Billing & Financial policies

Billing for Internal Medicine of Ithaca, PC

Consultants Unlimited

Contact: Douglas Rockwell

P.O. Box 476

Owego NY 13827

Phone: 607-229-8209

Fax: 607-687-9559

Financial Policies

Internal Medicine of Ithaca, PC is a private practice.  We receive no financial support from any source other than fees for medical services paid by patients or their insurance.  We try to make it as easy as possible for patients to pay their bills to our practice.  However, we cannot be sustainable if our patients or their insurance companies do not pay for the services we provide.

All patients are responsible for paying their co-pay at the time service is provided and for paying any balance due after insurance, immediately after receiving their first statement.

We do not accept credit or debit cards. We only accept exact cash or checks payable to Internal Medicine of Ithaca, PC.

Our billing company will file insurance claims on behalf of our patients. When an insurance claim is denied, we will make a reasonable effort to appeal those decisions when appropriate.

Except as limited by law (i.e. Medicare or Medicaid patients), or by contract (some HMO or PPO insurers), any service fee not paid by an insurer is the responsibility of the patient.

Patients who do not make reasonable progress toward paying outstanding bills to the practice may be released from our practice.  Furthermore, the practice may give the account to a collection agency.

A $20.00 statement fee will be added to any account with a past-due outstanding balance.

Patients terminated from the practice due to outstanding obligations will be given thirty (30) days notice during which time they will be followed for emergency medical care services only.  Patients are still financially responsible for paying for any services provided during this time.

No-Show and Appointment Cancellation Policy

Patients must call to cancel an appointment at least one business day before their appointment otherwise this will be considered as a no-show and they will be charged either a Routine appointment no-show fee of $120, or a Physical no-show fee of $175.

New patients who are no-show for an initial appointment, without a reasonable cause, will not be given another appointment. We will assume no responsibility of any medical care for these patients.

Established patients who are no-show three times may be released from our practice.

Self-Pay Patients policy

Self-pay patients must pay in full on the day of their visit.

The amount of a self-pay bill is based on the time spent with the patient and the level of complexity of the service provided.  The level of a patient’s visit will be determined by the provider after the patient has been seen.  Our billing office will be happy to provide specific details of cost of care based on level of visit and complexity determined by provider.

Patients should call our billing office to get detailed information about cost of care.

We offer a 10% discount if the patient pays in full on the day of service.  Otherwise, the patient is responsible for the full fee.

For further inquiries, please contact our billing office at 607-229-8029.

Protocol for further medical care, testing or consultation / “Surprise Bill” notice

Referrals, procedures or need of tests are determined by the provider.

We will be glad to assist patients with referral process or to arrange for appointments for tests or procedures performed at other facilities.

At times, either due to scheduling conflicts between patient and other facilities or as per patient preference patients may arrange for consultation, procedures or tests for further care with provider or facility of their choice on their own. If patient selects a provider who doesn’t participate with patient’s insurance than patient may receive a "Surprise Bill" and in that case patient is responsible for payment.

Our office will try our best to confirm that patients are going to practices for consultation, procedures or tests where their insurance is accepted. It will also be up to patient to determine if another provider or facility of their choice accepts their insurance by inquiring with facility or provider. We are not able to confirm or determine, all the time, regarding insurance acceptance policies of other practices in or out of our area of practice.

Following information will be provided to a patient at the time physician refers or coordinates services with another provider or facility:

• Name, practice name, mailing address, and telephone number of health care provider or medical facility for tests or further medical care, testing or consultation (laboratory services, pathology services, radiology services, office consultations etc)

 

FORMS:

• Patient Complaint Form
• NYS-Surprise Medical Bill Assignment of Benefits Form