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Urology Specialists and Associates
[Payment
Policy] [Phone Calls] [Refill
Requests] [Lab Results]
Fees, Billing and Insurance - Many
of the fees incurred by patients seeking attention from a urologist are
of a technical nature somewhat different from that experienced in other
physician offices. Because the practice of urology must rely heavily
upon the diagnosis obtained by cystoscopy, X-ray and ultrasound as well
as certain specialized blood and urine tests, the patient may from time
to time be confronted with a bill which is more than they are accustomed
to seeing from another specialist. Our initial visits and our subsequent
office visits are customarily paid for at the time of service. However,
payments for larger bills incurred in the office or hospital as a result
of numerous diagnostic procedures can be arranged for you by our patient
accounts manager.
Surgical Fees - Surgical fees for non-elective procedures
are to be filed with the appropriate insurance carrier. After payment
has been made by your insurance carrier you may receive a bill from us
for any unpaid balance. Please remember this unpaid balance may reflect
in part whether you have met your deductible, whether there are any adjustments,
co-payments from other insurance companies, etc. Most insurance companies
do not pay the full amount of the surgical bill because of the variables
relating to the deductible, the co-payment, etc. Where possible, we will
attempt to give you an estimate ahead of time as to what you may be expected
to pay out of pocket after your insurance company has paid the covered
amount.
Past Due Accounts -
All accounts are due and payable within 30 days of receipt of charges
or 30 days after insurance has paid. Accounts are considered past due
after 90 days unless specific arrangements are made for payment of a
bill in installments. After 90 days if no arrangements have been made
your account will be reported as delinquent to an appropriate credit
agency. This delinquency will remain on your credit record and prevent
you from obtaining credit in the future. This deficiency can be avoided
or removed by the prompt payment of your past due account. Should you
have special financial circumstances, we ask that you discuss this directly
with your doctor so that an equitable solution can be achieved.
Insurance - A clear understanding of the purpose and
use of medical insurance is important in attempting to reduce the rising
cost of medical care. The money you pay on your policy is not a deposit
of dollars to your account to be drawn on demand. It is a payment to
ensure you and your family against unexpected illness, usually requiring
hospitalization for treatment. Routine check-ups, examinations and diagnostic
evaluations usually are not fully covered by insurance. The specific
services and conditions under which they are covered are specified in
your policy, which is a contract between you and the insurance company.
Questions regarding your specific coverage should be addressed with your
insurance carrier or agent or with your local Medicare office.
PPO
and Managed Care Patients -
We are delighted to be identified as part of a preferred provider organization,
however, the administration of such programs produces a significant administrative
burden upon our personnel. We kindly request that you make special efforts
to have your insurance card and referral authorization at hand when you
visit our office. Many HMO and PPOs require a referral by the primary
care doctor before being seen by a specialist. They require a referral
number and limit the number of times and time period in which you can
be seen in our office. We must have that referral number prior to your
being seen. If you do not have it prior to your appointment you will
have to reschedule the appointment or be responsible for the bill that
day as your insurance company will not pay for that days visit and procedures.
Medicare -
We accept Medicare assignment on all office visits. We also file Medicare
claim forms for office visits. Where Medicare is your secondary insurer
we will assist you in filing those claims also.
Due to the large volume of calls received in our office each day we would request that you be as concise and to the point as possible when you call. Identify yourself and your need (i.e. schedule appointment, obtain lab results, ask medical question, etc.)
Non-emergency calls - These calls should be made to our office at 214-691-1902 during regular office hours 8:30-5:00. Frequently one of our nurses will be able to advise you or to answer your questions. If not, she will refer the call to one of us. The doctor will endeavor to return your call as soon as possible but not in such a way as to inconvenience regularly scheduled patients. Your message will be placed in electronic mail which the physician will answer as soon as he is available. The receptionist will attempt to give you an approximate time when she thinks he will be available to return calls. Please give her a day and evening phone number where you can be reached.
Emergency calls - In the event of an emergency during office hours call the office at 214-691-1902 for instructions. If the office is closed the answering service will receive your call and refer your message to the physician covering after hours. Alternatively, you may call Presbyterian Hospital emergency room at 214-696-7885 or proceed directly to the emergency room most convenient to you and have the staff on duty there get in touch with us. Consequently, the emergency room staff will be asked to perform preliminary evaluation and treatment until your doctor arrives or an appropriate disposition can be made.
Prescription Refill Calls - Calls for refills should be made through your pharmacist during office hours. Many of our prescriptions are written with numerous refills. Please check your prescription bottles before contacting the office. You should not abruptly stop taking any medication of your own accord without first contacting the physician. The sudden cessation of certain drugs can cause withdrawal symptoms. If you begin a new medication and experience a rash or what appears to be an allergic reaction please notify our office immediately and obtain further instructions from the physician. We need to update our medical records when you have an allergic reaction to a medication.
Lab Result Inquiries - Usually the patient will be asked to call the office after a certain time for the results of laboratory testing and X-rays. Often these reports will be given to the patient by the office staff. Should you desire to discuss these results with your physician further, your physician will be most happy to return your call at a time when it does not interfere with his ability to take care of regularly scheduled patients.
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