General Office Policies

 

  • North Sound Pediatrics is not a walk-in/urgent care clinic. Appointments can be scheduled (often same-day!) by calling 425-338-5668. 
  • New patients should arrive 30 minutes prior to the scheduled appointment time to fill out paperwork (alternatively you can print the paperwork and fill it out prior to your visit if you prefer). 
  • Prescription refill requests require at least 2 business days’ notice.  
  • Please avoid using the ER for non-emergency care. Call instead for advice or to schedule a visit. 
  • If your child is seen in another facility, please call us to schedule a follow-up visit. 
  • Per WA state law, we are allowed up to 15 business days to respond to medical record requests. A signed/current Medical Release Form must be on file in order to release any medical information, including immunization records. Please click on the tab “Forms” for more information.  


NSP Safety Policies 


  • ​Individuals age 5 and up are required to wear a mask/face covering while inside our building (throughout entire visit, including while in the exam room) per State of Washington Department of Health. 
  • We ask all family members to wash their hands thoroughly in our building prior to entering our office. Hand sanitizing stations are also available throughout our office. 
  • Per CDC/DOH, a COVID-19 test may be recommended for patients with symptoms or a known exposure. Testing may be referred out to another facility or, in many instances, may be administered by our team during your appointment. The test we administer is a rapid antigen test that uses a gentle nasal swab. Results are available in approximately 15-20 minutes.   
  • HEPA filtration air purifiers are in use throughout our clinic. 
  • We ask that you please be patient with us. Our rigorous cleaning and disinfecting protocols require extra time. We appreciate your patience as we maintain our high standards to ensure you and your family are safe in our office. 


No-Show Policies 


  • Our goal is to provide quality care for our patients. Missing appointments is a detriment to the patient’s health, denies care to other patients who need to be seen, and negatively impacts the practice’s ability to operate in an effective manner.  
  • Appointments require 24 hours’ notice of cancellation. Missed appointments will be charged a $50.00 fee. No-show fees are not covered by insurance and will be the responsibility of the guarantor.  
    • After your first no-show, you should expect a phone call from our practice notifying you of the no-show and alerting you that you will be charged $50.00 if a member of your family no-shows again. 
    • If there are two no-shows in a rolling six-month period for any member of the same family, a $50.00 no-show fee will be incurred. Multiple-patient appointments (i.e. siblings) will be subject to multiple no-show fees.   
    • If there are three no-shows in a rolling six-month period for any member of the same family, you may be subject to dismissal from the practice. 

 
Billing and Financial Policy 


  • Your insurance policy is a contract between you and your insurance carrier. Thus, it is your responsibility to understand and know the provisions of payment for services rendered at North Sound Pediatrics. 
  • Please be prepared to show your insurance card at each visit.  
  • The Guarantor for the child’s policy is responsible for all co-payment, co-insurance, and deductible amounts. Additionally, the guarantor is responsible for all charges and supplies that are not covered by the insurer. 
  • If there is a change in your insurance coverage, please notify the clinic as soon as possible. 
  • If you currently do not have insurance or insurance coverage cannot be verified, private-pay payment will be requested at the time of service. 
  • Co-pays, Coinsurance, and Deductibles are out-of-pocket expenses that are part of your contract with your insurance. You are obligated to pay your portion based on your insurance plan and contract. As these are contractual arrangements, North Sound Pediatrics cannot waive or defer these for any patient.   
  • Co-pays, Coinsurance balances, Deductible balances, and Private Pay amounts are due at the time of service.
  • Any balance over 6 months will be forwarded to a collection agency.  
  • Acceptable forms of payment include personal checks, cash, or credit card. Return checks are subject to the return check rate of $35.