We want your experience in our office to be positive and healing. In order to enable us to help you in the best possible way, please read these policies and cooperate with us to provide you with the most efficient service.
I. Scheduling
a) We pride ourselves in running an efficient schedule without overbooking. We believe that your time in the office should be maximally productive. As a general rule you will be seen on time. Sometimes our other patients, or maybe you will require some extra attention. We will do our best to limit your waiting time to 15 minutes. In rare emergency cases, if we need to reschedule your appointment, we will notify you in advance and will accommodate you to reschedule at your most preferred time.
b) In order to give you maximum attention we ask that you:
❖ Come for your appointment on time.
❖ If you are running late, please let us know. We will do our best to accommodate you.
❖ If you need to reschedule your appointment, please give us as much of advanced notice as possible.
c) Appointment time will vary, but as a general rule the initial appointment time is 1 hour, and a follow-up is ½ hour.
II. Cancellations
We see one patient at a time and believe that your time in the office is only yours. Your time slot is devoted to you only. If you need to cancel, kindly give us a 24-hour notice. Please be advised that late cancellations are subject to $25 late cancellation fee. No shows and appointment cancelled less than 12 hours in advance are subject to a full charge.
III. Participating in your Care
We see you as a partner in taking charge of your health. We welcome your questions and input regarding your treatments, contributing lifestyle factors and treatment options. You are responsible to follow all doctors’ advice as to the diet, lifestyle changes, taking your supplements and medications, exercises and other self-care instructions.
IV. Miscellaneous
While in the office we ask you to refrain from bringing food and beverages. Please take all your cell calls outside while waiting and turn off your phone when in the treatment room. Kids are welcome to accompany their parents in the waiting room only, but we ask that you keep them from disturbing other patients and staff. Please find appropriate care for your pets for your appointment time.
V. Privacy and patient rights
Your privacy is of outmost importance to us. Your private and confidential information will be handled in accordance with federal HIPPA regulations. Please read your “Privacy Rights” below regarding important information about your privacy rights and ways we will handle your privileged information.
According to the Federal law, known as HIPPA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) your personal health information is protected under certain guidelines. The “protected health information” is any information that can identify you, that includes your health records, telephone number, address, birth date and dates of the treatments. Federal Government has developed new standards for protecting the privacy of this information. This has challenged us to review how information about you is used not only in our medical records, but also with the telephone, faxes, copy machine, and mailings. Since our office is subject to State and Federal law regarding the confidentiality of your health information, we want you to know about the policies and procedures that we developed to make sure your health information will not be shared with anyone who does not require it and your rights as our patient.
We will use and communicate your protected health information only for the following purposes:
1. To provide you with the best care possible in conducting our clinic operations: this may include administrative, clinical and scheduling procedures.
2. To obtain or to assist you in receiving reimbursement for the services provided to you in our clinic. We may include your health information with an invoice used help you collect payment for treatment you receive from us.
3. We might share your health information with referring physicians, pharmacies and other health care practitioners providing you with the treatment.
4. As permitted or required by Federal, State or local law, including but not limited to reports required by Federal Government related to public health or national security, cases of abuse, neglect or domestic violence or by a court order. We may be required to disclose to government officials health information necessary to complete an investigation related to public health or national security.
5. As permitted or required by State or Federal law, we may disclose your health information to a law enforcement official for certain law enforcement purposes, including, under certain limited circumstances, if you are a victim of a crime or in order to report crime.
Other than in cases stated above we will not disclose your health information, unless with your written authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time.
If you choose so, we will not share your health information with your family, friends or others who may be involved in your care. That also means the opportunity for you to select methods of contacting you and whether you prefer to receive or not certain communications from our office, including telephone messages, e-mails and whether you prefer to receive correspondence sent to you labeled private.
We may share your health information with those you tell us be helping you with your care. We will be sure to ask your permission first. In the case of an emergency, where you are unable to tell us what you want, we will use our very best judgment when sharing your health information and only when it will be important to those participating in providing you care.
We are required to practice the policies and procedures described in this notice, but we do reserve the right to change the terms of our Notice. If we change our privacy practices, we will be sure all our patients would receive a copy of the revised Notice
You have the right to request that we communicate with you in a certain way. You may request that we only communicate your health information privately with no one else present, or through mailed communications that are sealed. These communications are an important part of our philosophy of partnering with our patient to be sure they receive the best care possible. It may include postcards, letters, telephone reminders or electronic reminders such as email (unless you tell us that you do not want to receive these reminders.) We will make every effort to honor your reasonable requests for confidential communication.
You have the right to read, review, and copy your health information, including your complete chart and billing records. If you would like a copy of your health information, please let us know. We may need to charge you a reasonable fee to duplicate and assemble your copy.
You have the right to ask us to update or modify you records if you believe your health information incorrect or incomplete. We will be happy to accommodate you as long as our office maintains this information. In order to standardize our process, please provide us with you request in writing and describe you reason for the change. Your request may be denied if the health information record in question was not created by our office, is not part of our records, or if records containing your health information are determined to be accurate and complete.
You have the right to ask us for a description of how and where your health information was used by our office for any reason other than for treatment, payment, or health operations. Our documentation procedures will enable us to provide information on health information usage from April14, 2003 and forward. Please let us know in writing the time period for which you are interested. We may need to charge you a reasonable fee for your request.
You have the right to express complains to us or to the Secretary of Health and Human Services if you believe your privacy right have been compromised. We encourage you to express any concerns you may have regarding the privacy of your information. Please let us know of your concerns or complaints in writing.
You as a patient (legal guardian if a patient is a minor) are solely responsible for any and all charges for services rendered.
Health and accident insurance policies are an arrangement between you and your insurance carrier. This office will prepare any necessary reports and forms to assist you in making collection from the insurance company. If any amount is authorized to be paid directly to this office, it will be credited to your account upon receipt. Any deductible, co-payment and coinsurance amounts are your responsibility as a patient and will be billed directly to you at the time of service.
All payments are due at the time of service. If you are on a long-term treatment plan, all payments are due on the dates scheduled per your contract. If you suspend or terminate your care and treatment, any fees for professional services rendered will be immediately due and payable.
If you are on a long-term care contract and terminate your treatment early, your refund, if any, will be determined based on the actual number of treatments received multiplied by the regular “per treatment” fee as noted in the Fee Schedule.
Any unpaid balances are sent to outside collection agencies by the end of the calendar month when such balances become due. You are responsible for any fees, costs and attorney charges incurred by this office in order to collect your debt.