1. What do I need to bring with me to my first appointment?

• Current Medications

Please bring all medications you are currently taking to your appointment.

• Personal Identification Needed

Be sure to have your valid driver license and insurance card(s) with you.

• Payment Policy

Due to recent changes in healthcare plans, some patients have questions regarding patient and insurance responsibility for services rendered. Our rates are representative of the usual and customary charges for our area. Please review our payment policy information below. You will be provided with a copy of this information to read and sign at your office visit. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.

• Insurance

We participate in most insurance plans, including Medicare. If you are not insured by a plan we do business with, payment in full is expected at each visit. If you are insured by a plan we do business with, present your current card at your office visit so that we may verify your coverage. Knowing your insurance benefits is your responsibility. Please contact your insurance company with any questions you may have regarding your coverage.

• Co-payments and deductibles

All co-payments and deductibles must be paid at the time of service. This arrangement is part of your contract with your insurance company. Failure on our part to collect co-payments and deductibles from patients can be considered fraud. Please help us in upholding the law by paying your co-payment and/or deductible at each visit.

Payments can be made in the form of cash, personal check or credit card. We accept MasterCard, Visa, Discover and American Express.

• Coverage changes

If your insurance changes, please notify us before or on your next visit so we can make the appropriate changes to help you receive your maximum benefits. If your insurance company does not pay within 30 days, you will be responsible for the balance.

2. How do I use the Patient Portal?

Your Healthcare Information is only a Click Away...

As part of our commitment to provide you exceptional service and the highest quality care, we have implemented a new Electronic Health Record (EHR) system.

As a patient, you will notice several benefits when you access the new EHR system:

• Your provider will have access to the most up-to-date information on your condition at all times
• Greater provider efficiency for more face-to-face time with patients
• Improved management of health conditions and the ability to participate more fully in your healthcare
• Electronic prescribing of medications that will allow your provider to communicate directly with your pharmacy
• A user-friendly patient portal and optimized billing for a more streamlined process

Questions about your health come to you at unexpected times – often when it’s too late to call your doctor. Now you can use secure messaging to communicate with your doctor on line. Send a secure message any time and a response will be sent to you during business hours. With the Patient Portal you can also:

• View statements and pay online
• Access your health information, including medications and immunizations (via secure messaging requests)
• Obtain educational information (via secure messaging requests)
• Schedule an appointment
• Find the results of your lab test
• Send a message to your doctor

Access Patient Portal

3. What insurances does Desert Care Network take?

Desert Care Network: Primary and Specialty Care accepts most major health plans as well as Medicare and Medicaid. Please check with your health insurance carrier to verify specific coverage. Plans accepted include:

• Aetna
• America's Choice Provider Network
• Anthem Blue Cross of California
• Assurant Health
• Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Beechstreet
• Cigna
• First Health
• GEHA Health Plans
• Golden Rule
• Great West Healthcare
• Health Smart
• HealthNet Humana
• Mail Handlers Benefit Plan
• Medicaid of California
• Medicare
• MultiPlan
• Prime Health Services TriWest Healthcare
• Alliance
• Prudential
• Railroad Medicare
• Self Pay
• Tricare
• UMR United Healthcare (UHC)
• And many more…

4. Do I have to pay at the time of service and who do I contact about my bill?

Unless you are a member of one of our contracted insurance plans, or Medicare, full payment is due at the time of service. We accept cash, checks, Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.

General Patient Billing/Claims Inquiries

(855) 474-6382

Did you receive a refund check from Desert Care Network?

If you have questions, please give us a call – (714)-428-2311

POS/PPO Plans

If the physician is contracted with your plan, the majority of members covered under this type of plan are still required to make some type of payment for service that is rendered to them. This may be in the form of co-payment, deductible, or co-insurance. If your plan has a co-payment, you will be expected to pay your co-payment prior to being seen by the doctor. Co-payments, deductibles and co-insurance are requirements of your insurance plan and we are required under our contract with these plans to collect these amounts from you.

HMO Plans

Most of the members covered under HMO plans also owe co-payments. Co-payments will be collected prior to being seen by the doctor. We are required under our contract with these plans to collect these amounts from you.

Balances on Account

All previous balances are to be paid in full prior to additional services being rendered.

Collections

Should it become necessary for us to utilize the services of an outside collection agency in order to collect the amounts that are owed, you will be liable for agency/attorney fees.

Assignment of Benefits and Medical Record Release

I hereby authorize my insurance benefits to be paid directly to the above-signed physician realizing I am responsible to pay non-covered services and I hereby authorize the release of pertinent medical information to insurance carriers. Furthermore, I understand and acknowledge that I am ultimately responsible for the financial liability of the services provided.