In order for us to continue to deliver quality of care for our patients and families, it has become necessary to make some changes in our financial policies. The following is a list of guidelines that are necessary in order to continue to provide high quality care and make your visit as pleasant as possible.
1. We ask that you present your insurance card at each visit. It is your responsibility to provide us with the correct information to bill your insurance.
2. If you have a change of address, telephone numbers(s), or employer, please notify the receptionist and we will provide you a form to update.
3. We will collect your deductible, co-payment or charge for non-covered services at the time of your visit. If you have a balance after an insurance payment from a previous service, we will also ask for that payment. For your convenience, we accept cash, checks, Visa and MasterCard.
4. If we do not participate with your insurance, we will file your claims as a courtesy and payment will be due at the time of service.
5. If your insurance denies our charges, or does not pay us in a timely manner, you will be billed for the entire balance. You will be expected to pay your balance in full within 60 days or call our billing office to make payment arrangements. If you do not pay in a timely manner, your account may be referred to a collection agency and reported to the credit bureau.
6. HMO/PPO Patients: If we participate with your plan we will bill your insurance for you as a courtesy. Your co-payment will be collected at the time of service, no exceptions. The person bringing the child in for the visit is responsible for payment. If your co-payment is not paid at the time of service there will be a $5 billing fee added to your account. If your plan requires you to choose a primary care physician, it is your responsibility to make sure your insurance company has the physician you are seeing in our office as your PCP. If your plan requires you to have an authorization to see a specialist you will need to contact our referral coordinator 24hours prior to your appointment with the specialist. NO RETROACTIVE REFERRALS WILL BE GIVEN (exception will be emergency room/minor care visits).
If we are not the primary care physician of record with your insurance carrier we will be unable to obtain an authorization to see a specialist or admit to the hospital and will require payment in full at the time of service.
7. Patients that do not have insurance or proof of insurance (card or enrollment form) will be expected to pay in full at the time of service. Patients unable to pay in full will make payment arrangements with the billing department prior to their appointment or immediately after seeing the physician.
8. No-Show or Missed Appointments: When an appointment is not cancelled in advance, and the patient no-shows it affects other patients. Another patient that needed to be seen was not because the time slot was already taken and not cancelled. We understand there may be times when you are unable to keep an appointment, but we ask the courtesy of a phone call to cancel your appointment. Our office reserves the right to charge $25 for appointments not cancelled. If three appointments are missed without cancellation you will be asked to find another physician for your child/children.
9. As you know we have more than one provider in the clinic at all times, if you are in the waiting room more that 30 minutes please let the receptionist know so we can check on the wait for you. Our providers try their best to run on time, however, we do have emergencies and some patients require extra time for their illness. Please be patient, as we will provide you with the best possible care when we see your child/children.
Please remember whether you do or do not have insurance, you are ultimately financially responsible for payment of your charges. If you have any questions regarding our financial policy, please inform the receptionist and a representative from the billing office will help you.