Financial Policy
The role insurance carriers play in the delivery of patient care is a result of today’s rapidly changing healthcare environment. Some insurance companies restrict us in certain ways. Examples of such restrictions include the medications we can prescribe, specialists you may be referred to, and the frequency and type of services we provide to you.
It is always the patient’s responsibility to know exactly which services are covered by the insurance plan. If you have questions about your insurance provider’s coverage, we encourage you to contact the customer service representative at your insurance company prior to your appointment.
Cool Springs Internal Medicine & Pediatrics Clinic requires payment of co-pays and balances before seeing a physician or having any laboratory procedures performed in our office. We accept Visa, MasterCard, check, and cash payments.
If you do have insurance coverage, we will submit the claim to your insurance company. You may receive a bill in the mail reflecting any outstanding balance after insurance has paid on your claim. To remain in good standing, this bill should be paid within 30 days of the invoice date.
If you are uninsured at the time of service, you must pay your bill in full at the time services are rendered. If you have an HMO insurance that does not list one of our physicians (Dr. Bullock, Dr. Edmondson, Dr. Karlekar, Dr. Rickard, Dr. Swarr) as your Primary Care Physician (PCP), you must pay for services at the time of your visit. You may contact your customer service representative at your insurance company to change your PCP. If you have not received your new card at the time of your visit, you must provide written documentation of the change of PCP upon arrival in our office.
To Discuss a Bill
Please call 615-721-9669 to reach our Billing Office staff. Billing office hours are 8 am–5 pm, Monday–Thursday.
Insurances
Please remember to bring your insurance card with you to every visit, including visits for laboratory work only. If you do not bring your insurance card with you, you may be asked to reschedule your appointment.
Cool Springs Internal Medicine and Pediatrics Clinic is under contract with a variety of insurance companies. Please check with your insurance company to make sure we participate in your particular plan. This is the patient’s responsibility! It is also the patient’s responsibility to notify us immediately regarding changes in your insurance coverage.
We accept most insurance plans. Please check with your insurance company prior to your visit to verify we are in your network.
Tests and Laboratory Procedures
Some diagnostic tests can be performed in the lab at our office. Please note that you will be billed separately for these services from the laboratory company itself. If you are not sure if tests will be covered by your insurance, please contact your insurer’s customer service representative for clarification. Again, this is the patient’s responsibility.
Right to Privacy
Cool Springs Internal Medicine and Pediatrics Clinic takes your legal right to privacy seriously. In keeping with the laws of HIPAA, we will not release your records or information about your care to anyone other than those you specify.
Your Medical Records
Should you need to have your records released to another physician, you will be required to fill out a medical release form.
