Financial Policies
East Bay Pediatrics staff handles all of our own billing and insurance contracts. Our staff is thoroughly trained and can answer most questions about your medical bills. Medical billing can be very confusing. This diagram may help explain some of the terminology in medical billing.
Payments
Payment for services is expected at the time of your child's visit. This includes co-pays, deductibles and payment in full when we are not contracted with your insurance carrier. We accept cash, check and credit card (Visa and Mastercard). The accompanying parent or other adult is responsible for full payment and providing current insurance information.You may pay your bill online by clicking this link.
Insurance, Co-Pays and Deductibles
We bill participating insurance companies as a courtesy to you. You are expected to pay your deductible or co-payment at the time of service. You are expected to pay for all services not paid by your insurance carrier within 10 days of receipt of notification from our office by letter or billing statement. If we have not received payment from your insurance company within 60 days of the date of service, you will be expected to pay the balance in full. You are responsible for all charges.
Under the Affordable Care Act, co-pays are not required for well visits; however, some well visits will incur a co-pay or deductible if a “significant abnormality is found during a visit” (from coding expert Donelle). Examples of significant abnormality may include but are not limited to acute illness requiring a prescription, chronic issues with a flare during the visit, above and beyond the normal amount of counseling. In most cases, our physicians will not discuss whether additional payment may be incurred because they are focused on giving the best care possible, not the compensation for that care.
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact our Business Office at (925) 438-1100 & choose option 8 (Hours: 9:30am-12:30pm and 2:00pm-4:30pm, Monday thru Friday).
Fees
Routine forms will incur a basic fee of $10 (EXCEPT FOR MEDICATION FORMS!) unless you bring the form with you at the time of the patient's well visit. Urgent Forms (requested turnaround in 48 business hours or less) have an added total charge of $25. Payments can be made in cash, check or credit card which is required at the time of service or before the forms can be sent out by mail. Due to HIPAA laws, we are unable to fax or mail to any third party; we can only mail them to your home or they can be picked up at either office.
Divorce/Separation
A divorce decree is a legal agreement binding only upon two parties who made the agreement. Therefore, East Bay Pediatrics is not a party to that contract. Both parents remain responsible for the child's bills and that responsibility will be determined by which parent accompanies the child at the time of the visit. Please notify our practice if your divorce or separation agreement includes restricted access to patient records, specific financial responsibility or other specification.
Collections
As stated above, all fees are due at the time of service. Any charges remaining unpaid sixty (60) days after the date of service are considered past due. In this case, we will make every effort to contact the person responsible for the delinquent balance, and arrange an equitable payment schedule. However, if no effort is made to pay the balance due, it may be sent to a collection agency. In this situation, the responsible person will be asked to seek medical care for their child/children elsewhere.
Payments
Payment for services is expected at the time of your child's visit. This includes co-pays, deductibles and payment in full when we are not contracted with your insurance carrier. We accept cash, check and credit card (Visa and Mastercard). The accompanying parent or other adult is responsible for full payment and providing current insurance information.You may pay your bill online by clicking this link.
Insurance, Co-Pays and Deductibles
We bill participating insurance companies as a courtesy to you. You are expected to pay your deductible or co-payment at the time of service. You are expected to pay for all services not paid by your insurance carrier within 10 days of receipt of notification from our office by letter or billing statement. If we have not received payment from your insurance company within 60 days of the date of service, you will be expected to pay the balance in full. You are responsible for all charges.
Under the Affordable Care Act, co-pays are not required for well visits; however, some well visits will incur a co-pay or deductible if a “significant abnormality is found during a visit” (from coding expert Donelle). Examples of significant abnormality may include but are not limited to acute illness requiring a prescription, chronic issues with a flare during the visit, above and beyond the normal amount of counseling. In most cases, our physicians will not discuss whether additional payment may be incurred because they are focused on giving the best care possible, not the compensation for that care.
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact our Business Office at (925) 438-1100 & choose option 8 (Hours: 9:30am-12:30pm and 2:00pm-4:30pm, Monday thru Friday).
Fees
Routine forms will incur a basic fee of $10 (EXCEPT FOR MEDICATION FORMS!) unless you bring the form with you at the time of the patient's well visit. Urgent Forms (requested turnaround in 48 business hours or less) have an added total charge of $25. Payments can be made in cash, check or credit card which is required at the time of service or before the forms can be sent out by mail. Due to HIPAA laws, we are unable to fax or mail to any third party; we can only mail them to your home or they can be picked up at either office.
Divorce/Separation
A divorce decree is a legal agreement binding only upon two parties who made the agreement. Therefore, East Bay Pediatrics is not a party to that contract. Both parents remain responsible for the child's bills and that responsibility will be determined by which parent accompanies the child at the time of the visit. Please notify our practice if your divorce or separation agreement includes restricted access to patient records, specific financial responsibility or other specification.
Collections
As stated above, all fees are due at the time of service. Any charges remaining unpaid sixty (60) days after the date of service are considered past due. In this case, we will make every effort to contact the person responsible for the delinquent balance, and arrange an equitable payment schedule. However, if no effort is made to pay the balance due, it may be sent to a collection agency. In this situation, the responsible person will be asked to seek medical care for their child/children elsewhere.
