Insurance Policy: Please ensure that we have your current insurance information. If your insurance has changed or termed please notify the front desk and present them with your updated policy. Dr. Patel will not resubmit denied claims if the correct insurance plan was not presented prior to the visit. You will be charged for the denied claims and will be given an itemized receipt to obtain your reimbursement from your plan. If your insurance requires you to have a referral form your primary care physician (PCP), please obtain this document prior to any appointments. Upon verification of health plan/insurance coverage and policy limits, your insurance carrier will be billed for you and your provider will be paid directly by the carrier. The patient/guardian will be responsible for you and any applicable deductibles and copayments. If you are not eligible at the time of services are rendered, you are responsible for payment.
Canceled and Missed Appointments: Keeping your appointments is very important. If an appointment is missed or canceled with less than a 48 hour notice, the responsible party will be billed a No Show Fee of fifty dollars ($50.00). If a patient misses 3 consecutive appointments, the patient will be discharged from the practice. Patient no show fees must be paid before a new appointment can be made. Patients can pay by phone with a credit card, by mailing a check, or in person at our office.
Letters, Forms & Disability Paperwork: There is a fee of $50.00 for a letters, forms and disability paperwork from the doctor. Please allow 5-7 business days for completion and review of requested documentation. The front desk will contact you with the time and date when the documentation can be picked up. No letters or forms will be done on the same day it is requested; no exceptions will be made as clinicians need time to ensure accurate documentation. Please sign a release of information prior to your request. Processing period will not begin until a release has been signed.
Medical Records: To retrieve your medical records, there is a fee of $50.00 as well as a turnaround time of 5-7 business days. The party requesting the records also needs to fill out a release of information to receive his/her records.
Court Cases: Please be advised that we do not charge your insurance company for any documentation pertaining to court cases. There is a separate fee for this service and it is charged on a case by case basis.
Prescription Refills: Please ensure that you have enough medication to last until your follow up appointment prior to leaving our office. All controlled substances must be obtained through a written prescription that the patient will receive during a session with the psychiatrist. The front desk cannot and will not call in any medications. Once you have obtained a prescription, you will not be able to receive another prescription ahead of schedule. Dr. Patel’s staff will not replace stolen, lost or misplaced prescriptions or medication. We will not mail prescriptions. For your safety and in compliance with Maryland state regulations, you must be seen by a clinician prior to receiving medication. Controlled substance cannot and will not be called in, mailed, or given outside of schedule stipulated by the clinician. Controlled medications include but are not limited to: Alprazolam (Xanax), Clonazepam (Klonopin), Diazepam, Lorazepam, Ritalin, Concerta, Focalin, Adderall, Vyvanse, Zolpidem (Ambien), Lunesta, Rozerm.
***Dr. Smita H. Patel, MD does not offer Suboxone and Methadone treatment***