BILLING

NCFMG is contracted with and accepts many insurance plans. To avoid financial responsibility for plans we do not accept, it is strongly recommended you contact your insurance plan or our office to verify if we are contracted. In most cases, we do not accept Worker's Compensation or bill third parties such as Motor Vehicle Insurance or Attorney offices.

Depending on your insurance type, NCFMG can perform limited laboratory services and procedures. If your insurance type mandates us to use outside contracted facilities, we will refer you to these facilities. Any billing concerns with these referred services must be communicated with the facility's billing department.

PAYMENT POLICY

Co-payments, deductibles, charges for non-covered services or cosmetic services are due and payable at the date of service.  We accept Cash, Check, Visa and Mastercard. There is a $25 charge for returned checks. Charges for non-covered and cosmetic services or cash patients will receive a 20% discount when applicable if paid at the date of service.

COLLECTION POLICY

If no payment is received on your account 120 days after your responsibility is determined, the account will be automatically transferred to an outside collection agency and you may be terminated from the practice. To avoid this, we highly recommend open communication with our billing department. We understand that many patients suffer from financial hardships. We are willing to work with you to arrange manageable payment plans or discounts in order to continue our relationship as your healthcare provider, but can not do so if statements and phone calls are un-responded to.

UNDERSTANDING INSURANCE

Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO)
When you select a HMO insurance plan, you are assigned a Primary Care Physician (PCP) within a specific Independent Physician Association (IPA). The IPA we belong to is Primary Care Associates Medical Group/North American Medical Management (PCA/NAMM). This association coordinates care through your insurance company and its network of PCPs and Specialists. Referrals to Specialists must be approved by the IPA. In order to maximize your HMO benefit, your PCP is your initial point of contact for medical treatment with the exception of a life-threatening emergency. In which case, you should contact an emergency medical facility or 911 immediately.

Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs)
When you select a PPO insurance plan, that plan will provide a list of contracted or in network providers that you can access without PCP referral. Certain procedures may require authorization from the plan, which the ordering or servicing provider will obtain on your behalf. Some PPO plans have non-contracted or out of network benefits which generally increase the patient's cost.

For more information about how your health insurance works, visit: http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/pat-advocacy.html