Charity Policy
ACV, Inc. does not participate with the charity care programs of other facilities. We are a separate entity with our own providers and billing services.
ACV, Inc. will make every effort to work with any patient that is not able to pay their anesthesia bill when it is due. Due to our contracts with insurance companies, we are not able to offer a discount to our insured patients. We do, however, offer an interest free payment plan that we will help the patient set up. Each patient should contact the office to set up a payment plan after they receive their first bill. Once a payment plan is set up, a payment is expected every 30 days until the account is paid in full. Payments should be no less than 20% of the account balance. If a patient defaults on this agreement, the account will be sent to collections with the full balance due.
If a patient is uninsured, ACV, Inc. will offer the patient a 50% discount that will be applied to their account after the first payment is made. It is the patient’s responsibility to call the office and inform us if they do not have insurance. If a patient is not able to pay the remaining balance in full, they may set up a payment plan. Each patient should contact the office to set up a payment plan after they receive their first bill. Once a payment plan is set up, a payment is expected every 30 days until the account is paid in full. Payments should be no less than 20% of the account balance. If a patient defaults on this agreement, the account will be sent to collections with the original charge amount.
If a patient is uninsured and receives food stamps or other government assistance, an 80% discount will be applied to their account after the first payment is made. It is the patient’s responsibility to call the office and notify us of any government assistance. In order to apply the 80% discount to a patient’s account, we do require documentation proving current government assistance participation. If a patient is not able to pay the remaining balance in full, they may set up a payment plan. Each patient should contact the office to set up a payment plan after they receive their first bill. Once a payment plan is set up, a payment is expected every 30 days until the account is paid in full. Payments should be no less than 20% of the account balance. If the patient defaults on this agreement, the account will be sent to collections with the original charge amount.
BALANCE BILLING PROTECTION FOR OUT-OF-NETWORK SERVICES
Starting January 1, 2021, Virginia state law may protect you from “balance billing” when you get:
- EMERGENCY SERVICES from an out-of-network hospital, or an out-of-network doctor or other medical provider at a hospital; or
- NON-EMERGENCY SURGICAL OR ANCILLARY SERVICES from an out-of-network lab or health care professional at an in-network hospital, ambulatory surgical center or other health care facility.
What is balance billing?
- An “IN-NETWORK” health care provider has signed a contract with your health insurance plan. Providers who haven’t signed a contract with your health plan are called “OUT-OF-NETWORK” providers.
- In-network providers have agreed to accept the amounts paid by your health plan after you, the patient, has paid for all required cost sharing (copayments, coinsurance and deductibles for covered services).
- But, if you get all or part of your care from out-of-network providers, you could be billed for the difference
between what your plan pays to the provider and the amount the provider bills you. This is called “balance billing.” - The new Virginia law prevents certain balance billing, but it does not apply to all health plans.
Applies
- Fully insured managed care plans including those bought through HealthCare.gov
- The state employee health plan
- Group health plans that opt-in
May Apply
- Employer-based coverage
- Health plans issued to an employer outside Virginia
- Short-item limited duration plans
Does Not Apply
- Health plans issued to an association outside Virginia
- Health plans that do not use a network of providers
- Limited benefit plans
How can I find out if I am protected ?
Be sure to check your plan documents or contact your health plan to find out if you are protected by this law. When you schedule a medical service, ask your health care provider if they are in-network. Insurers are required to tell you (on their websites or on request) which providers are in their networks. Hospitals and other health care providers also must tell you (on their websites or on request) which insurance plans they contract with as in-network providers. Whenever possible, you should use in-network providers for your health care to avoid paying more.
After you receive medical services, your health plan will send you an “Explanation of Benefits” (EOB) that will tell you what you must pay the provider. Save the EOB and check that any bills you receive are not more than the amount listed.
When you cannot be balance billed:
If the new law applies to your health plan, an out-of-network provider can no longer balance bill or collect more than your
plan’s in-network cost-sharing amounts for either (1) emergency care or (2) when you receive lab or professional services (like surgery, anesthesiology, pathology, radiology, and hospitalist services) at an in-network facility.
What should I know about these situations?
Your cost-sharing amount will be based on what your plan usually pays an in-network provider in your area. These payments must count toward your in-network deductible and out-of-pocket limit. If the out-of-network provider collects more than this from you, the provider must refund the excess with interest.
Exception: If you have a high deductible health plan with a Health Savings Account (HSA) or a catastrophic health plan, you must pay any additional amounts your plan is required to pay to the provider, up to the amount of your deductible.
What if I am billed too much?
If you are billed an amount more than your payment responsibility shown on your EOB, or you believe you’ve been wrongly billed, you can file a complaint with the State Corporation Commission’s (SCC) Bureau of Insurance.
To contact the SCC for questions about this notice visit: scc.virginia.gov or call: 1-877-310-6560.
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