Payment for services is due at the time services are rendered. We accept cash, checks, MasterCard, Visa and Discover. If you are enrolled in a managed care plan (PPO/POS/HMO) in which we participate, we will file your claim. You will be responsible for your co-pay (payable at time of service), non-covered benefits that we have provided, as well as any approved co-insurance amount. We will also file your insurance claims for in-patient hospital care, newborn charges and emergency room visits. You will receive an EOB (Explanation Of Benefits) when your insurance company issues payment. We expect your portion, if any, within 14 days of your receiving the EOB. Not all services are a covered benefit on all contracts. Some insurance companies select certain services they will not cover, such as well-care visits or immunizations. Please be aware of such exclusions, as you will be responsible for these items. Should your account balance be $150.00 or more, we will deny immunizations and labs for physical examination appointments. We will make an effort to notify you of this balance prior to your appointment so that payment can be made.
Medications obtained in our office must be paid for at the time of the visit. We will provide you with a receipt that you can mail to your insurance company. No discounts will be taken from the original amount charged.
If there is a divorce situation, the parent who brings the child to the office is the person responsible for the charges. We will not become involved with the particulars of your divorce.
We realize that temporary financial problems may affect timely payment of your account. If such problems do arise, we encourage you to contact our Business Office at (847) 615-4654 or 4555 promptly for assistance in the management of your account. If you have any questions about the above information or any uncertainty regarding insurance coverage, PLEASE do not hesitate to ask us; we are here to help. View our financial policy.
Telephone Care
Lake Shore Pediatrics is committed to providing our patients and families access to quality medical care every day. Telephone care is just one way we meet this commitment.
Telephone care is the delivery of medical care over the telephone. Charging for telephone care is now sanctioned and endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and is becoming standard of care both locally and nationally.
As of July 1, 2007, a fee will be charged for telephone management from any of the doctors or nurse practitioners given during or after office hours. However, if the patient is seen for the problem addressed in the telephone call the next day the office is open or if the call is in regards to an office visit in the prior seven days, there will be no fee. The telephone care fee will be comparable to an insurance copay and will depend on the complexity of the problem, medical decision-making needed and the treatment/advice provided. We will bill your insurance. However, you will be responsible for all or part of this fee depending on your individual health plan coverage. Please feel free to contact your health plan to determine their coverage for telephone care.
Telephone care includes physician/nurse practitioner management or consultation related to immediate medical needs, adjustments of medications, treatment of chronic illness or assistance with normal growth, development and behavioral concerns. Telephone care still involves physician time, expertise and documentation of the medical care delivered and is therefore recognized as patient care.
Rest assured we will continue to provide the services of our nurses during normal office hours for routine questions and concerns, as we have always done, at no cost. To avoid a fee, please call for all routine prescriptions refills or medication dosage questions during this time. And of course, as always, you are welcome to call for an office appointment for your child to be seen at any time during our business hours.
Our primary goal is to provide excellent pediatric care. We consider it a privilege to care for the health and well-being of your children, in person and on the telephone.
