Payment, Billing, Insurance & Medical Records
PAYMENT
Why we require payment up-front – and why we charge for missed appointments:
The Akasha Center is a low volume office. We do not double book patients – a practice which is common in most physicians offices. Your booked appointment is reserved in advance for you so your personal physician can focus on your comprehensive care. Insurance companies expect physicians to double book an average of 4 to 6 patients per hour. That is how their contractual agreements and reimbursements are structured. These expectations limit our ability to work with most insurance companies contractual requirements to provide our patients with the comprehensive integrative care that our center is known for. Therefore, our practitioners work as “out of network” providers. Since we do not overbook and schedule no more than two patients per hour, (initial visits vary from 1 to 1 1/2 hours), your missed appointment represents a loss for our physicians and to the center, therefore we require a 48 hour notice of cancellation for all appointments.
CARECREDIT
The Akasha Center now accepts CareCredit to support your health needs. CareCredit is a health and wellness line of credit accepted by over 175,000 health providers.
- 0% interest for 12 months
- No repayment penalty
- Free application, No processing costs
and more….
BILLING AND INSURANCE – MEDICAL AND PRACTITIONER’S VISITS
What happens after I pay for my visit? How do I get reimbursed?
After payment is made to our office, the bills can be submitted to PPO insurance plans as “out of network” directly by you or by a third party billing company we recommend. You will be reimbursed dependent upon your individual insurance plan. Please contact your insurance company for information on your coverage for “out of network” providers.
Respectfully, we are not providers for any HMO insurance or Medicare. Medicare patients are also required to pay upfront and per medical regulations may NOT be eligible for reimbursements.
We accept American Express, Visa, MasterCard and personal checks. A fee will be charged in the event of insufficient funds.
PATIENT FAQs – BILLING AND INSURANCE – LAB TESTS
Does my insurance cover the cost of my lab tests?
Any lab tests that your medical provider requests may or may not be covered by your insurance, depending on your policy. Although we will do our best to explain the charges for any lab tests that have been ordered, we are not able to guarantee the exact amount for which you will ultimately be responsible, as insurance policies change often and with little notice.
Can The Akasha Center tell me the price of any lab tests I have done?
We can quote the price of a test but can not estimate what your insurance will or will not pay. Since insurance coverage varies, it is the patient’s responsibility to verify their insurance benefits prior to having tests performed. All questions regarding coverage should be directed to your insurance carrier.
Patients also have the option to pay an out-of-pocket price for all labs.
What information should I give to my insurance provider to find out about my coverage?
We are happy to provide you with the information needed to contact your insurance provider to ask them how much they will reimburse for the lab being requested.
Akasha Center patients pay out of pocket for each visit. Why should I provide a copy of my insurance card?
Insurance information is used solely for the purpose of billing related to lab work. Since insurance plans can change annually, patients are advised to present a current insurance card at each visit to ensure that tests are billed correctly. It is the patient’s responsibility to update The Akasha Center with current insurance information.
INSURANCE CLAIMS/REIMBURSEMENTS
The Akasha Center offers in-house insurance billing services at $25.00 per claim. Our in-house billing specialists will send your claim directly to your insurance company, providing you with the best possible opportunity for reimbursement. If you have any questions, please email:
– medicalbilling@akashacenter.com
AKASHA CONTACT FOR PAYMENTS/BILLING INQUIRIES:
310.451.8880
MEDICAL RECORDS REQUEST:
Please know, there some fees associated requesting/retrieving medical records anywhere from $45 to $135. Please send your medical record request to: