OFFICE POLICIES

APPOINTMENTS

Our office is open for you Monday through Friday according to the schedule on our home page. In the event you need to cancel an appointment, we ask that you kindly give us 24 hours notice so we may give the appointment to another patient.

New patients who do not keep their appointment without appropriate cancellation notice will not be permitted to join the practice after two failed attempts. Established patients who show a pattern of repeatedly not keeping appointments will be asked to find another practice.

New patients must have their records transferred prior to making their first appointment. This is to ensure the proper continuity of care by having records available at the time of the first visit.

COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE OFFICE

Please click here for our contact information and contact policies.

FINANCIAL POLICY

Some services may not be covered by your insurance but may still be recommended by your doctor. You are responsible for knowing what services are covered by your insurance and what testing requires advanced authorizations. Payment for services is expected at the time of service unless arrangements are made prior to service. As a courtesy to you, our billing service will file insurance claims for services rendered on your behalf. However, having insurance does not relieve you of responsibility for payment. Financial statements will be mailed to you. Any balance left unpaid for 90 days may be turned over to a collection agency. You will be responsible for all collection and legal fees. Financial arrangements can be made for payment of bills that are more than $250. Co-pays and deductibles must be paid at the time of service. A charge of $5 dollars will be added to Co-pays not paid at the time of visit. We accept payment by cash, check or credit card. All credit cards are accepted online via PayPal. MC and Visa are accepted in the office.

PRESCRIPTION REFILLS

Please provide us with your pharmacy name, city and street when you place your request. You should allow at least 3 business days for your prescriptions to be sent to your pharmacy. Prescriptions are sent to the pharmacy electronically.

Refills will not be called in emergently, after-hours, or on weekends. New medications will not be prescribed over the phone; a visit with the doctor will be required. Please note, if you are out of your routine medication, it may mean that you are due for a visit with the doctor.

TREATMENT OVER THE PHONE

It is our policy not to provide treatment over the telephone. It is not considered good medical practice. In limited situations, at the doctor's discretion, treatment may be started over the phone with an office visit recommended as soon as it is available. You can download this link to read a nice explanation of the reasons why pediatricians (or doctors in general) cannot prescribe medication over the phone or use this direct link to the website of origin.

CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES

Controlled substances, for example Percocet, Valium, among many others, are dispensed only in certain specific circumstances as deemed appropriate by the doctor. With the exception of medications for ADHD, they are dispensed only for brief, non-renewable period. They are never refilled over the phone; an office visit will be required. There will be no refills for lost or otherwise destroyed prescriptions or pills.

REFERRALS

You are responsible for knowing if your insurance requires a referral to see a specialist. Referrals will be granted at the discretion of the doctor. For the most part, you will need to be seen first. Referrals can often be “back-dated” if there is a delay in processing, depending on your insurance plan's rules. Please allow three business days for the processing of a referral.

Last updated September 30, 2011