Insurance

Fees for services

Charges or appropriate co-payments for new patient evaluations and regular office visits are due at the time of service. Charges for tests and/or surgical procedures are separate from the office charges. As a patient, you carry final responsibility for payment of your bill. Of course, we welcome your questions about our fees and insurance claims procedures.

To avoid any misunderstanding, we suggest you ask us about the cost of any service before it is provided. We also are willing to discuss special arrangements for payment with you. We accept cash, checks, Master Card, Visa, Discover and American Express.

Release of information

PNNI will not release any information about your medical history to any insurance company or attorney without your consent, unless required by court order.

Traditional insurance claims

You are responsible for verifying your own insurance coverage. You also must inform your physician of any special provisions, such as a required second opinion or admission on the day of surgery.

When you provide us with this information, we will file your insurance claim. While we do our best to satisfy your insurance company’s requirements, we cannot guarantee whether or how much the insurance company will pay.

In many cases, insurance companies pay at a rate below our customary charges. If that happens, the balance of the charge may become your responsibility.

Managed care claims

PNNI participates in various managed health care plans. If you belong to a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), or another program providing managed health care benefits, it is vital that you check with that organization about any special requirements before your first visit.

We will file your claim with your managed care plan. We are required by the plan to obtain any co-payment from you at the time of the visit. If you have questions about which plans are accepted, please call us.

Medicare

We are pleased to be Medicare participating providers. If you are covered by Medicare, we file your claim for you. Any balance remaining after Medicare pays is the responsibility of you or your secondary insurance carrier.

Special billing

If your services are to billed to a special agency, such as a Workers’ Compensation or another social service agency, you must provide us with the appropriate billing information on your first visit.