Main Street Pediatrics

We LOVE delivering pediatric care and enjoy the personal relationships we have with our patients and families. We must however charge for these services and expect reasonably prompt payment. That way, we can continue to “be there”, whenever you need us. Below is a list of our billing policies that will help us continue to deliver the highest quality medical care that you deserve:

	Copayments, coinsurances, deductibles, and any charges for non-insurance covered services must be paid at the time of service.

	You may charge any balance more than $10 to your credit card (MasterCard or Visa). We encourage families to authorize Main Street to charge a credit card for balances that appear on their children’s accounts. Authorization forms are available by clicking here (text link to Credit Card Authorization form). Simply print the form out, fill in your information and mail it, fax it, or bring it with you to your next appointment.

	Let us know if your family is under significant financial hardship. Payment plans can be arranged if necessary. We want to be sure that your family receives the care you need and deserve.

	We must have updated confirmation of your insurance and identifying information at every visit. It is your responsibility to let us know of any changes in insurance data, addresses, telephone numbers, etc. and to assure your insurance policy registered with Main Street remains updated and active.

	We will bill the insurance company you designate for the services we provide. If we do not receive payment from your insurance company within 60 days, the balance transfers to your responsibility. You will be notified about any unpaid amounts

	Main Street Pediatrics uses a billing service to assist in collecting charges due. Any questions regarding billing issues can be directed to EHS, our billing service provider at 410-785-0333. If collection measures become necessary, you are responsible for paying all costs including collection agency and attorney fees. (We hope this never happens. We are happy to talk with you about any billing and payment issues.)

	If balances not covered by insurance remain unpaid by you after 60 days notification, we may need to reschedule routine checkup appointments.

	Fees for forms and requested physician letters are payable when the forms are presented to the office (at our desk, or enclose check if mailed). Please pick up forms at our desk, or include a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want the forms to be mailed. Please allow two weeks to process routine forms Fees are: Brief or limited forms (i.e. lead form, immunization form or over-the-counter medication form only): $5 Standard set of school/camp forms: $10 Complex or extensive forms, for example FMLA or endocrinology forms: $20 There is an additional $10 charge if forms are required with 48 hours. There is no charge for prescription medication authorization forms

	Missed appointments: We do charge for missed appointments.There is a $35 fee for routine appointments missed or cancelled with less than 24 hours notice. There is a $50 fee for missed or canceled appointments that are scheduled for 45 minutes or greater. Late arrivals may need to be rescheduled.

	Delayed Payment of Checks: There is a $15 charge if your check has been presented to your bank and the check does not clear.

	Bounced checks: If your check does not clear your bank on a second submission (we automatically resubmit), you will be billed an additional fee of $35.

	Repeated Bounced Checks: Main Street Pediatrics is unable to accept checks from families if two checks are returned to us without payment. Future payments will need to be made using cash or credit card.

	Anyone accompanying a patient/child is responsible for balances due at the time of service.Telephone Care charges: Main Street Pediatrics will submit a charge to all participating insurers for telephone services in which the physician’s decision-making skills and advice are provided by phone instead of via an office visit. Examples include telephone consultations for chronic health conditions, educational or behavioral issues, new prescription medications, and recommendations regarding diagnostic or treatment strategies.

Main Street Pediatrics physicians participate with the vast majority of insurers in our area: private insurance plans, HMO plans, PPO plans as well as Medical Assistance and Medicare. Examples include but are not limited to Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Carefirst, Blue Choice, GHMSI, United, Mamsi, Optimum Choice, Aetna, EHP, Cigna, Aetna, Amerigroup, Coventry, Lifebridge. Please check with our offices AND your insurance company to verify that we do participate.

Many insurances require that you choose a Primary Care Physician (PCP) for your child, and may require that you use a specific lab or radiology facility, or set of referral/specialty physicians when needed. Some insurers require preauthorization for certain services or prescriptions. Please contact your insurance company and find out if you have any such restrictions and let us know. Employers choose different insurance coverage, and we may not know the specifics of your insurance plan. It is your responsibility to assure that your insurance and physician assignments are in order when you come to visit us.

Be sure to sign up any new family members (babies etc) with your insurance carrier immediately, to obtain coverage.

Main Street Pediatrics and its physicians have been recognized for superior patient care by Blue Cross, Blue Shield plans, United Health Plan, MAMSI Health Plans, and Aetna Insurance companies.

We want you to call. We do not want anyone sitting at home (or at the office) worrying about something, and not calling us. There is NO such thing as too small of a question, and we want you to feel comfortable with all issues regarding your child and family.

