Patient Information
Our Financial Policy
Thank you for choosing Southern California Pain Consultants for your medical care. Our goal is to provide you with the highest quality of medical care and service. We feel it is helpful and important that you understand our billing process. We are happy to bill your insurance for any services provided at our offices. However, this is a courtesy service to you and you are responsible for any costs incurred during your course of treatment.
Each patient must complete the Patient Information Record which includes all demographic information including your insurance. We must have this information completed before you see the doctor on your first visit.
Methods of Payment
CASH: Full payment is required at the time of service. You may choose to pay by check or cash, as well as a credit card (we accommodate Visa and MasterCard). We can arrange extended payments for patients if needed.
INSURANCE: We will bill your insurance carrier. We allow 60 days for your insurance to pay claims which have been submitted. Any unpaid balance or unpaid claims are your responsibility. We require payment of your co-payment and/or unpaid deductibles at the time of service. Delinquent accounts are subject to collection procedures and will be assessed a $50.00 special handling fee when collection procedures are initiated. *As of June 1, 2010, California State law requires that we ask for a valid driver’s license with your current address. If your address has changed and does not reflect your current driver’s license, a current utility or phone bill is required to show your new residence.*
HMO INSURANCE: If you are a member of a HMO, an insurance plan that requires prior authorization to see a specialist, you must contact your primary care physician for a referral to our office. This process is required for your initial office visit as well as follow-up visits, office procedures and surgeries. It may take two to three weeks to obtain the authorization from the health plan. Please schedule follow up visits with ample time to receive the authorization for the visit. We are required by most HMO health plans to collect any applicable co-payments and deductibles at the time of services. **Should you require immediate care, you must contact your primary care physician to obtain an emergency or STAT referral. **
MISSED APPOINTMENTS: We make every effort to schedule patients at a time that is convenient for them to see the doctor as quickly as possible. At times, there can be a wait to see the doctor, for non-urgent visits. If you are unable to keep a scheduled appointment, please notify our office as early as possible so that patients who are waiting to see the doctor may have the opportunity to be seen at their appointment time. Please help us to serve you and other patients better by keeping your scheduled appointments or by calling our office with a 24 hour advanced cancellation notice. If you fail to cancel your appointment within a 24 hour period on two occasions you will be billed a $25.00 “no-show” fee.