Appointments
SAME DAY APPOINTMENTS
At Lake Vista Pediatrics, your child’s health comes first – we generally do have same day appointment availability for ill children. Please call for an appointment so that we can minimize your wait time. We discourage walk-in’s or add-on’s as it disrupts the scheduled appointments. A $25 charge will be added for walk-in or add-on appointments.
Our services include well checkups for newborns, infants, toddlers, preschool and school age children, adolescent and college students, sports and school physicals, same day sick visits, consultations and immunizations. Prenatal and new patient interviews are offered as well. Saturday morning appointments are available for acutely ill patients, however there are occasionally a limited number of well check-ups offered.
Communication
TELEPHONE/PORTAL
For non-emergent situations, contact us via the secure patient portal!
Daytime Calls: Should a medical concern arise, our receptionist will take your message and forward it to the physician or appropriate staff member. Most often, a qualified staff member will take your call immediately. In non-urgent situations, your name and number may be collected so that a staff member can return your call as promptly as possible.
After Hour Calls: After business hours, a physician may be reached for urgent questions through our automated answering service. Please dial the office number 1-866-846-4797 and you will be directed to leave a brief message regarding the problem. A physician will return your call and assist you by phone as soon as possible. Please proceed to your nearest hospital emergency room (preferably a Pediatric emergency room) if an emergency situation exists.
Note: Telephone encounters may incur a charge according to your insurance contract.
Diagnotistic and Lab Test
DRAWN ON SITE
Other services we provide include developmental assessments, state-of-the-art vision and hearing screening, as well as screenings for anemia, lead, cholesterol, glucose and TB. We also offer the ability to collect microbial cultures and various viral panels, and on-site urine, strep, flu, RSV and mononucleosis testing. Specimens are collected in our office, so there is no need to leave the premises for testing except in the case of x-ray or other diagnosic imaging. Tests results are usually available within 24-72 hours.
INSURANCE & BILLING
We welcome your insurance plans and will assist you with filing your insurance for reimbursement for services rendered. Our charges for services represent community standards.
What to bring
INSURANCE CARD
You, as the insured, are required to present a current insurance card for your child/children at the time of the office visit. Please be patient with the receptionist when she requests your insurance card at each visit. Verification must be obtained to assure benefits.
Co-Payments: Parents are responsible and are required to pay all co-payments, deductibles co-insurance, and non-covered expenses at the time of the visit.
Payment Method: To assist parents we offer several options for payment: Cash, Checks, Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express.
How it Works
ELIGIBILITY & BENEFITS
We will call your insurance company to verify eligibility and benefits. The insurance company will provide us with the necessary information needed to handle your claim, as well as to collect co-payments, deductibles, and non-covered expenses. A claim will be filed for the remainder of the charges, payable by the insurance company within 30 days. If we cannot verify your insurance benefits or eligibility, we will require that full payment be made by you on that day. At this time it is important that you contact your insurance company to inquire as to the status of your coverage. Once the insurance company has made a decision to pay the claims and we receive payment for services, your account will be credited and a refund check will be issued to you.
Insurance & Billing Questions: Please call our office during daytime hours, Monday through Friday 9 am til 5 pm, to speak with an insurance clerk for questions regarding insurance or billing.
Other
NON-COVERED SERVICES
As healthcare professionals, we are here to provide excellent healthcare to all our patients. Routine exams require testing such as labs, and vision and hearing screening. While some insurance companies do not cover these tests, we feel that the testing is vital for a thorough examination. We will offer a discounted charge for vision and hearing if it is not covered by your insurance company. Please inform us if you do not wish these preventive services to be provided.
Who Files?
CLAIMS
It is our responsibility to file claims promptly with your insurance company and it is the insurance company’s responsibility to pay within 30 days. Failure of timely reimbursements causes the account to become delinquent necessitating that the parents call their insurance company to inquire regarding the nature of the delay. If the insurance company fails to remit reimbursement within 30 days, we have the option to bill you privately until the claim is settled by your insurance company. If and when the insurance company does pay the claim, we will then reimburse you at that time.
The Extras
LABORATORY TESTS
As a convenience to our patients, we offer laboratory testing in the office through Quest Diagnostics or LabCorps. For insurance accounts, the lab facility will file with your insurance carrier. Private pay accounts will be billed directly from Quest Diagnostics or LabCorp.