Therefore, we try to make ourselves as available as possible by opening the office at 8:30am each day and returning your telephone calls throughout the day. It is preferred that you call early in the day if possible, to give us time to return your call. Please try to leave your phone line open if you are waiting for a call back (ESPECIALLY for after hours calls). If your call involves a non-urgent issue, particularly one that may require more lengthy discussion, please provide an alternate number to return your call later in the day. If you will be changing location or telephone availability within a few hours of calling us, please let us know.

After hours and weekend phone calls made to the office are received by voice mail and answered promptly by the pediatrician on-call. For those voicemail messages, it is important to speak clearly, especially when leaving your phone numbers. Our voice mail system always dispatches an urgent page to the physician, so please do not leave a message after hours that does not specifically need physician help. Issues involving refills, non-urgent referrals, appointment times, administrative issues or healthy children are best handled during our regular weekday hours.

The vast majority of your visits, well and sick, will be scheduled with your regular pediatrician. We feel that is the best way to establish and continue a personal relationship with your doctor. Knowing our patients and their families is something in which we take great pride. Click here if you would like to schedule non-urgent appointments on-line.

There may be times when your child has a more urgent need to be seen, in which case any of us will be happy to accommodate you. Our offices open early, and often stay open late to assist you. The Towson office has arranged evening walk-in hours Monday through Thursday, and the Reisterstown office is open until 7pm on Tuesday through Thursday to better accommodate your busy schedules. In addition, both offices are available weekend mornings for patients who need to be seen. Speak with your physician and your office receptionist about available visit hours.

Initial physical examinations are often lengthy visits, because we need time to get to know each other. It is helpful to have all medical and immunization records sent to us PRIOR to the visit so these can be reviewed beforehand.

Well Child Visits (Check-ups) The newborn visit should be scheduled at a few days to 2 weeks of age (your physician will discuss this with you). Subsequent well visits will occur at 1 month, 2,4 and 6, months, 9, 12 and 15 months, 18, 24 and 30 months, and then annually starting at age 3 years. These visits provide an assessment of all aspects of your child’s health, growth, development and behavior, and give you the opportunity to ask questions you have. Your pediatrician will discuss what to expect over the next phase of your child’s life. If there is not enough time during the checkup visit to discuss all concerns, or if there are items that would benefit from further discussion, the pediatrician will suggest setting up additional visits. Click here to view the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended check-up schedule (text link to Check-up schedule pdf).

Cancellations: If you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, particularly a well visit or consultation, please do so at least 24 hours in advance. A significant amount of time is allotted for these appointments and we would like to offer this time to other patients if you are unable to keep your appointment. There is a $35 fee for routine appointments missed or cancelled with less than 24 hours notice.

Arrive On-Time: We try to be as on-time for our appointments with you as possible. Please come to the office promptly for your scheduled visit so that we can give you and your child the attention you need. It may be difficult to help you and the other families we need to see if you are late.

Walk-In Appointments: We always want to assist ill children and accommodate families. Please call the office for an appointment if your child or children need to be seen. We will try to see walk-in urgent patients and extra children brought in to be seen who do not have appointments during regular office hours (though at times that is difficult and can delay other families). Specific walk-in hour times may be designated by the office to help with illness needs. Check with your office or doctor about these extra services.

After Hours/ Weekends: If your child becomes sick after hours, on weekends, or over holidays, we are happy to help. If the issue cannot or should not wait until the next morning, contact us through our urgent after hours number and we will return the call as soon as possible. If your child needs an appointment the next day, but is OK to wait overnight, contact us after 8:30AM for assistance. Weekend morning visits can be arranged in this fashion.

Please allow sufficient time for these requests. Referrals must be registered with your Insurance carrier and can take several days for us to get approval for you. Call us as soon as possible or click here to start processing your referral.

We ask at least 24 hours notice for prescription refills so that we can review your child’s chart and assure we are offering the best care for any ongoing problem. Call us or click here to request a refill of your medication.

School, daycare, camp and similar forms take time to review, and to provide all requested information. We routinely complete these forms in two weeks. If you require that forms filled out within 48 hours, there will be an extra $10 fee

Copyright © 2009 Main Street Pediatrics | 515 Fairmount Avenue, Suite 200 Towson, MD 21286 | Tel: 410-494-1369 Fax: 410-494-2737 Urgent after-hours: 410-494-1362
750 Main Street, Suite 203 Reisterstown, MD 21136 | Tel: 410-526-7993 Fax: 410-526-5144 Urgent after-hours: 410-526-7993
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Pediatricians in Towson, Reisterstown, MD