Financial Policies
Thank you for choosing our physician and staff as your preferred health care partner. In an effort to provide you with the highest quality healthcare at the lowest possible price, we have established this financial policy to assist you in understanding and complying with our practice's service fees.
Your clear understanding of our Financial Policy is important to our professional relationship. Please understand that payment of your bill is considered a part of your treatment and do not hesitate to speak to our Business Office if you have any questions about our fees or Financial Policy.
Your Financial Responsibility
Many of the services provided in our office are covered by insurance companies, but you, as the patient or patient’s guardian, are ultimately responsible for payment for your services. Fees and co-payments are payable at the time of your office visit unless other arrangements have been made in advance of your examination. We accept cash, MasterCard/Visa and personal checks for office visits.
If you have medical insurance, Advanced Gynecology Specialists of Augusta will be happy to accurately and efficiently submit all claims to your insurance company. If your insurance carrier has not paid its portion of your bill within 60 days, we will expect you to pay the balance. If, after you have paid this outstanding balance, your insurance carrier follows through with payment, we will credit your account or refund the overpayment.
It is your responsibility to verify all insurance policies regarding co-pays, deductibles and coverage. All patient co-pays are due at the time of visit. If you do not have your co-payment, your appointment may be rescheduled. It is our responsibility to comply with your insurance policies. When your insurance provider pays its portion and leaves you accountable for the remaining balance, you will be accountable to submit this payment within 30 days from receipt of our billing
If you have high deductibles, no insurance, or require services not covered by your insurance, Advanced Gynecology Specialists of Augusta will be happy to provide you with the opportunity to meet with our financial/billing advisor to discuss an estimated cost of the procedure, possible discounts and, in some cases, a payment plan. If a payment plan is approved, you will be asked to sign an agreement and make monthly payments for all of the services rendered.
We are more than happy to meet and work with you on a payment plan, but these arrangements must be made in advance with our financial billing advisors. If you have questions, please feel free to contact our Billing Department at 706-922-4545.
No-shows and spur-of-the-moment cancellations affect both our office schedule and your fellow patients. The courtesy of at least a 24-hours notice is expected if your plans change or unexpected emergencies occur. Cancellations of less than 24 hours notice and/or no-shows may be assessed $50.
A fee of $45.00 will be assessed on all returned checks. An outstanding balance of 120 days, with no contact from you, will be referred to our collection agency and you will be dismissed from the care of our practice. Should you file bankruptcy with a balance due, you will also be dismissed.
Suggestions for Dealing with Insurance Issues
We strongly suggest you monitor your personal account with us by closely following the balance as it ages beyond 30 days, at which time we recommend calling your provider and requesting a “claim status report.”
When speaking to your insurance provider representative:
- Identify the date of service for the unpaid portion
- Record and retain the date you called your provider
- Record and retain the name of your claim representative
- Identify and correct the problem causing the payment delay
- Verify that your insurance provider has the appropriate billing information including;
- Full name of insured
- Complete address of insured
- Guarantor's name for the policy
- Social Security number for the guarantor
- Correct billing address for your policy
- Insurance policy number
Be sure to ask the claim representative when you can reasonably expect a reimbursement and correction of the problem, and follow-up with the same claim representative if you haven’t received timely payment.
If you have questions, please feel free to contact our billing/insurance office at 706-922-4545 for assistance.