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Appointment and Cancellation Policies
We recognize that your time is valuable and make every attempt to limit your wait time. We intentionally do not overbook our schedules to ensure you the best experience for your visit.
However, to ensure this perfect experience for you, we need the cooperation of all patients to be on time for their scheduled appointments and to call the office at least 48 hours in advance for cancellations. We charge a $75 fee for appointments that are not canceled 48 hours in advance. Additional fees may apply if booking for specialized cosmetic procedures requiring additional resources or advance preparation. If you are more than 15 minutes late for your appointment, we cannot guarantee that appointment and may need to reschedule you if there are other patients waiting.
As in any appointment-based system, when tardiness and unannounced cancellations occur, it affects the scheduling pattern and waiting experience for everyone. Our goal is to keep your waiting times minimal and your experience enjoyable.
Health insurance and payment policy
Health Insurances accepted:
- Aetna (HMO, Indemnity, Medicare, POS, PPO, EPO)
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Cigna
- Harvard Pilgrim
- Medicare
- United Healthcare
We only participate with the health insurance plans listed above for medical dermatology visits and procedures. At the time of check-in, you are required to bring and present your current health insurance card and government-issued I.D., without which we will not be able to see you. Please note you are responsible for any co-payments (due at check-in), co-insurance, and deductibles required by your plan. For questions related to the exact amounts of each respective category, please check with your health insurance company. Depending on your health plan type, you may be required to obtain a letter of referral from your primary care provider prior to your visit. Without a referral form, you will be personally responsible for the full payment of the visit and any associated procedures that was not covered by the insurance company.
There are hundreds to thousands of different individual plans, all of which cover different services and procedures, and their policies constantly change. Your health insurance is a contract between you and the health insurance company, and they are directly responsible to you regarding accurate coverage information. If you are unsure whether a particular service or procedure is covered, it is your responsibility to contact your insurance plan and find out. You will be financially responsible for any amount not covered by your insurance company. At the time of your visit, we require a signed credit card authorization form so that we may charge the remaining balance not covered by your insurance company. The charge is made only after your insurance company has made a determination of what it will and will not cover.
If we do not participate with your health insurance plan, you will be responsible for the full amount we charge for the visit and any related services.
Dermatology visits and services considered medically unnecessary or cosmetic are not covered by any health insurance plans. Examples of cosmetic visits include injectables (Botox® /Dysport® , fillers), laser treatments, microdermabrasion, sclerotherapy, scar revision, skin tag removal, chemical peels, and removal of any benign growths. You are responsible for the full payment of cosmetic visits and services as well as any medically unnecessary procedures.
We only accept the following forms of payment: Checks, Cash and all major credit cards.
Prescription Refill Policy
We have adopted the following prescription refill policy to ensure that your skin health is managed to the highest degree of safety and accuracy. Certain medications, especially oral medications, require routine clinical and/or laboratory monitoring. These are medications that we will not be able to routinely refill over the phone. You will need to come for a follow-up appointment, and after careful assessment, your dermatologist will determine whether a refill or a different prescription is most appropriate. Please note that we do not refill any prescription medications for patients who have not been seen in follow-up for one full year.
Full document
Appointment And Cancellation Policies_DermBoston.pdf
[PDF document . 108 KB]
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Financial Policy
Thank you for allowing The Dermatology Institute of Boston, PC, Inc. to be your healthcare provider. The Dermatology Institute of Boston, PC, Inc. is committed to the success of your medical treatment and care. We will file your primary and secondary medical claims for you. It is imperative that you provide us with current and accurate insurance information at the time of your appointment. We will scan a copy of your insurance cards at the time of your visit. If you fail to provide insurance information, you will be considered Self Pay nd will be required to make payment arrangements at the time of service. It is important for you to understand that you have the contract with your insurance carrier and you will need to help us work with your insurance carrier to expedite the reimbursement process. you are responsible for any unpaid balance not contractually covered by your insurance. You have final responsibility for payment for services provided. Your participation in the process is both essential and encouraged. If your insurance company requires you to choose a primary care provider (PCP). It is your responsibility prior to your visit to ensure that you have authorization for your visit with us prior to your appointment.
Copayments: Your insurance company requires you to pay your copay at the time of each visit. If your child comes for an office visit without a parent, you are still responsible for the copayment at the time of the visit. If you do not have insurance coverage, you will be expected to pay at the time of your visit. If we cannot verify your insurance coverage at the time of your visit, we require a minimum of $50.00 deposit per visit.
