Due to the ever changing insurance plans and policies and the growing costs associated with those plans/policies, we are instituting a new office policy beginning January 1st, 2023.
Our Doctors and staff are dedicated to providing the best possible care and treatment for your children regardless of source of payment. When the office runs efficiently and appointments are kept on time, our patients are happier. In order for this to occur and to benefit everyone involved, we have implemented the following policies.
Insurance
With the ever changing amount of insurance companies and plans that are offered today it is impossible for Pediatrics of Florence to be aware of what each insurance plan covers. It is important for you to be aware of what your specific plan covers. You are responsible for knowing if it covers well care, sick office visits, immunizations, and if you have a copay, coinsurance or deductible and what those amounts are. We require you to have a current copy of your insurance card at every visit. This card is a way of confirming your child’s coverage. If you do not have a copy of your insurance card and cannot provide us with verification of insurance coverage, you will be treated as a self-pay account until we have received your insurance information. If we are not listed as the primary care physician on your child’s insurance card, you will be required to change this with your insurance company before we can see your child.
Payment
If your insurance contract requires a copayment, we will collect that at the time of service. A $10 administrative fee will be assessed for any copayment that is not paid on the date of your visit. If there is an outstanding balance on your account then your copay must be paid at time of service, No exceptions.
If your insurance is a high deductible plan, we will require a payment of $75 per child to be paid at the time of service. The remainder of the balance is due in 30 days and we will invoice you for this amount. Many deductible plans cover preventative care and we will not collect payment at these visits. Self- pay patients are required to pay their balance in full before leaving the office.
All balances not covered by insurance must be paid in full within 30 days unless other arrangements have been made. If your balance becomes 90 days past due and you have not contacted us to make payment arrangements, we will be forced to send your account to a collection agency. You will be responsible for any collection fees or services that are charged. Once the account leaves our office, we must permanently terminate the patient/ physician relationship. There will be a $30 charge for any returned checks and the complete balance must be paid in full within 10 days.
No Show / Cancellation
It is important to arrive on time and keep all scheduled appointments. If you arrive at your appointment late you may be asked to reschedule or may have to be moved to another time so that the patients who did arrive on time do not have to be kept waiting. Appointments that are not cancelled with 24 hour notice will be charged a fee of $50. There will also be a $25 late cancellation fee for appointments not cancelled in a timely manner. We realize that emergencies do arise and if you must cancel an appointment the same day, allowances may be made. If you have missed 3 appointments without cancellation within a year, you will be dismissed from the practice.
It is our primary goal to make sure that your family is well taken care of and receive the best care possible. It is the policy of this office that whoever brings in the patient is responsible for payment at the time of service. We understand that a custody decree will sometimes name one party the responsible party for medical bills. This however is a matter that should be resolved between the parents outside of the office before the visit so the payment is made at the time of service. If you are sending your child to their visit with another representative such as a grandparent or relative, please call with payment prior to visit or make sure to send the payment with them.
Posted in: Policies and Procedures