THE OFFICE
The purpose of Curtis F Robinson M.D. Inc. is to support and advance individual and community health, wellness, and longevity through the practice and innovation of primary medical care in Mill Valley, California.
Curtis F. Robinson, MD Inc. is a primary care medical office for the entire family. We are located in Mill Valley, California, and have been open to Marin and SF Bay Area communities since February 1, 2005. We aim to provide first-class primary care services to our patients. Our health care providers practice cutting-edge and up-to-date primary care medicine for all ages. Our health care team consists of physician(s), nurse practitioner(s), physician assistant(s), and supporting staff, all working together to provide top-rated primary care medical services for our patients.
The office of Curtis F. Robinson, MD Inc. charges a nominal annual administration fee for non-covered services. Many of the services our patients have grown accustomed to over the years are considered non-covered and medically unnecessary services by private and public health insurance programs. The introduction of formularies, prior authorizations, and narrow physician networks are just a few of the examples of private insurance requests to PCPs that go unreimbursed by health insurance companies. Plain and simple, the cost of providing a high level of primary care services in the current healthcare environment is more than what private and public health insurance companies are reimbursing for primary care services. Hence, the number of primary care physicians per capita continues to decrease over time. Creating a significant shortage of primary care physicians in most towns and cities across the country. Without adequate primary care, health systems fail. Hint- Increase the pay of primary care physicians to the level of orthopedic surgeons, radiologists, and dermatologists, and this deadly US health care trend would end.
FINANCIAL POLICIES & PATIENT PRIVACY
Financial Policies
According to your insurance plan, you are responsible for any and all co-payments, deductibles, and coinsurances. Copays are due at the time of the visit.
While filing insurance claims is a courtesy that we extend to our patients, all charges not covered by your insurance company are your responsibility. If you are experiencing financial difficulty, please let us know.
Patient balances are billed immediately upon receipt from your insurance plan’s explanation of benefits. If you have financial difficulties a monthly payment plan may be arranged.
If our office does not participate in your insurance plan, payment in full is expected at the time of your office visit. If you have no insurance, payment for an office visit is due at the time of the visit.
Health insurance is a contract between you and your insurance company. It is your responsibility to be familiar with the specifics of your insurance policy, including, but not limited to: vaccine and doctor visit coverage, referral/authorization requirements for specialty care, radiology, lab tests, and emergency and/or hospital care.
Not all services provided by our office are covered by every plan. Medical care and treatment is dictated solely by medical necessity, and is not based on medical insurance coverage. Any service not covered by your plan will be your responsibility.
Appointments
If you are late for an appointment, we will do our best to accommodate you. However, it may be necessary to reschedule your appointment to a later time or, if non-urgent, to another day.
Missed and cancelled appointments represent a cost to us, to you, and to other patients of our practice who could have been seen in the time set aside for you. Multiple missed appointments may result in dismissal from the practice. As a courtesy, we can either email or text to remind patients about their appointments. If we are unable to reach you, the ultimate responsibility to remember the appointment is yours.
We strive to minimize wait time. Unexpected emergencies and prolonged visits do occur. We appreciate your patience and understanding.
A Well Care Visit, also known as a Routine Physical, is a Preventative Health Maintenance Visit. Insurances typically cover Well Care Visits and do not require a copay at the time of the visit. It is important to note however that if an additional diagnosis or chronic condition is discussed, an additional component will be added to the visit and may result in a copay or additional charge to, and from, your insurance.
An Office Visit is a non-routine visit for a specific health problem, question, or concern. This visit is problem oriented and meant to address a specific health question. Insurances may require us to either (1) collect a copay at the time of the visit for these appointments, and/or (2) apply charges for the visit to deductibles/co-insurance per insurance requirements.
It is the patient’s responsibility, as the insured, to be familiar with the specifics of their insurance policy regarding Well Care Visits and Office Visits. Well Care Visits and Office Visits may be coded at the same appointment if both were done at the same appointment. (e.g. a patient was seen for a Well Care Visit but discussed hypertension as well.)
HIPPA
This notice of Privacy Practices describes how we may use and disclose your protected health information (PHI) to carry out treatment, payment or health care operations (TPO) and for other purposes that are permitted or required by law. It also describes your rights to access and control your protected health information. “Protected health information” is information about you, including demographic information, that may identify you and that relates to your past, present or future physical or mental health or condition and related health care services.
Uses and Disclosures of Protected Health Information
Your protected health information may be used and disclosed by your physician, our office staff and others outside of our office that are involved in your care and treatment for the purpose of providing health care services to you, to pay your health care bills, to support the operation of the physician’s practice, and any other use required by law.
Treatment
We will use and disclose your protected health information to provide, coordinate, or manage your health care and any related services. This includes the coordination or management of your health care with a third party. For example, we would disclose your protected health information, as necessary, to a home health agency that provides care to you. For example, your protected health information may be provided to a physician to whom you have been referred to ensure that the physician has the necessary information to diagnose or treat you.
Payment
Your protected health information will be used, as needed, to obtain payment for your health care services. For example, obtaining approval for a hospital stay may require that your relevant protected health information be disclosed to the health plan to obtain approval for the hospital admission.
Healthcare Operations:
We may use or disclose, as-needed, your protected health information in order to support the business activities of your physician’s practice. These activities include, but are not limited to; quality assessment activities, employee review activities, training of medical students, licensing, and conducting or arranging for other business activities. For example, we may disclose your protected health information to medical school students that see patients at our office. In addition, we may use a sign-in sheet at the registration desk where you will be asked to sign your name and indicate your physician. We may also call you by name in the waiting room when your physician is ready to see you. We may use or disclose your protected health information, as necessary, to contact you to remind you of your appointment. We may use or disclose your protected health information in the following situations without your authorization. These situations include: as Required by Law, Public Health issues as required by law, Communicable Diseases: Health Oversight: Abuse or Neglect: Food and Drug Administration requirements: Legal Proceedings: Law Enforcement: Coroners, Funeral Directors, and Organ Donation: Research: Criminal Activity: Military Activity and National Security: Workers’ Compensation: Inmates: Required Uses and Disclosures: Under the law, we must make disclosures to you and when required by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to investigate or determine our compliance with the requirements of Section 164.500.