Patient Information
Thank you for choosing Metropolitan Gastroenterology Associates as your health care provider.
We are committed to providing you the best possible medical care. We would like to keep you informed of our current office and financial policies. We require you to read and sign this agreement. We will place a signed copy in your chart, and you may keep the original for future reference.
We participate in most health insurance plans and file forms, provided we have your insurance assignment on file. It is the patient’s responsibility to pay any deductible, co-pay, co-insurance or any amount not paid by the health plan. If we do not participate with your primary insurance plan, full payment is requested at the time of service for physician charges. As a courtesy we will submit a claim to your insurance for all charges incurred, however you are responsible for paying all charges within 30 days of service regardless of what your insurance covers. Non-insured patients are responsible for all charges at the time of service.
At the time of your visit, patients need to provide the front desk with the correct insurance information, including your insurance card to be copied. Patients will be responsible for full payment of any co-payments, co-insurance and deductibles required by their health insurance company.
Your health insurance coverage is an agreement between you and your insurance company. Financial responsibility rests with the patient for deductibles, co-insurance and non-covered services. It is very important for you to be aware of the requirements of your health insurance policy so that you will save out-of-pocket expenses and frustration later. Our staff tries to be helpful, but we cannot know everything about the hundreds of insurance plans available to our patients. If you have questions about your benefits, call your insurance company’s member services department (listed on the back of your insurance card) or your employer’s human resources department.
Managed care plans in particular have many rules that you and your physician must follow. For example, you will most likely need a referral or authorization from your primary care physician (PCP) before you see a specialist or have testing done. Failure to do so could leave you responsible for charges. In most cases, the insurance company will not allow your PCP to authorize the visit retroactively. When your physician gives you a written order for testing or refers you to another specialist, do not assume that these services have been cleared through your insurance plan. Your physician is simply practicing good medicine, and may not be aware of your insurance requirements.
It is your responsibility to obtain any referrals that may be required. When you are given a written referral, remember to take it along to your appointment; otherwise, the referral provider is not authorized to see you. Without a referral, you may have to reschedule the appointment or sign a financial waiver accepting responsibility for any charges.
If your health insurance requires authorization for an office visit, please contact your referring physician for that authorization prior to calling for an appointment.
The Business Office’s primary function is to file claims on your behalf to your health insurance carrier. Our patient account representative will follow up and file appeals as necessary and are here to help you with any questions you have regarding the processing of your insurance claim.
As a courtesy to you, we verify your insurance coverage prior to your endoscopic procedure. Approximately 1 week before your procedure, you may receive a phone call from Jessica or Cristina regarding any deposits that are due at the time of service. This amount is determined by your insurance policy.
It is the patient’s responsibility to obtain any referrals that may be required. When you are given a written referral, remember to take it along to your appointment; otherwise, the referral provider is not authorized to see you. Without a referral, you may have to reschedule the appointment or sign a financial waiver accepting responsibility for any charges.
Because MGA provides so many services for patients in-house, you may receive a few different bills.
For an office visit, you will receive charges from Metropolitan Gastroenterology Associates for the professional services of your gastroenterologist. The level of service and associated charges are determined by the physician based on your needs, medical history, and the nature and complexity of your condition. You will also receive charges for injections and medication if they were administered. If you are covered by a health plan in which we participate you will typically only receive a bill for these services if your co-pay was not paid during your visit.
Because patients are sedated and must be monitored carefully, an endoscopic procedure (such as EGD or colonoscopy) is done in an outpatient setting either at a hospital or outpatient endoscopy center. For cost-savings and convenience, your physician will likely perform the procedure at MGA Gastrointestinal Diagnostic and Therapeutic Center, which is a Medicare-certified, accredited ambulatory surgery center (ASC).
You will receive charges for your physician’s services (the fee for the physician actually performing the procedure) from Metropolitan Gastroenterology Associates. You are expected to pay your unpaid deductible and co-pay on the day of your GI procedure. You will receive a bill for any unpaid portion of your procedure.
Because you are responsible for costs for covered healthcare services until you reach your deductible, you should comparison shop if you elect to have a nonemergency procedure.
You can use tools like Healthcare Bluebook and the Medicare Procedure Price Lookup (for Medicare patients). Many health insurance websites also provide information on where to find in-network services.
A High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) is a plan with a higher deductible than a traditional health insurance plan.
A High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) can be a wise way to save money on health insurance and take a proactive role in your healthcare.
Health insurance is an agreement between you and an insurance company of your choosing.