Your records and x-rays are kept in strict confidence as part of our permanent file. We will release copies only if we have your written permission. For copies of patient records or x-rays we must charge, in advance, to cover our material costs. We will also ask you to fill out the following form and fax or bring to our office. We prefer to mail copies of records and x-rays, but we will give them to you in person to hand-carry if time is critical. Please give us at least 24 hours notice prior to coming in and picking up records or x-rays as it does take some time to prepare the materials.
Personal History: Our medical assistant will ask questions about your ailment, your general health, and may request other pertinent information to make your medical treatment as effective as possible. Some questions will be personal, but every question is important and helps our doctor better diagnose and treat your condition. Anything you tell us is strictly confidential and will be released only with your approval.
Billing and Payment:
When you register for services at Hand Surgery & Specialty Orthopaedic Centers., you sign a contract with the practice that states you understand it to be your full responsibility to pay for the services rendered by the practice, regardless of your type or amount of health insurance. You also consent for us to directly bill your insurance carrier for the covered portion of the charge. We expect that you will meet this payment obligation and pay your bill in full within the timeframe defined on your patient statement. If it becomes evident that a patient does not intend to fulfill his/her financial obligation to Hand Surgery & Specialty Orthopaedic Centers, a collection agency and/or legal action may be implemented to settle the debt.
You will receive a monthly statement which will keep you informed of the balance of your account with us. After a payment is received from your insurance carrier, you will receive a statement for any uncovered balance. Payments are due in our office within ten (10) days after you receive your statement. If you have a hardship and need more time to pay, please contact us right away. We can always implement a payment plan if you contact us, but failure to call us could leave us no choice but to ask for full payment of your account. Please contact our billing office at 847-303-5798 if you have any questions regarding your bill.
We work hard to make sure you receive the best orthopedic care available, and we work to keep our fees as low as possible. Our fees are comparable to other orthopedic groups in and around the Chicago area. We charge a fee for your office visit; each consequential item or service (such as x-rays, laboratory tests, casts, splints, etc.) is billed separately. Estimates can be provided for surgeries, and deposits are sometimes required. We are always willing to discuss charges with our patients.
Method of Payment:
It s customary to pay for medical care the day it is received. Unless you make prior arrangements or are covered by an HMO, PPO, or Medicare plan, you should arrange to pay at the time of each visit to our office. For your convenience, we accept cash, check, Discover, MasterCard or Visa. We will be glad to work out an individual payment plan with you, if necessary. In return, we expect you to make regular, timely payments on a monthly basis. We can, however, charge your unpaid balance to your credit card at any time; we reserve the right to charge interest on any account that is sixty (60) days overdue.
