LATE FEES/NO SHOW FEES

Our goal is to provide quality, individualized medical care in a timely manner to our patients. No shows and late cancellations inconvenience those individuals who need access to medical care in a timely manner. Therefore, to be respectful of the medical needs of our other patients, please be courteous and call our office promptly if you are unable to show up for your appointment. If it is necessary to cancel your appointment, we require that you call at least 24 hours in advance. Appointments are in high demand, and your early cancellation will give another patient the possibility to access timely medical care. To cancel your appointment, please call 334-745-6447 or send a message through your patient portal so there is a timestamp associated with your cancellation. If you do not cancel your appointment 24 hours in advance, or do not show up for your appointment, you will be charged a $40 late cancellation/no show fee. We require that this fee is paid before you will be able to schedule your next appointment.

 

WHEN DO I HAVE TO PAY FOR PREVENTATIVE CARE?

If your provider finds a health problem or you bring up a problem that needs to be addressed during an annual/wellness exam, you may have to pay additional fees. Why? Once a problem is found, your exam is no longer considered preventative, it becomes diagnostic or non-routine. If patients choose to continue discussing an issue at their annual wellness exam, insurance may leave patients responsible for a copayment. When diagnostic care is needed, your out-of pocket costs depends on your insurance coverage and tests or services needed. By having these procedures done, you are agreeing to pay for any services not covered by insurance. The government requires medical providers to report all diagnoses to the insurance companies. Your insurance company and your specific policy plan  determine what you pay at visits, not our office. 

 

OUTSTANDING BALANCES MUST BE PAID IN FULL BEFORE SCHEDULING AN APPOINTMENT

Fiscal responsibility is part of your care plan. When calling to schedule an appointment, our call center will verify basic information to ensure your information is up to date and accurate. Additionally, they will check to see if there is an outstanding balance on your account. Patients with outstanding balances are welcome to make a payment through their Patient Portal or make a payment over the phone to resolve their balance. An appointment will not be scheduled for patients with an outstanding balance. 

 

BILLING CYCLE SUMMARY/COLLECTIONS

Patient balances should be paid in full when your statement is received. Outstanding balances greater than 90 days old are eligible to be turned over to a collection agency employed by our office. This agency charges a service fee to collect the outstanding balance. Once a patient has been turned over to collections, payments will no longer be accepted by our office for this balance. The collection agency is responsible for collecting payment and passing payment to our office. In an effort to avoid accruing additional debt, appointments will not be scheduled for patients who are currently in collections. Once a collection has been paid in full, patients are welcome to schedule their next appointment.

 

“SELF PAY” POLICY

Patients who either do not have current/active insurance information on file with our office or do not have insurance at all will be designated as a “self pay” patient. These patients are required to pay a $150 deposit per visit per type of appointment before they will be seen by a provider. This deposit will be applied to any charges that are acquired as a result of the visit. If the charges are greater than the $150 deposit, there will be a balance due on the account. This balance must be paid in full prior to scheduling another appointment.

 

OB BENEFITS POLICY

In an effort to provide clear transparent financial responsibility for our obstetrics patients, our office OB Benefits Coordinator will meet with patients at their OB complete appointment. A statement will be generated to show the patient’s responsibility for both a C- section and vaginal delivery based on the patient’s insurance information currently on file. Patients may choose to pay the delivery fee at that time or in 8 installments. The total amount of the installment payment will be calculated and expected at each of the remaining appointments until the total amount owed is reached. Please keep in mind, each pregnancy is different and there may be additional hospital, lab or provider fees based on the specific circumstances surrounding the pregnancy and delivery.

 

IN OFFICE PROCEDURES POLICY

Our In Office Benefits Coordinator will contact the patient’s insurance agency to verify benefits as well as patient financial responsibility information. Patients will be contacted with an estimate for the procedure and required to sign an In Office Benefits Form. Due to the high demand of patient appointments, patients needing in office procedures such as IUD insertion/removal, colposcopy, LEEP, hysteroscopy, hormone pellet therapy etc. will be required to pay for this procedure in full prior to scheduling the procedure. Patients should keep in mind, benefit verifications are not a guarantee of payment by insurance companies. Any balances left by insurance companies will be the patient’s responsibility. Patients may also receive a separate bill from third party companies that are not included in Lee OBGYN service fees (e.g. Synergy, East Alabama Health, Natera etc.)

SURGERY POLICY

Coordinating a surgical procedure takes time and planning. Our office Surgery Scheduler will contact the patient’s insurance agency to verify benefits as well as patient financial responsibility information. Patients will be contacted with an estimate for the procedure and required to sign a Surgical Financial Responsibility Form. Due to the high demand of patient appointments, patients needing surgery will be required to pay for this procedure in full prior to scheduling the procedure. Please keep in mind, each surgery is different and there may be additional hospital, lab or provider fees based on the specific circumstances surrounding the surgical procedure. Patients should keep in mind, benefit verifications are not a guarantee of payment by insurance companies. Any balances left by insurance companies will be the patient’s responsibility. Patients may also receive a separate bill from third party companies that are not included in Lee OBGYN service fees (e.g. Synergy, East Alabama Health, Natera etc.)