Navigating the financial aspects of healthcare can often be confusing, especially when it comes to your child’s well-being. At Greenvale Pediatrics, our primary focus is on providing exceptional medical care for your children. To ensure we can continue to offer this high standard of care, it’s important for parents and caregivers to understand our financial policies. This guide outlines the key aspects of our payment and insurance procedures at Greenvale Pediatrics Doctors’ office.
Payment Expectations at Greenvale Pediatrics Doctors
To maintain the quality of our services, Greenvale Pediatrics requires payment for professional fees at the time services are rendered. It’s important to note that your financial obligation is directly to Greenvale Pediatrics, and not contingent upon your insurance company’s payments. This means that co-payments and payments for services not covered by your insurance are expected when you check in for your appointment. Understanding these immediate payment expectations will help ensure a smooth and efficient visit to our clinic.
Insurance Plans Accepted by Greenvale Pediatrics Doctors
Greenvale Pediatrics doctors are proud to participate with a wide range of insurance plans to make quality healthcare accessible for your family. We currently accept the following insurance providers:
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama
- Alabama Medicaid
- United Healthcare
- VIVA Health
- Aetna
- Cigna
- Tricare Standard
While we participate with these major insurers, it is ultimately the patient or caregiver’s responsibility to thoroughly understand their specific insurance benefit plan. This includes knowing whether your plan requires a written referral or pre-authorization to see specialists, if pre-authorization is needed for certain procedures, and precisely what services are covered under your plan. Proactive communication with your insurance provider will help avoid unexpected costs and ensure seamless coverage for your child’s healthcare needs at Greenvale Pediatrics doctors’ office.
Options for Uninsured Patients at Greenvale Pediatrics Doctors
Greenvale Pediatrics is committed to providing care for all children. For patients without insurance coverage, we offer services on a cash basis. The specific charges for these services will be determined by the physician. Furthermore, in documented cases of genuine financial hardship, Greenvale Pediatrics doctors may exercise discretion to waive certain fees. We believe that financial concerns should not be a barrier to accessing essential pediatric care. Please discuss any financial concerns with our office staff to explore available options.
Key Financial Policy Points for Greenvale Pediatrics Doctors’ Patients
Upon arrival at Greenvale Pediatrics, you will be asked to sign an agreement acknowledging your responsibility for payment for any services rendered that are not covered by your insurance. Given the complexity and variety of insurance plans, it is not feasible for Greenvale Pediatrics to track the specifics of every individual plan. Therefore, it is crucial to proactively verify your insurance coverage, especially before scheduling well-child appointments. It’s important to confirm if your plan covers preventive services such as well-child check-ups, annual or sports physicals, vaccinations, routine laboratory tests, and hearing and vision screenings. If your insurance plan does not cover any of these services, the patient or caregiver will be responsible for payment at the time of the visit.
It’s also important to be aware that not all medically necessary services ordered by Greenvale Pediatrics doctors are covered by every insurance plan. For specialized lab tests not performed in our clinic, we utilize LabCorp as our preferred referral laboratory. Most major insurance plans typically cover services provided by LabCorp. However, it is essential to confirm with your insurance provider that they accept LabCorp to avoid potential out-of-pocket expenses for non-covered lab work. Similarly, if radiology services are required, please be aware that radiology centers may bill separately, and these charges may be subject to your deductible or may not be covered by your plan. Familiarizing yourself with the details of your insurance coverage is essential. Any service deemed medically necessary by our physicians that is not covered by your insurance will be the financial responsibility of the patient or caregiver.
To ensure efficient operations and fairness to all patients, Greenvale Pediatrics has established fees for certain administrative and procedural situations:
- A $5 fee is applied for nonpayment of co-pays at the time of service.
- A $25 fee is charged for all returned checks.
- A $35 fee will be assessed for missed appointments or appointments not rescheduled with at least 24 hours’ notice. After three instances of unkept or uncanceled appointments, Greenvale Pediatrics doctors reserve the right to discharge a patient from the practice.
- A $5 processing fee applies to immunization records (blue cards) and physical, sports, or camp forms completed outside of a scheduled office visit. This fee helps to offset the administrative costs associated with processing these forms.
If you anticipate needing special payment arrangements, please contact our billing office to discuss your situation. Accounts overdue by 90 days may be referred to an external collection agency. We encourage open communication regarding any financial difficulties to avoid collection actions and ensure continued care for your child. Once an account is turned over to collections, we will unfortunately be unable to continue providing medical care for your child.
Understanding Sick with Well Visits at Greenvale Pediatrics Doctors
For your convenience, Greenvale Pediatrics doctors offer “Sick with Well” visits. This service allows you to address acute illness concerns during your child’s scheduled well-child check-up, preventing the need for an additional visit. While this is a convenient option, it may result in an additional billing code. Consequently, your insurance company may assess a co-pay for this combined service, even if well-child check-ups are typically covered without a co-pay. The coverage and co-pay implications for “Sick with Well” visits are determined by your specific insurance plan. Some plans may fully cover the combined service, others may require a separate co-pay, and some may not cover the additional sick visit portion at all. These billing matters are ultimately between you and your insurance provider. We strongly recommend contacting your insurer or HR department prior to your visit to understand the coverage details for “Sick with Well” services under your plan.
Our commitment at Greenvale Pediatrics doctors’ office remains to provide high-quality, comprehensive healthcare for your child, adhering to the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics and maintaining appropriate billing policies. Understanding our financial policies helps us partner with you in ensuring your child receives the best possible medical care.
