General Office Policies

We appreciate the trust that you have placed in us to participate in your health care. We hope this office policy information is helpful.

Patient responsibilities
If you have to cancel your appointment, please give us 24 hours notice. This allows us to offer your appointment space to another patient. If you are more than 20 minutes late for your scheduled appointment, you may be asked to reschedule for another day.

We will make every effort to keep you from waiting once you arrive, and we appreciate your understanding when emergencies arise.

Charges for missed appointments
If you are unable to provide us with sufficient notice (24 hours notice for existing patients or 48 hours for new patients), you will be charged $50. If you are a new patient who misses her initial appointment, you will be charged $125. Note that insurance companies do not cover missed appointment fees.

Childcare
We love to see pictures of your children, and we love newborns to visit; however, we find it difficult to focus on your medical needs if your small children accompany you without another adult to supervise them. Our office is not childproofed and our staff too involved in your care to adequately supervise your children. We thank you for understanding.

Fees
Insurance co-pays are due at the time of service. We accept cash, checks, or Visa and MasterCard. We will bill your insurance for you if we can. If a balance remains after they process your claim, we will send you a statement. If we or you know that you will be responsible for most or all of your charges, we ask that you pay your estimated responsibility at the time of service. For example, if you have a $500 deductible before your insurance will cover, or if service is not covered by your insurance, we ask that you pay our office directly.

Insurance billing
Please read your insurance information carefully, as all plans are different. Some insurance plans may not cover our recommended level of care. Medicare, for example, will not cover annual physicals. We still recommend you have them, but your insurance (call your Senator!) might not pay for them.

Insurance copayments are due at the time of your appointment.

Patients without insurance are also welcome; we ask for payment at the time of service unless prior arrangements have been made. We do offer a 5% discount for payment in full when you pay with cash or check.

Emergency phone calls
For urgent health matters, call our office phone number 206.781.1830. Our answering service will take your call and page your physician and then the doctor will call you back immediately. Be sure that your phone can receive "blocked" calls as the doctors may call in from different locations. Also, please stay off the line and make your phone available while you are waiting for the doctor to call. If you do not receive a call within 15 minutes, please call again. And of course, if you need to call 9-1-1, do that.

Non-emergency phone calls
We can best handle your calls about prescription refills and appointment scheduling during regular office hours, Monday through Thursday between 9 and and 5 PM, or before noon on Fridays. You may leave a non-urgent message with the answering service and we will get the message on the next office day.

In the event of inclement weather, we expect to open the office; however we are happy to reschedule your appointment if you cannot make it in safely. Please err on the side of safety.

(206) 781-1830

Located in Queen Anne Square
just west of the Seattle Center

220 West Mercer St Suite 110
Seattle, WA  98119