| What types of Insurance do
you take?
Our office participates with several insurance company PPO's.
Currently, we particpate with:
Blue Cross plans:
- Blue Option
- Federal
- Blue Care
- Blue Choice
- Blue Advantage
- Out of state: Preferred Select PPO only
Cigna
Crescent plans - many of these plans, check with your employer
North Carolina Health Choice
North Carolina Medicaid
Primary Physician Care
Tricare Standard
United Health Care
 If you are covered by any of these plans,
you will only pay your copay at the time of the visit, and we
will bill your insurance plan for the balance of your visit.
In a few instances there are services that your plan might consider "not covered".
In those cases you will be expected to pay for them (ex. Circumcision,
ear piercings).
If you are covered by an insurance with which we do not have a
contract, your encounter form contains all the information and
codes that your insurance plan needs in order for you to submit
your claim and be reimbursed by them.
We will file claims to all insurance for any care we provide in
the hospital or for care if your child has an accident.
What type of payments do you accept?
We appreciate payment at the time of your child's visit. You may
pay by cash, Master Card, Visa, Discover or check. We will send
a statement at the end of the month for any amount owed by you
or your insurance company. We ask that you clear your balance each
month. If circumstances are such that you cannot, please call our
Patient Accounts Secretary to set up arrangements. We are not able
to continue to care for patients if their bill is not paid, or
if arrangements are not made to pay it.
How do I get a refill on a prescription?
If your child's physician has prescribed a medication that allows
refills, we ask that you call us 3 days before your medicine runs
out so that we will have time for your physician to approve the
refill. Some medications are not allowed to be called in to the
pharmacy and must have a written prescription presented to the
pharmacist. If this is the case, please let us know which office
you wish to pick up the prescription from.
How do I get an appointment?
 In order to obtain an appointment time that is most convenient
to you, you should schedule your child's check up appointments
in advance. We usually have our schedule available for six months
in advance. Your physician will tell you when he/she wants to see
your infant. Older children are seen yearly. Since some insurance
plans will not pay for annual check-ups review coverage provided
by your policy. Please consult your physician about your child's
schedule.
Due to the high volume of patients with illness in the winter
months, we encourage patients above 2 years of age to have their
check-ups in April through November. This frees up time so we can
see sick children and also reduces exposure of well children to
illness.
If you will not be able to come to your appointment, please call
24 hours in advance. We have set aside this time for your child,
and if you cannot come, another child could be seen at that time.
Can I talk to a nurse on the phone?
Sometimes you may have a simple or direct
question you would like to ask. We have nurses who are here to
help you with those questions. We answer our phones from 8:00
am to 9:00 pm every day. If your child is sick, you can talk
with them, and they may suggest treatment you can do at home,
or they may recommend that your child be seen, and schedule an
appointment for you, usually on that day. If your child is sick
and you want him/her seen, you call the "sick
line" to schedule that appointment.
In-depth questions or extended discussions cannot be handled by
our phone nurses. For this type problem, we encourage you schedule
an appointment with your child's regular pediatrician.
What if I have an emergency?
Call 911 if you have urgent concerns about your
child's well being or safety.
At what point should I call the office?
If your child is ill or has symptoms that you want to discuss
with our office staff.
If your child's temperature is 101.00 or greater, or 100.40 or
greater if the child is less than 3 months old.
Do you take new patients?
We welcome new families to our practice. We take care of our patients
from birth through age 21 years or until they have a child, marry,
or are emancipated. We do not accept new patients who are 15 years
of age or older because they will age out of our practice and have
to choose another new physician in a short time.
We are expecting a child, can we come and meet you?
We welcome expectant parents for a brief visit with a pediatrician
to get acquainted with Asheville Pediatrics and learn what to expect
when the baby is born. These visits are offered at no charge.
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