To help provide the most efficient and reasonably priced health care services, it is necessary for us to have a financial policy stating our requirements for payment of services provided to our patients. Patients are responsible for the payment of all services provided by our facilities and affiliates.

Your prompt payments are the reason we are able to recruit the best talent in the healthcare delivery industry. We would like you to consider it an investment in a long-term defense team for your rights as a chronic pain sufferer; your financial contribution is, after all, an investment in your future well-being,

It is important to know that your contract with the insurance carrier already qualified you for a significant discount from our customary rates.

It is our desire that payment of your account is as easy and convenient for you as possible. We will assist you in any way we can to facilitate the settling of your account. It is essential for you to provide us with accurate and up-to-date insurance information at each visit. It is your responsibility to notify us of any changes in insurance so that claims can be filed correctly. Any error, causing a delay in processing and payment, puts the burden of the bill on you. Although highly unlikely, an approval from your insurance company does not guarantee payment. The patient is ultimately responsible for payment of the services rendered.

It is our policy to file insurance as a courtesy to you, if we have accurate and complete insurance information. The balance due is still your responsibility if we have not received payment from the insurance company within the contractual time frame.

 Insurance plan participation

We participate in many but not all insurance plans. It is your responsibility to contact your insurance company to verify that your assigned physician participates in your plan. Out of network charges may have higher deductibles and copayments.

Financial responsibility

Your insurance policy is a contract between you and your insurance carrier. You are ultimately responsible for payment-in-full for all medical services provided to you. Any charges not paid by your insurer will be your responsibility, except as limited by our contract (if any) with your insurance carrier.

Coverage changes and timely submission

It is your responsibility to inform us in a timely manner of any changes to your billing or insurance information. There is a time limit within which our practice must submit a claim on your behalf to your insurer. If we are unable to submit your claim within this period because we have not been supplied with your correct insurance information, you will be responsible for the charges.

Clinic copayments

Copayments for clinic visits are due at the time of service. If you are unable to make your copayment at the time of service, Northeast Arkansas Pain Medicine Clinic reserves the right to reschedule your appointment until a time that you are able to make your copayment. Payment for any outstanding balance is due at your appointment.

Pain Center procedure prepayment

The Pain Center of Jonesboro collects your payment for a procedure at the time when the procedure is scheduled or on the day of the procedure. Your prepayment is based on an estimate of your expected financial responsibility. This is an estimate only. You are responsible for any unpaid balance after your insurance (if applicable) has been billed. In the event of overpayment you will be issued a refund. We reserve the right to reschedule your procedure until prepayment has been made.

You will receive 2 bills for the services provided for each of your procedural visits. Please note that physician services are different from facility charges. The bill that you receive from The Pain Center of Jonesboro is for facility services only. This is customary and is to cover the costs to the facility for supplies, equipment, medications, personnel (clerical and nursing), the procedure room, and observation following the procedure. As a courtesy to you, we will file the claims for physician’s services to your insurance company. 

Balances and payment plans

For patients who need financial arrangements, we will offer counseling and options that would fit their needs and capabilities. Balances need to be resolved before the next encounter, unless a payment plan has been arranged. Payment plans need to be in good standing before each encounter.

Self-pay

If you do not have health insurance, or if your health insurance will not pay for services rendered by our practices, you are considered a self-pay patient. Your charges will be based on our current self-pay fee schedule (available from our front desks). Self-pay patients are expected to make payment in full at the time of service.

Workers’ Compensation

For Worker’s Compensation claims, it is our policy to bill your employer or the Worker’s Compensation carrier for services rendered. If you are covered, we will accept the payment made by Worker’s Compensation as payment in full. If Worker’s Compensation denies payment or goes into litigation, the entire balance will become your responsibility and will be due within 10 days from the date of the denial. It is your responsibility to contact us with the name and address of your employer or the insurance company at the time the appointment is made and to provide the office with a copy of your Notice of Compensation Payable Letter from Worker’s Compensation. All insurance is verified prior to the patient’s initial visit. 

Appointments

When you become our patient, you engage with two facilities: Northeast Arkansas Pain Medicine Clinic and The Pain Center of Jonesboro. This is an essential point, as each appointment will be designated to one of these entities. While the initial Pain Center is visit will always take place in the clinic, subsequent visits may take place in the Clinic or the Pain Center. The Pain Center is the state-of-the-art location where all procedures are performed, and it is conveniently located one floor below the Clinic.

It is important to make sure the card appointment you receive at each check-out states clearly the time, date and the specific location for your next appointment. If you have any doubts, don’t hesitate to ask for clarifications, as misunderstandings may compromise your ability to receive the appropriate care.

Priority list

It may take a bit of time to perform the next procedure that will solidify the initial improvement or establish long term relief after a series of short-term, diagnostic tests. As pain-sufferers ourselves, we know time is of the essence. We therefore developed a very popular program that would place you on a short list of patients we can call on if other patients for that day need to reschedule. Please make sure to inquire upon check-out about this great time-saving option.

Late arrivals

We sometimes run late due to the complexity of patients referred from a wide area, including neighboring states. We consider it only fair to offer you the same courtesy you graciously extend to us through your patience. While we guarantee you will be taken care of, you may lose your slot and be accommodated at the next available that day.

Cancellations

Life is complicated and busy. We understand the best plans may not be possible. Therefore, we urge you to notify us more than 24 hours in advance if your schedule will not permit you to make it to our facilities. We will gladly reschedule you in the earliest available slot that would fit your needs and capabilities. Be advised that, due to the nature of our clinic, we can only prescribe opioid medications after a meaningful patient contact, which includes a visual, physical and verbal assessment only possible during a clinic or procedure visit. This means that occasionally, there may be a brief gap in the continuity of care.

Late cancellations and no-shows

When a cancellation occurs less than 24 hours before the scheduled visit, it frequently makes it impossible to allocate that slot to another patient waiting for their turn. It is also a loss of opportunity to function for our providers.

Furthermore, each visit to our clinic of procedure facility incurs a process of insurance verification, eligibility, prior authorization from the insurance carrier and payment estimation that needs to take place beforehand. In other words, the practice invests funds to prepare your visit and make sure you get the best possible medical care and customer service.

As a result, each instance of late cancellation or no-show will involve a fee of 25 dollars for the clinic visit and 50 dollars for the Pain Center, to cover our costs.

If this issue recurs, while understanding there are instances beyond our control, we may choose to part ways. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation on this sensitive subject.