We will gladly file insurance for patients who participate in our managed care plans
after we have verified their benefits. In order to file for you, we
require proof of insurance prior to the appointment with the physician.
Please contact the office to determine if we are providers for your managed care plan.
We must have your valid, current and verifiable insurance card prior to filing charges with your insurance company.
Copays/Co-Insurance
Most insurance companies require that we collect a copay/co-insurance
from you each time that we provide services for your child.
If you need to return for the following reasons:
to bring back lab work,
for hearing and vision screening, or
for immunizations
on a day other than on the day of the original visit, you will be
required, by your insurance company, to pay your copay/co-insurance
both for the day of the original visit and on the day that you return
to the office.
If for whatever reason, your insurance company does not ask for an
additional co-pay/co-insurance, we will credit your account when we
receive a complete explanation of benefits from them.
Aetna EPO
Aetna HMO/POS
Aetna PPO
BC/BS HMO/POS
BC/BS Open Access
BC/BS PPO
BC/BS Private
Beechstreet
Choice Care (Humana PPO)
Cigna EPO
Cigna HMO/POS
Cigna PPO
Coventry HMO/POS
Coventry PPO
Evolutions
First Health PPO
1st Medical Network
Galaxy PPO
Great West HMO/POS
Great West PPO
Humana HMO/POS
Life Well Health Partners EPO
Life Well Health Partners PPO
Multiplan
NovaNet
PHCS POS, PPO, EPO (now known as Multiplan)
PPO Next (now known as Viant)
Preferred Plan of Georgia
Southcare PPO (now known as First Health)
United Health Care - UHC HMO
UHC PPO
UHC EPO
UHC POS
Unicare
USA Managed Care
In order to better serve your children, Pediatric Physicians, PC would like for you to understand our financial policy.
Medical Services
It is the goal of PPPC that the services charged to your account
accurately reflect the level of service provided to your child, as
documented on the child's chart. Per current industry standards, the
level of service is determined by evaluating the following components:
HISTORY
EXAMINATION
MEDICAL DECISION MAKING
COUNSELING
COORDINATION OF CARE
NATURE OF PRESENTING PROBLEM
TIME
Because we can not predict exactly what services will be provided for
your child, we can not precisely tell you ahead of time how much your
charges will be. For example: if a child comes for a re-check visit,
but has new symptoms that are not related to the original diagnosis and
the child is treated or diagnosed for those new symptoms, the charges
for the re-check visit will reflect the higher level of service
provided.
In addition, our charges reflect the primary reason for the visit (ie: well check-up vs. sick visit).
Payment
Payment is expected at the time of service. We accept cash, personal
checks, credit cards (Visa and Mastercard), and check cards.
There is a 30% courtesy discount for all self-pay patients paying in full at time of service.
Appointments
In order to stay on schedule, we appreciate that you be on time for
your appointment. Please call 24 hours in advance if you are unable to
keep your appointment. Appointments not canceled within 24 hours are
subject to an office visit charge. You may cancel an appointment by
calling (770) 518-9277, 24 hours a day. Appointments more than 15
minutes late may need to be rescheduled.
Statements
Account statements are sent each month to all patients with balances
that are patient responsible. Insurance billable items are not billed
to you until your insurance company informs us that the charges are
your responsibility. If you believe that we are billing you in error
please let us know immediately.
Walk-Ins
Patients who are not having a medical emergency and ask to be seen by a
physician without having a scheduled appointment will be charged a
$10.00 walk-in fee.
Copies of Charge Tickets
If you would like an itemized copy of the services provided to you,
please ask for one when you check-out. If at a later date you require
copies from us, there will be a charge of $15.00 for each charge
ticket.
Returned Checks
Patients whose checks are returned by our bank, will be charged a $15.00 fee.
Refunds
Refunds are issued to all patient accounts that have a credit balance
of over $50.00. When possible, this is done at the beginning of each
month.
Collections
Accounts with balances older than six months, which have not had
payment on the oldest balance for that period of time, may be turned
over to a collection agency.
Price Increases
Our price schedule is reviewed on an annual basis.
Professional Courtesy
We regret that due to the Healthcare Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act (HIPAA), we are not able to offer this time honored
consideration to colleagues and friends for whom we file insurance
claims.
IF YOU FEEL THAT, BECAUSE OF YOUR PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES, YOU WILL NOT
BE ABLE TO ABIDE BY THE POLICY STATED ABOVE, PLEASE TALK TO US ABOUT
MAKING SPECIAL PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS FOR YOUR FAMILY.
EFFECTIVE DATE APRIL 1, 2003
NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES
THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND
DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.
HOW WE MAY USE AND DISCLOSE MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU. The
following categories describe different ways that we use and disclose
medical information. For each category of uses or disclosures, we will
elaborate on the meaning and provide more specific examples, if you
request. Not every use or disclosure in a category will be listed.
