirement planning which has tremendous potential to achieve a win-win situation for patients young and old.
For more information on health savings accounts, please navigate to the Health Savings Accounts (HSA) page on this site. Several live links are included there for your review.
I will be glad to answer any questions you may have in the future.
This information is published for the benefit of the patient, the patient's family, the doctor and the future practice of medicine.
Please call (480) 303-1133 for more information. Thank you.
Dr. Robb has no conflict of interest to declare.
Updated June 10, 2008
Philosophy
To keep alive the practice of private medicine, to strive for excellence in teaching and clinical research, and to preserve the sanctity of the patient-doctor relationship through old-fashioned, country-doctor values combined with modern oto-neurological subspecialty expertise.