Attendance Policy
As a courtesy to you, our office does not “double book” clients for the same time slot—you have a specific appointment just for you, at your request. Because of this, it is very important that you handle any cancellations properly. We must receive notice of any cancellations before noon (12:00pm) the day before your appointment, otherwise a fee equivalent to your contracted rate will be due and payable for a LATE CANCELLATION/NO SHOW. If fee-for-service, the fee we charge is still the “contracted rate,” it’s just that the contract is with them & not an insurance company. Fees must be paid prior to rescheduling with us.
Also, if you arrive more than 10 minutes late for a medication review, there will not be enough time to complete the visit, and the appointment will have to be rescheduled. Please give yourself extra time on appointment days.
Your physical and mental health is very important to us. With this in mind, if you miss three consecutive appointments in a year’s time, you will be terminated from our practice.
Courtesy Appointment Reminder
We will attempt to call to remind you of your scheduled appointment if you have given us permission to do so and have provided us with a current phone number and email.
Billing & Insurance
The insurance policy is a contract between you and the insurance company. Patterson HealthCare, P.A. has no control over what the insurance carrier does and does not cover. NP Jill Karelitz is only “In Network ” with United, Aetna and BCBS. For all other insurance carriers, we are considered an “Out of Network” provider, and the deductible and coverage may be a higher cost than with an “In Network” provider. “Out of Network” providers are not bound by any co-pay arrangement with your insurance company. All charges are your responsibility.
The amount of reimbursement from the insurance company will depend upon your policy. Our office cannot guarantee payment of your claims by your insurance company. It is your responsibility to know and understand the provisions of your insurance policy.
Payment in full is expected AT THE TIME OF YOUR VISIT, unless prior arrangements have been made with our office. Your payment may be made by cash, personal check, MasterCard, Visa, or Discover.
Miscellaneous Fees & Charges
COLLECTIONS FEE: A collections fee of 40% of your account balance will be added to your past due account if we are unable to obtain payment on your account, and it becomes necessary to turn your account over to a collection agency to obtain payment.
RETURNED CHECK CHARGE: A service charge of $25 will be applied to all returned checks. You will be required to pay cash to cover the amount of the returned check plus the service charge.
Emergencies After Office Hours
If you have a medical emergency after our usual business hours (Monday–Friday after 4pm) and require an immediate response from NP Jill Karelitz, call her emergency on-call number: (803) 920-9914. A true emergency is related only to your treatment. Matters such as appointment scheduling, cancellations, insurance concerns, and so forth, do not constitute an emergency. If you face a life-threatening emergency, please do not delay by calling this number—call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room and have a physician there call the above number.
Confidentiality
All medical conversations and records will be kept confidential unless written permission is granted otherwise. However, state law requires that physicians report any suspected child abuse or any concerns that he/she may have regarding a patient’s possible likelihood of harming him/herself or others. In some situations, a judge may order records. Also, your case may be reviewed with another physician or therapist to enhance the services you receive. Of course, if it becomes necessary to turn your account over to a collection agency some confidentiality will be breached in the process as well.
Patterson HealthCare, P.A., protects health information and confidential material according to the guidelines established by the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Their guidelines, along with the ethical standards set by the American Medical Association, determine the handling of this information.
AUTHORIZATION TO RELEASE INFORMATION: You authorize Dr. Patterson/NP Jill Karelitz to release any information acquired during therapy to the insurance carriers involved in the payment of account as well as to report to case managers as required by managed care health plan if applicable.