Conrad Petersen Dermatology's Online Review Report Card

Professional, friendly, and informative!

I am sharing my experience regarding concerning billing practices at Conrad Petersen/Forefront Dermatology. I was seen by Dr. Petersen for a first-time skin examination. My in-office experience was neutral; however, significant issues arose afterward related to billing. Following this dermatology visit, I had my annual wellness visit with my primary care provider (PCP). I was unexpectedly billed in full for my PCP appointment (several hundreds of dollars) despite this visit typically being fully covered by my insurance plan. After multiple calls involving both my insurance company (Aetna) and the dermatologist's office, it was determined that my dermatology visit had been billed using CPT code 99385, a preventive medicine code intended for use by primary care providers according to the AAFP and AACP. Because my insurance plan only covers one preventive wellness visit per year, the incorrect use of this code for a specialist visit resulted in my PCP wellness exam no longer being covered. Aetna informed me that this billing was incorrect and that the dermatology visit should have been coded as a standard office visit (CPT 99201–99205), which would have resulted in a routine cost-share on my part rather than the total loss of coverage for my PCP visit. Despite repeated outreach from both myself and Aetna, the practice declined to correct the coding for this visit. I was told that while they would use the appropriate office visit code for any future appointments, they would not retroactively correct the billing for this encounter, stating that their coding was “not illegal.” Additionally, during these discussions, a billing representative told me in no uncertain terms that the visit was coded in this way due to the type of insurance I carry, which I found particularly troubling. No provider should be choosing which code to use based on a patient's insurance and the expected reimbursement amount from that insurance; Aetna is further investigating this issue. Due to the time, expense, and frustration involved in this incident, I will not be returning to this practice. I strongly encourage prospective patients to confirm in advance which CPT codes will be used for their visit to avoid unexpected financial consequences.

I have been a patient of Samantha Conrad for nearly a decade, but the quality of care has declined significantly since she opened her own practice. Appointments have become rushed, facetime is minimal, and treatment recommendations increasingly feel profit-driven rather than patient-centered. My recent experience was the final straw and has caused me to question her professionalism and ethics as a physician. At my appointment, Samantha personally injected filler under my eyes. From the moment I received the treatment, it was clear the filler had been placed too low, creating new creases and worsening the appearance of my under-eye area. I raised these concerns during the appointment and repeatedly afterward. I sent before-and-after photos and attempted to schedule a follow-up, but each outreach was met with excuses (it's swelling, it needs time to settle, she's unavailable, there are scheduling issues, etc). After more than a month, I finally secured an appointment. Before even examining me, Samantha stated there was "no scientific evidence" that the filler could have caused the issues I was experiencing. I again offered to show the photos documenting the change, but she refused to look at them and argued with me about the results. Despite the visible differences and my clear dissatisfaction, she said she "considered the procedure a success" but could dissolve the filler if that's what I wanted. She then left the room, and a nurse returned to inform me that correcting the issue would be an additional charge. When I asked to talk to Samantha, I was told I need to "pay for the treatment or not see Dr Conrad again." I expressed my disappointment, agreed I would not be returning, and left the appointment--only to receive a bill afterward. As other reviewers have noted, Samantha does not take responsibility for unfavorable outcomes and instead treats them as additional revenue opportunities. There are many skilled, ethical medical professionals out there. Save yourself the stress, expense, and frustration, and seek care elsewhere. Edit: As you can see, someone from the business responded to my review. As expected, and consistent with other negative reviews on this platform and others, they refused to take responsibility for their actions and instead made claims about the patient to avoid accountability. While I do not feel the need to defend myself, I can say with complete certainty that their accusations are fabricated. Their response only further reflects the unprofessionalism of the staff as referenced repeatedly in other reviews.

I have been a patient of Samantha Conrad for nearly a decade, but the quality of care has declined significantly since she opened her own practice. Appointments have become rushed, facetime is minimal, and treatment recommendations increasingly feel profit-driven rather than patient-centered. My recent experience was the final straw and has caused me to question her professionalism and ethics as a physician. At my last appointment, Samantha personally injected filler under my eyes. From the moment I received the treatment, it was clear the filler had been placed too low, creating new creases and worsening the appearance of my under-eye area. I raised these concerns during the appointment and repeatedly afterward. I sent before-and-after photos and attempted to schedule a follow-up, but each outreach was met with excuses (it’s swelling, it needs time to settle, she’s unavailable, there are scheduling issues, etc). After more than a month, I finally secured an appointment. Before even examining me, Samantha stated there was “no scientific evidence” that the filler could have caused the issues I was experiencing. I again offered to show the photos documenting the change, but she refused to look at them and argued with me about the results. Despite the visible differences and my clear dissatisfaction, she said she “considered the procedure a success” but could dissolve the filler if that’s what I wanted. She then left the room, and a nurse returned to inform me that correcting the issue would be an additional charge. When I asked to talk to Samantha, I was told I need to “pay for the treatment or not see Dr Conrad again.” I expressed my disappointment, agreed I would not be returning, and left the appointment—only to receive a bill afterward. As other reviewers have noted, Samantha does not take responsibility for unfavorable outcomes and instead treats them as additional revenue opportunities. There are many skilled, ethical medical professionals out there. Save yourself the stress, expense, and frustration, and seek care elsewhere. EDIT: As you can see, someone from the business responded to my review. As expected, and consistent with other negative reviews on this platform and others, they refused to take responsibility for their actions and instead made claims about the patient to avoid accountability. While I do not feel the need to defend myself, I can say with complete certainty that their accusations are fabricated. Their response only further reflects the unprofessionalism of the staff as referenced repeatedly in other reviews.

Lauren Agostinacchio is amazing! She really listens and works to customize a treatment specific to you.

I visited Dr. Peterson for a painful bump on my back. I explained that it hurt when it was touched, but I was told it was cosmetic and that surgery wasn’t necessary because my skin might keloid. I later went to another dermatologist who believed it could be a lipoma and removed it. The pathology came back as a form of skin cancer. This experience was deeply upsetting because I felt my concerns about pain were dismissed, and something serious was almost missed. I’m sharing this so future patients are encouraged to ask for a second opinion if they feel unheard.

I was traveling through Chicago and needed some follow-up on a prior derm procedure. I worked with Charlotte and Theo to get an appt on very short notice and Dr. Peterson was great. She explained my condition, options for treatment, her recommendation and then she did the actual procedure. I started with Charlotte and Theo for scheduling. They spoke with Dr. Peterson to see if she could fit me in. They called back and followed-up as promised. They were polite, efficient, and truly seemed to care about getting me in with the Doctor. 5+ stars for this practice. Highly recommended!

After relocating to Chicago in 2023, I struggled to find a dermatologist but am so glad to have finally found this practice. I had my annual cancer screening with Lauren Agostinacchio and found her to be incredibly knowledgeable, thorough, and kind. Would happily recommend this practice to anyone.

I felt like I was in very good hands with Erin K. Peterson MD. Personable and extremely thorough. I highly recommend this practice..

I gave Dr Conrad 5 stars for her skills, and an updated review from me gives her 1 star. If I could, I would give her practice and Forefront (who bought them in 10/2024) a zero. Bad billing practices that have overcharged me and my insurance company beyond reasonable. A very poor experience with office staff personal from Forefront Corporate and local office staff. No returned calls from Dr. Conrad after several attempts. Would never go there again. While a great dermatologist, she and Dr Peterson sold their practices to the Devil and they will likely pay for it with lost patients.