Fees and Insurance:
We recognize the need for a definite understanding between the patient and the doctor concerning health care and the financial arrangements for this medical care. Our commitment is to provide the very best medical care to our patients while recognizing the need to limit services to only those that are necessary for each patient. The responsibility for payment of fees for these services is the direct obligation of the patient.

Any financial payment a patient may receive from private insurance or government agencies is a matter strictly between the patient and the insurance carrier or government agency.

Our Patient Account Representatives or Accounts Receivable Co-coordinators will provide assistance if needed with your insurance.

Our fees are comparable to other similarly trained specialists in the community and reflect the time spent by the doctor with you, the specialized nature of the doctor's training, and the individual diagnostic studies performed. We will be happy to discuss our fees with you at any time.

Part of the increased cost of medical care is caused by the extraordinary amount of paperwork. Accordingly, we ask that you be prepared to pay for routine office visits when the service is rendered. Of course, as a courtesy to you, we will file a claim with your insurance carrier. As a service to our patients, fees for your care during hospitalization or for specialized procedures are automatically filed with your insurance carrier. Fees not paid by your insurance can be paid on a mutually agreeable basis. Please let us know if you are having any particular financial problem - you can find us understanding. Please feel free to discuss mutually acceptable payment arrangements with our Billing Supervisor and/or Office Manager.

Gatroenterology Associates participates in most managed care programs. Please ask our receptionist for details.

Office Hours:
The office is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. When you call for an appointment you will be seen as quickly as possible. Each of our doctors has specific office hours and the receptionist will explain these to you.

Appointments:
Our patients are seen by appointment only allowing both more convenience to the patient and opportunity for better care. We make a sincere attempt to adhere to the appointment schedule, but when emergencies arise, they must take precedenceand some delays may therefore occur. When you arrive at the office for your appointment, please check-in with the receptionist.

Prescriptions:
It is not our policy to prescribe new medications over the telephone. Long term medications may be handled over the phone if you remain under the active care of your physician, but only during regular office hours. Please call your pharmacist for refills. He will call our office and request a refill. For better care, please try to call as early in the day as possible for refills.

Emergencies:
One of our physicians is on call and available for emergencies at all times. During office hours please call our office, identify yourself and relay the information to the receptionist - we will respond promptly. After regular office hours and on weekends, the telephone is answered by pre-recorded message instructing the patient to call the hospital operator who in turn will relay the message promptly to the physician on call.