We understand that it is difficult to keep up to date on medical insurance coverage and guidelines. Although it is ultimately the insurance policy holder’s responsibility to know his or her insurance benefits, our billing staff is available to answer any questions you may have. For billing inquiries, please call 410-778-9300 between 9:00am and 4:00pm Monday through Friday.
So that we can bill your insurance claim correctly, please present your insurance card at each office visit. Should your insurance or personal information change in any way, please let us know right away so we can keep your record current and accurate. We greatly appreciate your assistance!
Payment is expected at the time of service for copays, deductibles,and any other fee for which it is reasonable to believe that the fee will not be covered by an insurance plan with which we participate. Your insurance company requires that you present your insurance card and co-payment at the time of each visit
Insurance
We participate with the following insurances:
- Aetna
- Alliance
- BC/BS – Point of Service, PPN, PPO, Blue Choice
- Champus
- Coventry
- Cigna – PPO
- First Health
- Informed
- MAMSI Life & HealthAetna
- Medicare
- Medical Assistance – Riverside, Priority Partners and Maryland Physicians Care
- Multiplan
- Optimum Choice, MDIPA
- PHCS
- United Health Care
Even if your insurance is not listed, we will be happy to make a reasonable effort to submit the bill to your carrier for you.
Referrals
Many insurance companies require referral forms for most surgical or medical consultation, blood work, x-ray, pathology, procedure or hospital stay. Benefit information should be obtained directly from your insurance company. Please direct any questions or complaints regarding your insurance coverage to your insurance company. You are responsible for requesting referrals. We will be happy to facilitate the referral when it is requested; however your insurance company has the final say in authorization of the referral. Please call our referral secretary for assistance at 410-778-9300.
Patient Financial Policies
Full payment, including deductibles and copayments, is expected at the time of service unless you have made advance arrangements with our business office. Failure to pay a copayment at the time of service will result in a $10.00 administrative fee. Drs. Shanahan and Ferguson accepts cash, personal checks, Visa and Mastercard credit cards.
Help us to submit claims to your insurance company correctly by presenting your insurance card at each visit.
If we do not participate with your insurance company, payment is due at the time of the visit.
As a courtesy to our patients, however, we will make a reasonable effort to submit claims to all health insurance companies, even those with which we are not contracted.
Collections
Any charges that remain unpaid after 30 days after the date of service are considered past due. If no effort is made to pay the balance due, the bill may be subject to our collections process. In this case, the family may be discharged from the practice asked to seek medical care elsewhere.
Billing Fees
There is a $20 charge for any check returned unpaid to us from the bank.
Form Fees
Our fee to complete a form (day care, employment, camp MVA, miscellaneous, etc) is $15. There is no charge if the form is completed at the time of visit.
Missed Appointments/Late Cancellations
Broken appointments are costly to us, to you, and to other patients who could have used the time set aside for your care. Please call at least 24 hours in advance to make scheduling changes and to avoid a $30 missed appointment fee. Repeatedly missing or canceling appointments without adequate notice may result in discharge from the practice.
Miscellaneous Expenses
Your insurance may not cover every type of service we provide (travel vaccines, for example, are not covered; some well visits may not be covered depending on your insurance coverage and the timing of the well visit.). Such fees should be paid at the time of service. Additionally, you may be charged certain administrative fees for duplication of medical records, .69 per page plus shipping or a flat fee of $25 plus shipping after 30 pages.
How to Contact Us
If you need assistance or have any questions, our billing staff can be reached at 410-778-9300 between the hours of 9am-4pm, Monday through Friday. Please read and understand our financial policies and keep us informed of your insurance status and any changes in your address or telephone number(s). Thank you