New Patients
Most likely you’ve been referred to Carolina Heart Center by your primary care physician. Since your primary physician provides for your other healthcare needs, we can focus our attention on your cardiovascular problems.
The goal of this web site is to help you learn more about how our services can help you. It will also answer many of the questions that new patients frequently ask.
Generally your first appointment will consist of obtaining your detailed medical history, performing a physical examination and gathering additional information through laboratory tests, an electrocardiogram and, frequently, a chest x-ray.
To reduce time, please download our New Patient Information and History Form . Fill it out and bring it with you on your first appointment.
If we need other, more sophisticated tests to correctly diagnose your condition, we can perform many of them without hospitalization.
Tip
You may be able to reduce your medical costs by bringing pertinent information with you: previous medical records, the actual chest x-ray film (if available,) and all of your medications. These materials will save time and help us avoid duplicating tests that have already been performed for you.
In addition, please bring all of your insurance information so that we can assist you in filing for Medicare and most other insurance claims. However, we request that you come prepared to pay a significant portion of your initial bill.
Insurance
Filing Insurance Claims
Carolina Heart Center’s business office will file your primary and secondary insurance for you. Please bring your insurance card(s) and all information needed to complete forms. We do this as a courtesy to our patients so that they receive the maximum allowable benefit from their insurance. However, we need your active participation in the insurance claims process. If your claim is not paid within 45 days, please call your insurance carrier to find out why. After 90 days, the balance is considered the your responsibility.
Paying for Deductible and Copay
Payment for these is due at the time services are rendered. Please come prepared to pay at least 20% of your bill, plus any insurance deductible or co-pay amount. For your convenience, we accept cash, checks, money orders, VISA, MasterCard and American Express.
Depending on your type of medical coverage, specific conditions and procedures may be required. It is important to consider the information listed below that relates to your coverage.
Medicare Patients
As a participating provider of Medicare Part B (Physician Services,) we will only collect your Medicare coinsurance and/or deductible at the time of services, unless you have a secondary insurance. All other services will be billed electronically to Medicare.
If you have Medicare Part A only, then the services you receive from our practice will not be covered by Medicare which means you will be responsible for payment.
HMO/Managed Care Insurance Patients
Many HMO/Managed Care plans require that you obtain a referral in order to receive care from a specialist. Please be certain you have an authorization number for office visits or any other services that are scheduled for you. Without an authorization, your insurance company will not pay the preferred benefit. It is to your advantage to make sure you have an authorization number so you will be responsible for your co-pay amounts only.
Online Forms
As a patient, the time you spend during your visit and your feedback are important to us. If you’re a new patient, please print and fill out the information and history form below to help facilitate your first visit with us. If you’re a returning patient, please print and fill out the satisfaction survey and let us know how we’re doing.