However, all of the ways we are permitted to use and disclose
information will fall within one of the categories.
For Payment. We may use and disclose medical information
about you so that the treatment and services you receive at the
practice may be billed to and payment may be collected from you, an
insurance company or a third party. For example: we may disclose your
record to an insurance company, so that we can get paid for treating
you.
For Treatment. We may use medical information about you
to provide you with medical treatment or services. We may disclose
medical information about you to doctors, nurses, technicians, medical
students, or other personnel who are involved in taking care of you at
the practice or the hospital. For example, we may disclose medical
information about you to people outside the practice who may be
involved in your medical care, such as family members, clergy or other
persons that are part of your care.
For Health Care Operations. We may use and disclose
medical information about you for health care operations. These uses
and disclosures are necessary to run the practice and ensure that all
of our patients receive quality care. We may also disclose information
to doctors, nurses, technicians, medical students, and other practice
personnel for review and learning purposes. For example, we may review
your record to assist our quality improvement efforts.
WHO WILL FOLLOW THIS NOTICE. This notice describes our
practice's policies and procedures and that of any health care
professional authorized to enter information into your medical chart,
any member of a volunteer group which we allow to help you, as well as
all employees, staff and other practice personnel.
POLICY REGARDING THE PROTECTION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION. We
create a record of the care and services you receive at the practice.
We need this record in order to provide you with quality care and to
comply with certain legal requirements. This notice applies to all of
the records of your care generated by the practice, whether made by
practice personnel or by your personal doctor. The law requires us to:
make sure that medical information that identifies you is kept private;
give you this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with
respect to medical information about you; and to follow the terms of
the notice that is currently in effect. Other ways we may use or
disclose your protected healthcare information include: appointment
reminders; as required by law; for health-related benefits and
services; to individuals involved in your care or payment for your
care; research; to avert a serious threat to health or safety; and for
treatment alternatives. Other uses and disclosures of your personal
information could include disclosure to, or for: coroners, medical
examiners and funeral directors; health oversight activities; inmates;
law enforcement; lawsuits and disputes; military and veterans; national
security and intelligence activities; organ and tissue donation;
protective services for the President and others; public health risks;
and worker's compensation.
NOTICE OF INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS
You have the following rights regarding medical information we maintain about you:
Right to an Accounting of Disclosures. You have the right
to request an "accounting of disclosures." This is a list of the
disclosures we made of medical information about you. To request this
list or accounting of disclosures, you must submit your request in
writing to the Privacy Officer.
Right to Amend. If you feel that medical information we
have about you is incorrect or incomplete, you may ask us to amend the
information. You have the right to request an amendment for as long as
the information is kept by, or for, the practice. To request an
amendment, your request must be made in writing and submitted to the
Privacy Officer and you must provide a reason that supports your
request. We may deny your request for an amendment.
Right to Inspect and Copy. You have the right to inspect
and copy medical information that may be used to make decisions about
your care. We may deny your request to inspect and copy in certain very
limited circumstances.
Right to a Paper Copy of this Notice. You have the right to a paper copy of this notice. You may ask us to give you a copy of this notice at any time.
Right to Request Confidential Communications. You have
the right to request that we communicate with you about medical matters
in a certain way or at a certain location. You must make your request
in writing and you must specify how or where you wish to be contacted.
Right to Request Restrictions. You have the right to
request a restriction or limitation on the medical information we use
or disclose about you for treatment, payment or health care operations.
You also have the right to request a limit on the medical information
we disclose about you to someone who is involved in your care or the
payment for your care, like a family member or friend. We are not required to agree to your request.
If we do agree, we will comply with your request unless the information
is needed to provide you emergency treatment. To request restrictions,
you must make your request in writing to the Privacy Officer.
CHANGES TO THIS NOTICE. We reserve the right to change this notice. We will post a copy of the current notice in the practice's waiting room.
COMPLAINTS. If you believe your privacy rights have been
violated, you may file a complaint with the practice or with the
Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. To file a
complaint with the practice, contact Jose A. De Urioste, Business Manager/Privacy Officer at 770-518-9277. All complaints must be submitted in writing. You will not be penalized for filing a complaint.
OTHER USES OF MEDICAL INFORMATION. Other uses and disclosures of
medical information not covered by this notice or the laws that apply
to use will be made only with your written authorization. If you
provide us permission to use or disclose medical information about you,
you may revoke that permission, in writing, at any time.
If you have any questions about this notice or would like to receive a
more detailed explanation, please contact our Privacy Officer.
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medical advice: It is not intended to, and does not, provide medical
advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, graphics,
images, and information, is for general informational purposes only.
NEVER DISREGARD PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE, OR DELAY IN SEEKING IT,
BECAUSE OF SOMETHING YOU HAVE READ IN THESE CONTENT RESOURCES. NEVER
RELY ON INFORMATION IN THESE CONTENT RESOURCES IN PLACE OF SEEKING
PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE.