Financial Policies

In order to establish optimal relations with our patients and avoid misunderstanding and confusion regarding our payment policies, our staff is trained to consistently inform you of the financial payment policies of this office. Payment is required for all services at the time they are rendered unless you are in a prepaid plan in which we participate. Obtaining referral forms or pre-authorization is the responsibility of the patient. In the absence of appropriate referrals or pre-authorization, the patient is responsible for payment of services. For those patients, applicable copayments and deductible will be collected at the time of service.

General Policy

The patient is ultimately responsible for all professional fees. Payment for service is due in full at the time service is provided. We accept personal checks and most credit cards. Failure to pay will constitute a default, which entitles Rockwall Dermatology to all remedies as prescribed by law, including reasonable attorneys' fees and other costs to collect.

Missed Appointments

Appointments with Rockwall Dermatology are in high demand. To best accommodate all patients and in fairness to everyone, we require notice to reschedule or cancel an appointment. With enough notice, we can accommodate another patient so we ask for as much notice as possible if you cannot attend your appointment. If you cancel or reschedule an appointment with less than 3 business hours' notice, you will be charged $100 regardless of the circumstances. Missed appointments are grounds for patient dismissal.

Late Arrivals

We respect your time and we do our very best to stay on schedule. When you have an appointment with us, we reserve that time just for you and we need the entire time to provide you the best care possible. If you arrive late to your appointment or you do not have your Portal information updated by your appointment time you have missed your appointment. In either case, you may be asked to reschedule your appointment or to wait for an opportunity to be seen that does not affect other patients who arrive on time.

Cosmetic Procedures

Many procedures performed in our clinic are considered "not medically necessary" by most insurance carriers. We will make an attempt to alert you before the service is rendered if we are aware of this possibility. We will not file these claims with your carrier, although you may submit information to them on your own. Examples may include: removal or destruction of benign lesions, treatment of skin tags, and neuromodulators. Cosmetic procedures may require a deposit to make an appointment.

For Patients with Insurance

We bill most insurance carriers for you if proper paperwork is provided to us. We will also bill most secondary insurance companies for you. Copayments and deductibles are due at the time of service and we gather that information from your insurance company(s) to estimate those costs. Since your agreement with your insurance carrier is a private one, we do not routinely research why an insurance carrier has not paid or why it paid less than anticipated for care. If an insurance carrier has not paid within 60 days of billing, professional fees are due and payable in full from you. See the insurance plans and networks we work with regularly.

Insurance Plans with Deductibles

Many insurance plans have deductibles. A deductible is the amount you owe for covered health care services before your health insurance or plan begins to pay. The deductible may not apply to all services. For patients who have not met their deductible, payment in full is due at time of service. We may use the Medicare Fee Schedule to estimate and bill for insurance related services at the time of service and then bill the remainder if necessary. Credits of more than three dollars are refunded or otherwise directed by the patient.

Visits and Procedures

All insurance companies use the same coding system as the basis for their reimbursement fee schedules. Types of visits and procedures have different codes and have different associated fees. Common procedures that occur in addition to a visit may include: destruction of warts and inflamed benign lesions, destruction of precancers, skin biopsies, steroid injections, removing moles and cysts, and removing and treating skin cancers, among others.

Medicare Patients

We will bill Medicare for you. We will also bill secondary insurance carriers for you. All copayments or deductibles are due and payable at the time service is provided.

Surgery Fees

All copays, deductibles, and payments for non-covered surgical procedures are due prior to your surgery. Prior authorization may be required by your carrier.

Non-Covered Charges

Any care not paid for by your existing insurance coverage will require payment in full at the time services are provided or upon notice of insurance claim denial.

Yearly Skin Screenings

Periodic preventive skin screenings may or may not be covered under your health insurance policy; however, they may be recommended by your physician.