GENERAL PATIENT
INFORMATION
To aid in your journey to better health, our orthopaedic providers have prepared valuable information regarding various aspects of the medical process, including payment, surgical details, and proper cast care. For more thorough instruction, you can download the respective PDF files or reference the respective web page.
Filing of Your Claim
As a courtesy to our patients, we will file all insurance claims to primary and secondary companies. Please contact our billing office at (563) 344-7193 to verify participation in your plan or check your insurance company's website under providers. Any copay that is required is due at the time of service and any deductible may also be required to be collected prior to elective surgery. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express credit cards. As insurance plans change frequently, we highly recommend verifying your coverage prior to your visit.
Self-Pay Patients
We have financial counselors that will explain and discuss our billing and payment process with you prior to your first appointment. If necessary, they will work with you to set up a payment plan for the estimated charges. Prior to being seen by any of our providers, we do, however, require $350 payment that can be paid the day of your visit upon checking in.
Fracture Care Billing
Billing for fracture care does differ from the billing of other services provided. This will be billed as a “package” of services, similar to that of surgical procedures, where follow-up care will be included in the initial charge. As a requirement of insurance companies, we must bill using a CPT coding system. The codes used for fracture care are located in the surgical section of the CPT coding guide; however, this does not mean that you had surgery. Please find more detailed information in our PDF outlining fracture care billing requirements.
Medical Disclosure
When you receive emergency medical treatment or other care from an out-of-network provider who is at a surgical facility that is in-network with your insurance provider, you have certain protections against surprise or balance billing. Learn about your rights by viewing the medical disclosure below.
FMLA/Disability/Insurance Forms
We are able to assist you with the completion of forms, including disability and FMLA forms. We ask that you please complete the patient portion and sign the section titled “Authorization to Release Information.” A $10 fee will be assessed for each form that requires completion and must be paid when the form is dropped off.
Pre-Authorization Requirements
Most insurance companies require a pre-authorization/notification for inpatient and outpatient surgeries/admissions. In addition, many insurance companies now require certain diagnostic testing, including but not limited to, MRI, CT scan, EMG, pain injections, bone scans, and durable medical equipment (splints, casts, braces) to be pre-authorized. As a courtesy to our patients, we will attempt to obtain this prior to services being rendered, but please remember it is your responsibility to notify your insurance company. Our nursing and billing staff will assist you if necessary.
Billing and Insurance Questions
Any questions related to billing or insurance can be directed to our billing office at (563) 344-7193.
Preparing for Surgery
While patients are typically given specific instructions regarding their surgery, we have provided general information to help you prepare. From the time leading up to your surgery to the postoperative recovery period, our specialists will provide you with information to help you throughout the process.
Cast Care
If you are wearing a cast to aid in the healing process, it is important that you take proper care of it during this time. We have supplied instructions to help you preserve the cast and prevent unpleasant side effects from occurring.
Medical Records
Patients who would like to receive a copy of their medical records must make a request in writing using our HIPAA-compliant Medical Records Release Form, linked below. This form may also be used to authorize our office to send records to or receive records from other healthcare providers. There may be a minimal fee for duplicate copies of records; our office will inform you if any charges apply. Please allow 7 – 10 business days for requests to be processed.
The latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view and print PDF files, and it is available here.
Contact Orthopaedic Specialists
Should you have further questions, or if you would like to learn more about general patient information, please contact Orthopaedic Specialists today by calling (563) 344-9292 and we will be happy to help you.