Palouse Medical Billing Information
We are committed to providing you with the best possible care and we are willing to discuss our professional fees at anytime. Your clear understanding of our financial policy is important to our relationship. Please ask if you have questions about our fees, Financial Policy, or your financial responsibility. If you have any further questions, PLEASE do not hesitate to call a member of our Billing Team at 509-332-1229.
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Palouse Medical P.S. Financial Policy
Palouse Medical P.S. is committed to providing the highest level of quality medical care and personal service to our patients. For every commitment there is an obligation. We feel that it is the patient or guardian’s responsibility to meet their financial obligations.
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Insurance
Medical insurance coverage is a contract between you and your insurance company. Palouse Medical P.S. will not be involved in disputes between you and your insurance company regarding deductibles, co-payments, covered services, secondary insurance, usual and customary charges, etc., other than to supply factual information as necessary.
Since we see patients from many different insurance plans, it is impossible for us to know all the covered benefits, co-pays, and deductibles for each plan, so please be aware of what is covered by your plan.
For your convenience Palouse Medical P.S. participates with most major insurance carriers. We will bill your insurance company, regardless if we are participating or not, as long as your current insurance card is presented at the time of check-in. We expect you to pay for charges that are considered “patient responsibility” according to your insurance, such as: co-payments, coinsurance, non-covered and deductible amounts.
Our providers practice medicine with your medical needs in mind. We do not practice medicine based on what each insurance company will pay for. Medicare does not provide reimbursement for annual physical and/or other preventative services. While it is our intention to assist you, it is still your responsibility to ensure that all services rendered by Palouse Medical P.S. on your behalf are paid in full.
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Provider Coverage
Palouse Medical P.S. is not responsible for ensuring that our providers are covered under your particular plan provisions. Please contact your insurance company to verify our providers participate with your plan.
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Payment At Time of Service
Palouse Medical requires payment at time of service for the following:
- Patients who are uninsured
- Patients using foreign insurance plans (the billing address must be located in the United States for us to process)
- Patients seeking care in relation to,or as the result of, a motor vehicle related accident.
For your convenience we accept cash, check and credit card (Visa, and MasterCard) payments.
There will be a $15.00 charge for all checks that are returned due to non-sufficient funds.
If you have a co-pay, your insurance requires that you pay this at the time of service. If you know that your deductible has not been met or the service is not a covered benefit, we request that you pay at the time of your visit.
We offer a 15% discount to patients who pay for their services (in full) at the time of their visit.
Short-term payment plans are available, but must be requested prior to the services being performed. We are unable to give discounts on labs and imaging fees.
Patients without insurance and patients involved in civil suit, auto, home or business owner’s accident and are seeking payment from the responsible party are required to pay at time of service. Due to the length of time it takes to settle these claims, we do not bill the responsible party’s insurance or attorney for your services in these situations; however, we will provide the documentation regarding services rendered for you to submit as evidence.
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Statements
There may be situations where you may be left with a balance when unknown co-pays, co-insurance or deductibles occur. Our statements will either come to you on paper, or electronically depending on how your account is set up. This balance is due upon receipt. You will not receive a statement from our office until after we have heard back from your insurance carrier.
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Payment Plan Arrangements
Our Billing Team at Palouse Medical P.S. is happy to help answer questions about your patient account. We care about our patients and are pleased to offer payment plans for patients who are unable to pay their balance in full. We offer a policy that awards 90 days for balances due to be paid without incurring finance service fees.
Once a payment plan has been arranged, payment is required each month in order for the account to stay in good standing.
Payment Suggestions
| Balance | Suggested Payment |
| $0.00 – $250.00 | $ 25.00 |
| $250.01 – $500.00 | $ 45.00 |
| $500.01 – $750.00 | $ 70.00 |
| $750.01 – $1,000.00 | $ 90.00 |
| $1,000.01 – $1,500.00 | $ 135.00 |
| $1,501.01 – $2,000.00 | $ 180.00 |
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Options Available For The Uninsured
Palouse Medical offers a sliding fee scale that patients who are uninsured may request and apply for consideration. Eligibility to receive these discounted services is based off the Palouse Medical Financial Assistance Plan application packet. Please contact the billing office to learn more!
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Palouse Medical’s Financial Assistance Plan
We are pleased to offer an application for Financial Assistance utilizing a discounted fee schedule. These application packets are available upon request. Palouse Medical has several levels of assistance that can be provided to eligible participants. Verification of submitted information is required before discounts can be applied.
Eligibility is determined by: family size, household income, and the presentation of requested documents of support.
- Each completed application is carefully reviewed by billing or administrative personnel at Palouse Medical based on federal poverty guidelines.
- No financial barriers to care will exist for patients who complete a financial assistance packet and meet financial eligibility criteria.
- Palouse Medical follows established guidelines to ensure that financial assistance is uniform and non-discriminating.
For patients that do not meet criteria to receive discounted fees for services, Palouse Medical will not deny access to services. Palouse Medical will work with you to help create a reasonable payment plan and inform you of available resources specific to your financial situation.
If you are interested in learning more or have questions regarding this process, please contact our billing office!
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Collections
We perform a follow-up on patient bills by sending a series (up to 3) of collection letters to patients, requesting payment of the past due amount. If the patient has not made a payment or contacted us to set up a payment plan within six months of the date of service, the patient account will be sent to an outside collection agency. If the patient account is sent to an outside collection agency the patient will not be able to see their provider until that balance is paid in full.
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We are committed to providing you with the best possible care and we are willing to discuss our professional fees at anytime. Your clear understanding of our financial policy is important to our relationship. Please ask if you have questions about our fees, Financial Policy, or your financial responsibility.
If you have any further questions, PLEASE do not hesitate to call a member of our Billing Team at 509-332-1229.
