Cottonwood Clinic Billing Policies
We request payment at time of service from most patients. This reduces our billing expenses, and we can pass those savings back to patients by giving a 10% discount. Thus, there is a 10% discount when services are paid in full at the time of service.

If patients are unable to pay in full at the time of service, we can set up a payment plan. This plan should be fair both to the patient and to the Clinic. In other words, we will not expect payment to be so high that the patient is unable to afford to make other necessary payments; at the same time, we will expect payments to be sufficient to show a serious attempt to clear the account.

If payments are not made in a timely manner on accounts, a billing service fee of $5.00 per month will be added to the account.

If the patient is truly unable to afford services, we can make alternate arrangements.

Cottonwood Clinic Insurance Procedures
Commercial Insurance Plans
Many of our insured patients have health care plans paid for by their employers and/or themselves. These plans are not inexpensive. The patients are entitled to the benefits that are paid for. Most of these companies prefer to pay and deal with the insured party rather than with the health care providers. Usually they respond more quickly to a claim which is filed by the insured. For this reason, we are asking patients to mail their own claims.

We will print forms for patients to use, making sure that the provider’s portion is complete and correct. The insured can then make sure that all names and numbers are included and correct and sign the form. The insured can decide when to mail the claim. Some want to collect enough claims to meet the deductible and mail them all at one time. Some prefer to mail their claims immediately after the service.

By paying for services at the time they are provided and filing their insurance, the insured patients have more control over the use of their health care plans.

Participating and Preferred Provider Plans

Dr. Finley is a participating or preferred provider for a limited number of health care plans. These include Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming, Tricare, and First Choice of the Midwest. For these plans, we ask for co-payments and deductibles at the time of service. Then, we bill and receive payment for the remainder directly from the company.

If you belong to a PPO in which we are not participating, let us know and we will consider signing up.

For other plans that cover a large number of our patients, we will consider billing them directly also. Patients who are are federal, state, county, or railroad employee probably have coverage with one of these plans. We do expect these patients to pay deductibles and co-payments at the time of service.

Medicare

Dr. Finley is a non-particpant in Medicare. He does see a number of Medicare patients. When he does not accept assignment, we expect payment at time of service. When assignment is accepted, we wait to hear from Medicare before billing the patient. We are required to file all Medicare claims.

Many of our patients have supplemental insurance policies. Medicare automatically sends some of these companies the information to process the claims. We do not file other Medicare secondary claims on a routine basis. If you need assistance, however, please ask us.

By federal law, we are required to bill patients for any deductible or co-payments which are not covered by a supplemental policy. If you have any questions concerning Medicare payment to you or to us, please call or come in.

Title-19

We are required to file Title 19 claims for patients. Most Title-19 patients are not billed. An exception to this is for recipients over 21, not pregnant, and not on Medicare. These recipients are expected to pay a $2.00 co-payment at the time of service.

Workman’s Compensation

Workman’s Compensation patients are expected to provide us with the necessary information to file their claims. The patient is not billed unless the claim is denied by Workman’s Comp.

If you have a question concerning insurance which is not answered here, please call our office.