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Financial Policy
Your Responsibility
You are financially responsible for the services we provide to you. We
understand that many patients arrange for insurance companies to pay for a large
portion of medical claims. However, the patient (or legal guardian if the
patient is a child) is ultimately responsible for the bill if the insurance
company does not pay.
As a
courtesy to you, we will file a claim to your primary and secondary insurance
plans. We do expect payment of co-payments and payment for services not covered
by insurance plans at the time of service. If you have more than two insurance
plans, we will be glad to provide you with the forms you need to file a claim
with a third or fourth insurance plan. Any balance remaining after insurance
has paid their part of the covered portion will be due upon receipt of a bill
(e.g. Coinsurance, Deductible, non-covered, etc.).
Patients Without Insurance
Kernodle Clinic is pleased to be able to provide services to patients that do
not have insurance. However, if you do not have insurance you will be expected
to pay a minimum deposit before services will be provided. If you are unable to
pay the full balance due within 30 days after services are rendered, please see
a financial counselor to discuss monthly payment arrangements.
Medicare Patients
Kernodle Clinic accepts Medicare assignment. We will bill your secondary
insurance if you provide us the proper insurance information. You are
responsible for the applicable coinsurance and deductibles, and charges for
non-covered services. In addition to the bill we send, you should also receive
an explanation from Medicare indicating how much you owe.
Medicaid Patients
Kernodle Clinic accepts Medicaid assignment. A current Medicaid card must be
presented at each visit and you will be required to pay the co-pay at the time
of service. If you have exceeded the legislative limits for the year as set
forth by Medicaid, you will be held responsible for the charges. If you have
“Carolina Access” please be sure to bring your referral from your primary care
physician if seeing a specialist physician.
Private Insurance Patients
Kernodle Clinic accepts assignment for most major insurances. You will be
required to pay applicable co-payments at the time of service and you are
responsible for any coinsurance, deductibles, and payments for non-covered
services.
HMO
Patients
If Kernodle Clinic participates with your insurance, you will be required to pay
the applicable co-pay at the time of service. When required by your HMO plan,
you are responsible for obtaining a referral from your Primary Care Physician.
If you do not have a proper referral, you may be required to reschedule your
appointment. If services are rendered without a valid referral authorization
you will be expected to sign a waiver and will be responsible for payment.
Liability Insurance
If you are involved in an
accident we will be pleased to provide medical care for you. In most cases, we
do not, however, file claims with third-party liability insurance plans. We
will either file the claim with you medical insurance or we will expect a
deposit from you and payments from you for all balances incurred.
METHODS OF PAYMENT
We
accept cash, check, VISA, MasterCard and Discover. We do not accept post-dated
checks, nor will we hold checks for any length of time. Payment arrangements
may be made as necessary.
RETURNED CHECKS
There will be a $25.00 fee assessed for any and all checks returned from the
bank for any reason.
MINOR PATIENTS
For all services rendered to minor patients, the adult accompanying the patient
is responsible for payment. Even if the parents are divorced the parent that
accompanies the child to the doctor is responsible for payment, regardless of
the terms of the custodial agreement.
PRIOR BALANCE
Patients with a prior balance at the time services are requested, will be asked
to pay the prior balance in full before being seen. If the balance cannot be
paid in full, then we may consider monthly payment arrangements.
INFORMATION CHANGE
Please advise us of any address or phone number changes promptly.
COLLECTION PROCEDURES
Members of our billing department are always available to help you with
questions and or payment arrangements. Once made in writing, agreements are
binding. We consider payment by the patient for services rendered to be an
important part of the patient’s role in the patient/physician relationship.
Prompt payment for services rendered is expected and failure to comply or
respond to repeated communications from our office may result in discharge from
the practice and/or involvement of an outside collection agency. Once an
account has been referred to an outside agency, prior balances must be resolved
before being seen by a physician.
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