Billing – Frequently Asked Questions

To check if we are in network with your insurance provider
use UCSF Clinical Integrated Partners Tax ID 47-5502470 (instead of using doctors’ names) 

Will you accept my insurance? 

Yes, to the extent we are in-network with health insurance plans, we will continue to take your insurance for regular visits or insurance-covered physical/routine visits. Our yearly fee covers only the wellness services outside of plan coverage. We accept most PPO plans and Medicare and not Medi-Cal.  The only HMO we accept is Physicians Medical Group.

How does my health insurance apply to your doctors and services?

We are in affiliation with UCSF Health. Please call your health insurance company to ask about coverage. To check if we are in network with your insurance provider, use UCSF Clinical Integrated Partners Tax ID 47-5502470.  We will do a courtesy check to see if we accept your plan. However, it is the patient’s responsibility to confirm your network and coverage.  To find out what your insurance covers you would need to contact your insurance directly.

Do I still have to pay copayments and deductibles?

If we deliver plan-covered services, yes, because we continue to accept insurance. We are mandated to collect copayments and deductibles to the extent required by plans. But our additional wellness subscription services will not trigger copayments or deductibles as those services are private fee and outside plan coverage.

Paying Bills

Direct billing questions to our billing department at 1-866-376-9470. Bills are due within two weeks of posting (in the patient portal). If we charge your credit card for your co-pay or self-pay balance, there is an additional 2.5% credit card processing charge. Pay on your MyChart portal to avoid paying the credit card processing fee. You can also pay us via check. We do not accept cash.  Unpaid bills are automatically sent to collections if unpaid within two months of service. An additional 50% charge is applied if the bill is sent to collections.   

Why is my bill higher than last year?

Our practice transitioned to UCSF Health’s Clinically Integrated Network in May 2022. Our insurance contracts are now through UCSF Health CIN, and this contract determines the fee schedule. You might see this reflected on the bill. We do not determine or control the fee schedule. Contact your insurance to clarify the cost of the visit and give them UCSF Clinical Integrated Partners Tax ID 47-5502470.

Why am I being billed for Physical Exam?

The physical exam is preventative care to prevent illness or disease, and it may include counseling on diet, exercise, sleep, stress, vaccines, medications, and medication reconciliation. 

It does not cover diagnostic care or acute or chronic care. For example, if we address a medical concern during your physical exam, an additional visit code is added and submitted to your insurance along with the documentation.   By law, we cannot alter the billing diagnosis/codes or write off any balance upon patient request. Therefore, we cannot adjust the bill or the amount due.  

Will my insurance pay for a physical?

A physical exam is a preventive health maintenance exam during which your physician takes your relevant medical and family history, asks pertinent screening questions, and performs or orders appropriate screening tests to evaluate your overall health. An office visit is a problem-related visit that addresses a specific health problem through discussion, examination, diagnosis and/or testing. Treatment is prescribed as necessary.

Sleep Study Questions

A sleep study is a diagnostic test and is billed accordingly. The code used for this test is 95800 and 95806. You may be responsible for the bill if you have a high-deductible plan. Please check with your insurance how much it will cost you. We do not determine the cost; it is not covered as part of a physical exam or visit. Check with your insurance if prior authorization is required, and we can assist in getting the approval. 

How can I reach my doctor?

Message your doctor through MyChart for non-urgent issues any time and we will get back to you within 48 business hours.  Text (650) 456-9739 during business hours to make same-day appointments or change appointment times. Call ( 650) 389-6924 our office or reach us through our answering service in the evenings/weekend.

Part of our additional services is subscription to this platform to better enable our communications.

After Hours

After Hours (evenings, weekends, and holidays), phone calls to our office are directed to our triage center.  

Cancel appointments

To cancel or change your existing appointment, contact us at least 24 business hours in advance to avoid a no-show fee.  

Can I access my medical information online

  • The benefits of MyHealthOnline include:
  • viewing your test and lab results
  • Accessing your medical records, medications, immunizations, and more
  • scheduling appointments
  • requesting prescription refills
  • sending secure messages to your doctor’s office

No Show Policy

If you must cancel your appointment, we’ll be happy to reschedule at a more convenient time. We ask you to give us 24 hours advance notice in order to provide an opportunity for another patient to be seen. Failure to do so will result in a $100 fee ($100 on Saturdays).

Medication refills

If you need a medication refill , please give us 5 days to complete your request.

What should I do if your office is closed and I need medical care?

If you are experiencing what you believe is a medical emergency, please call 9-1-1 or go to the closest hospital. If it is a non urgent issue please call the office and select option 1 and you will be directed to the On-Call Service where a nurse can give you medical advice.

What are your billing requirements?

Patients must pay any co-payments at the time of their visit. Patients are responsible to pay any amounts, such as deductibles, co-payments and co-insurance that their insurance company designates is their responsibility.