Demystifying Emergency Physicians Group Bill Pay

Sometimes going to the emergency room is stressful and hard to understand, especially when it comes to how to pay and get billed. When you’re in an emergency, you probably just want to get good medical care without having to worry about how to pay for it. How emergency physician group billing and payment works, on the other hand, can help you avoid surprises and give you more power as a patient.

In this article we’ll walk through the ins and outs of how billing and payment works with emergency physician groups. My goal is to clearly explain the typical process in simple terms, so you can feel informed and ready to handle any billing that may come your way after an ER visit.

How Emergency Physician Group Billing Works

First let’s cover some background on how emergency physician group billing works compared to hospital billing.

When you visit the emergency room you may receive two separate medical bills

• One from the hospital facility for room fees, medications, supplies, etc.

• One from the group of emergency physicians for the professional work done by the ER doctors and medical team

This split billing structure is common because emergency physician groups are typically separate entities from the hospitals where they provide care. The physicians bill independently for their clinical expertise and hands-on services as medical providers.

Emergency physician groups have contracts with insurance companies just like hospitals do. So when you visit the ER, both the hospital and the physician group will verify your insurance coverage separately. They will each submit claims to your insurance seeking reimbursement for their respective charges.

Based on your insurance coverage and benefits, you, the patient, are responsible for any copays, deductibles, or other out-of-pocket costs that come up with the doctor’s bill. The physician group cannot waive or reduce these costs for insured patients.

Now let’s look specifically at how payment works on the patient end.

Understanding Your Emergency Physician Group Bill

After your ER visit, you’ll likely receive a bill from the physician group within a few weeks if you have an account balance. This statement will outline the group’s billed charges for your care and indicate what your insurance covered.

The key components to look for on your emergency physician bill include:

• Dates of service – This details when you were seen in the ER by the physician group. There may be multiple dates if you had an extended visit.

• Account number – This unique number identifies your account with the physician group. You’ll need to reference it when making a payment.

• Itemized charges – This lists the medical services and procedures that were performed by the ER physicians and billed to your insurance.

• Adjustments/discounts – This shows any reductions or adjustments made to the charges based on contracted rates with your insurance.

• Insurance payments – This lists payments made by your insurance company to cover portions of the billed charges. This will be reflected as reductions on your balance.

• Patient balance – This is the remaining amount you owe the physician group for your portion of the medical services rendered. It may include copays, deductibles, coinsurance, or other uncovered charges required by your insurance.

Thoroughly reviewing your detailed statement can help you understand what you specifically are being billed for by the physician group. If you see any discrepancies or have questions, you should contact the billing office right away to dispute the bill or get clarification.

Options for Paying Your Emergency Physician Bill

Once you receive your statement from the physician group and confirm your balance, you’ll need to arrange payment. Emergency physician groups offer various payment options to accommodate patients.

Here are some of the most common ways to pay an emergency physician bill:

• Online bill pay – Many emergency physician groups allow you to easily pay your balance online through their patient portal or website. This offers a quick, convenient payment option and allows you to retain a digital receipt.

• Pay by phone – You can call the billing office directly during business hours and pay over the phone using a credit card or checking account.

• Pay by mail – Physician groups will include a payment remittance slip and return envelope with the mailed statement. You can fill out the slip and mail a check or money order. Be sure to include your account number on the payment.

• In-person – Some physician groups allow patients to pay bills in person at their billing office with cash, check, or credit/debit card.

• Payment plan – If you cannot afford to pay the full balance outright, call the billing office to arrange a monthly payment plan that fits your budget.

Always be sure to get a receipt for any bill payment and follow up in 1-2 weeks to confirm it was applied properly to your account. Most emergency physician groups expect balances to be paid in full within 30 days of receiving a statement.

Seeking Assistance with Medical Bills

If you simply cannot afford your emergency physician group charges, even after insurance adjustments, don’t panic. There are resources available to help patients manage unaffordable medical bills:

• Request a discount – Uninsured or underinsured patients can contact the physician group billing office and request a prompt pay discount or charity care assistance. Discounts may range from 20-40% based on financial need.

• Apply for financial aid – Most physician groups offer financial assistance programs or hardship exceptions for patients with low incomes. You’ll need to submit an application with income documentation.

• Set up a payment plan – As mentioned, you can arrange with the billing office to pay in smaller monthly installments over 6-12 months rather than paying the balance all at once. Get this in writing.

• Negotiate your bill – You have the right to negotiate with emergency physician groups, even if you have insurance. Be polite but firm in requesting discounts, buydowns, or waived late fees if paying your bill causes financial strain.

The bottom line is that emergency physician groups aim to work collaboratively with patients on billing matters. By communicating with empathy, flexibility, and accountability, we can find solutions together. Never hesitate to speak up and advocate for yourself throughout the billing and payment process after an ER visit.