Deductibles: It is your responsibility to understand any deductibles that may apply to you under your Insurance Policy.
Insurance Information: It is your responsibility to ensure that we have accurate insurance information. Presenting an invalid or inactive insurance card will result in full payment by you. Medical insurance does not always cover the entire cost of your medical care. If we believe a service we offer is not covered by your insurance coverage, we will tell you. In some instances, however we do not learn that a service is not covered until after we submit a bill. You are responsible for payment if your insurance company refuses to pay for a service.
Medicare: The Dermatology Institute of Boston, PC. is a participating Medicare provider, accepting assignment for Medicare Part B (Physician Services) claims. The patient is responsible for their Medicare co-insurance, deductibles and any services rendered that are not covered by Medicare.
Medicaid: The Dermatology Institute of Boston, PC. only accepts Medicaid patients on a case by case basis, in consultation with the Primary Care Physician (PCP). Medicaid patients must submit a valid identification card at every visit. The patient is responsible for any spend down amount for services provided on dates that are not eligible for coverage. The patient is responsible for any services rendered that are not covered by Medicaid.
Managed Care Plans: In order to see a specialist, some insurance plans require a referral from the Primary Care Physician (PCP) or pre-certification before treatment can be rendered. It is the patient’s responsibility to ensure we have this referral or pre- certification prior to the visit. If we do not receive the necessary referral or pre-certification, the patient will be responsible for payment or will need to reschedule their appointment. All co-pays are due at the time of service.
Commercial Plans: The Dermatology Institute of Boston, PC. has established fees that are usual and customary for this healthcare service area. Every insurance carrier has their own usual and customary fee schedule; however, the patient is responsible for payment regardless of the insurance carrier’s arbitrary determination of rates. All co-pays are due at the time of service.
Self Pay: Patients who do not have insurance coverage are considered to be self pay. Self pay patients will be required to make payment arrangements prior to services being rendered.
Non-Covered Services: Some services we provide may be deemed not medically necessary by your insurance carrier or not a covered benefit by your specific policy, therefore, not paid by your insurance. Many cosmetic procedures we provide are not covered by insurance. The patient is responsible for payment at the time of service for all services not covered by insurance. If you are scheduled for a cosmetic consultation, you will be charged $195 at the conclusion of the visit. If you do Botox® or Dysport®, touch ups can only be done at no charge within 2 weeks of your treatment.
Laboratory Services: Some services, such as biopsies or surgery, require specimens be sent to a laboratory for processing. The patient may receive a separate bill from Mid-America Pathology Services or another laboratory. The patient is responsible for payment for all laboratory services not covered by insurance.
Payment Arrangements: The Dermatology Institute of Boston, PC. may consider payment arrangements for those patients who need assistance in meeting their account obligation. The Dermatology Institute of Boston, PC. reserves the right to set the terms, conditions and to charge interest for any payment arrangement.
Disability / FMLA / Other Forms: The Dermatology Institute of Boston, PC. will charge a twenty dollar ($20.00) fee for the completion of each form. Multiple forms are $20.00 for each form. Payment is required prior to the completion of any form.
Credit Cards: The Dermatology Institute of Boston, PC. accepts Visa and MasterCard. Other forms of payment accepted are debit cards, checks and cash. If a patient has an approved payment arrangement, monthly credit card debits are offered as an option for payment.
Returned Check Policy: The Dermatology Institute of Boston, PC. will charge a twenty-five dollar ($25.00) fee for each check returned by our bank for non-sufficient funds. As a courtesy, we will attempt to submit a check to our bank one additional time should the check be returned from the initial deposit.
Missed Appointment Fees: The Dermatology Institute of Boston, PC. may charge a fee for missed office visit appointments when the patient fails to give appropriate notification. A cancellation notice must be received 48 hours in advance of the scheduled appointment. A $75.00 charge may be applied for failure to meet this requirement.
Late Fees: The Dermatology Institute of Boston, PC. may charge a seven dollar and fifty cent ($7.50) monthly billing fee for delinquent accounts that are forty-five (45) or more days past due.
Interest Fees: The Dermatology Institute of Boston, PC. reserves the right to charge a monthly interest fee as defined by state law for delinquent accounts considered to be past due.
Collection Agencies: Should it become necessary for The Dermatology Institute of Boston, PC. to send a patient’s account to a collection agency, the patient will be responsible for any and all fees associated with the collection effort of the account, to include reasonable attorney fees, court costs, collection charges and interest.
Full document
Financial Policy To Sign _DermBoston.pdf
[PDF document . 109 KB]
