We have implemented the following policies and fees to better control rising costs.
 
CO-PAYS:
ALL office co-pays must be paid at the time of service, when you check in at the front desk. We accept cash and checks. At this time we have chosen not to accept any credit cards.
If you do not have your co-pay in cash or check, we may have to reschedule your appointment and consider the missed visit a “No Show”.
The fee for this option is $30.00.
Otherwise if you desire we may bill you for the co-pay. The fee for this service is $10.00.
 
REFERRALS:
The insurance company holds the patient responsible for having a valid referral at the time of service. We can retrieve an electronic referral, however if the referral is a paper referral, it is the patient’s responsibility to be sure that we have it at the time of service. You may bring the referral with you or if your physician’s office faxes referrals, you must make sure that it has been faxed and is in our office at least one day prior to your appointment. If the referral is not available when you arrive for your appointment, we may reschedule the appointment and consider the missed visit a No Show. The fee for this option is $30.00.
Otherwise if you desire we you may request that we obtain the referral for you. The fee for this service will be $10.00 payable at the time you check in.
 
FORMS:
The physician and the office staff will be happy to assist you with the completion of any form that you may need to return to work, to obtain disability benefits, FMLA/insurance forms, etc.  The fee for this service is $10.00 for 1 page form or $40.00 for multiple page forms.
This amount should be paid in advance when the form is brought into the office to be completed.
 
MEDICAL RECORDS:
The Maryland Board of Physician Quality Assurance allows the following fees: Preparation fee of $20.52  and $0.68 for each page + the actual cost of postage and handling (updated November 27, 2006). 

MISSED APPOINTMENTS or DATE CHANGES:
Our office and operating room time is very valuable and costly to the practice. The cost of keeping our office open and staffed increases from year to year. If you do not keep an office visit or a surgery appointment we need to recover part of those costs. This is an accepted practice and does not violate our contract with your insurer.
The following fees will apply:

• Patients who do not show for a scheduled office appointment and do not call to cancel that appointment within the previous 24 hours will be charged a $30.00 fee.
• Patients who do not show for a scheduled surgery or colonoscopy and do not call to cancel or reschedule that appointment within the previous 8 days or less will be charged a $300.00  fee. 
•  Patients who want to cancel or change the date of a scheduled surgery or colonoscopy and call to cancel or reschedule that appointment 7 days or more prior to the procedure date will be charged a $100.00 fee.