Cosmetic Consult Fee- $150 This fee is a one-time charge which applies to all first-time cosmetic patient visits. This consultation is a medical appointment that lasts about 45minutes to one hour. During that first visit, you and Dr. Hertl will discuss your medical history, explore options, establish expectations, and develop a treatment plan. This fee will be applied to futuresurgery fees. It will not be applied to the cost of injectables ( such as Botox and fillers) or laser procedures. You will be given a cost-estimate for the anticipated procedures/treatments on the day of your initial consult.
Office-based Procedures Treatment fees for injectables and in-office procedures are due on the day of service. Laser Services Fees for all laser services are due on the day of booking. Hospital-based Procedures It is customary and appropriate for surgical fees to be paid in advance of elective cosmetic surgery. Surgical fees are due 3 weeks in advance for procedures performed in anesthesia at the hospital. If you are unable to keep a surgical date reservation, please let us know at least 3 weeks in advance and we will be happy to reschedule your surgery at no cost to you.
If you cancel a planned surgical procedure less than 3 weeks before the actual date, again, we will gladly reschedule your surgery. However, in this case, we would require that 50% of the surgical fee be paid at the time of re- booking to reserve the new date. This partial payment will be non-refundable without exception.
Surgeries performed at a hospital facility have other associated costs including hospital fees, anesthesia fees, and implant fees if applicable. The financial office at North Shore Medical Center will contact you directly to arrange payment. This payment is typically due 1-2 weeks in advance of the surgery.
Payment Methods We accept all major credit cards, pre-paid medical account cards, cashier’s checks*, and cash for payment of your fees. We are not able to “hold” checks or delay credit card processing. Personal checks over $150.00 will not be accepted from new patients or for surgical fees.
*Please make checks payable to Catherine Hertl, MD, PC _________
If your reason for seeing Dr. Hertl is considered medically-necessary, you may be required to obtain a referral from your PCP. If asked, Dr. Hertl’s NPI number is 1386611630. The referral must be obtained before the time of your visit and cannot be post-dated. If you are unsure whether you require a referral, please contact your insurance carrier or PCP.
Co-Pays
Co-pays are due on the date of service.
Insurance Plans Accepted
We accept BCBS products, Tufts, Harvard Pilgrim, Aetna, Cigna, United, Neighborhood Health Plan, and Medicare. If you have another plan, we will be happy to inquire as to whether it will be possible to treat you as an out-of-service provider.
Deductibles and Out-of-Pocket Percentages
If you have not met your deductible, or are required to pay a percentage of your medical costs out-of-pocket, you will be billed for these balances as they pertain to office visits or surgical procedures. These bills come from our official billing representative, Medical Billing Associates (MBA), and are payable on receipt.
Prior Authorization
When planning any elective procedure, our office will contact your insurance carrier to obtain prior authorization. Prior authorization is not a promise of payment, but an acknowledgment that your diagnosis is of medical concern. Often procedures such as liposuction are not covered even if the diagnosis is medically valid. An example of this is a breast cancer patient undergoing secondary corrections to her reconstruction where liposuction has been recommended to improve contour deformities.
Insurance Appeals
If a claim is rejected after we have obtained prior authorization, we will exhaust all appeal options prior to billing you, the patient. If you receive a bill from MBA, please contact them upon receipt to arrange payment.
Pre-Payment
When you have a large unmet deductible, or a procedure is recommended such as liposuction or fat injection that has historically not been covered despite the diagnosis, you may be asked to pre-pay for this portion of your procedure. If the insurance company ultimately covers the specific cost, you will receive a refund. A written estimate will be given to you at the time of your consultation should this be applicable to your case. This pre-payment will be due 3 weeks prior to your date of surgery.