Health care is ultimately an interaction between a doctor and a patient, and it is a “two-way street.” The care we are providing is individualized and offered in a private setting. While we do not turn away any patient who seeks our care, no one is entitled to it either. We expect our courtesy to be reciprocated. Because Dr. Schaeffer is the one of the few board-certified pediatric urologists in this region of the United States, our office can be rather busy. We deal with emergencies and very sick children on a daily basis, so please be patient if the office is not running on schedule.

The involvement of third parties in the interaction of doctors and patients has changed the landscape of the doctor-patient relationship. Modern health care delivery is very difficult given government regulation and the complex business environment in which doctors must practice. We do our best to navigate the maze of paperwork, but we expect your help. If your child is eligible for government-provided insurance (i.e. Medicaid), it is your responsibility to get your child enrolled and have proper referrals from your primary care physician in place before your visit. If you have commercial insurance, you are ultimately responsible for making sure the bills submitted by this office either to you or to your insurance company are paid. Your insurance company is YOUR insurance company, NOT ours. If your insurance company needs information from our office, we will submit it. If we have recommended surgery and your insurance company has denied it, we will explain the indications to the company’s medical director. It is not our responsibility to spend untold hours dealing with your insurance company because it does not want to pay for something. In general, and like anything else, you get what you pay for when it comes to health insurance.
Co-pays must be paid at the time of service. Our contracts with insurance companies are written in such a way that we are committing fraud if we do not collect required co-pays from you at the time of service. If you come to the office without your co-pay, you may not be seen.

If you have not yet met your deductible for your health insurance policy for the year, inform us on the day of your visit. You will be expected to pay the full amount owed at the time of service up to the level of the deductible. Your insurance company is authorized to release information about the status of your deductible prior to your visit with us, and our office may have that information prior to your visit.
If you have no health insurance at all, please call prior to your visit and discuss your situation with us.
If you do not intend to keep your appointment, please call us so that your child’s time slot can be given to another child who might be waiting. Also, please let us know if you are going to be significantly late for your appointment.