Financial and Office Policies
Financial Policies
Financial Policies
Updated 08/2023
We thank you for choosing Partners in Pediatrics for your child's care. As one of our families, we want to keep you informed of our current financial policies.
INSURANCE
It is your responsibility to provide current or updated insurance information at every visit, including any secondary coverage. At times insurers change member ID numbers or copays, so we verify each visit to aid you in avoiding an unexpected bill.
Insurers frequently require you designate a PCP (primary care physician . Please ensure we are listed or we will ask you to call and rectify this prior to being seen.
If another adult is bringing your child please confirm insurance information prior the appointment. If your child arrives with another family member and we cannot confirm active insurance, we will attempt to contact you by phone, but the visit may be delayed or rescheduled.
If your insurance is inactive or cannot be verified, you have the option of rescheduling or paying "self-pay" rates. Self-pay rates are collected at the time of the visit; if insurance is later retroactively verified you will be reimbursed.
Certain services such as lab testing or other procedures may fall under your deductible. For any concerns with account balances, please refer to your insurance policy, and/or our billing specialist may be able to explain as well.
PAYMENT / OVERDUE ACCOUNTS
Copayments are due at the time of service as a contractual obligation with your insurer. If your child is accompanied by another adult family member or an older child is coming alone, please send copayment with them or pre-pay via credit card/debit card over the phone.
Payment for balances reaching over 30 days will be requested over the phone via credit or debit. We now keep credit cards on file for accounts with deductible balances or with a pattern of being overdue.
We understand dealing with insurers is complex, but need you to address bills or concerns in a timely manner. Our billing manager Courtney will reach out via email, phone, and postal mailing for overdue accounts, and also can help explain "Explanation of Benefits" or EOBs. She is available Monday through Friday 9-5.
Returned checks for insufficient funds will incur an additional $25 fee.
MISSED APPOINTMENTS
If you are unable to keep a scheduled appointment, please call our office at least 24 hours in advance to reschedule. Cancelling an appointment the day of is considered a missed appointment. With the elevated number of no show or last-minute cancellations occurring, we may charge a $50 missed appointment fee. Three (3) missed appointments per family in a year will likely result in dismissal from the practice. Also, new patients who do not keep their first appointment will not be rebooked.
DIVORCED, SEPARATED, OR UNMARRIED PARENTS
Regardless of divorce or other financial arrangement copayments are due at time of service. Additionally, the caretaker present is responsible for conveying information about the visit to other family members, and an "after visit summary" is also provided to aid with this.
REQUEST FOR MEDICAL RECORDS
A copy of medical records may be requested with a signed release form. There is a $15 charge, due at the time of request, which may be paid over the phone via credit card. We require 30 days to complete transfer of records.
ADDING ON AN ADDITIONAL SIBLING VISIT
Please call prior to a scheduled visit if you need an additional child seen; we may need to change your appointment time to accommodate this request. If an Add-on appointment requires a copayment, it will be collected at the time of visit.
FORMS
We provide updated school forms and immunization records at routine physicals. Please scan this copy, email yourself, or take photos of this for your phone--this is your copy for the year to use with daycares, schools, and camps. Additional copies will incur a $10 charge. Requests at other times or for other forms may take 5 business days to complete.