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Charge Information, Insurance
and
Billing Questions
Lakeview Medical Center's Patient Accounts department prepares billing statements for services provided by the hospital only. Doctor services are billed separately by their offices or billing agencies.
Pricing Information Hotline
Lakeview Medical Center is leading
the way in providing charge and billing information to
patients and consumers. And we're dedicated to making the
hospital portion of the healthcare cost equation easier to
understand through our Pricing Information Hotline.
The Pricing Information Hotline is
available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call
715-236-6423. Please leave a message with your name, phone
number, CPT code (if provided on Hotline card) and the
procedure or service you're interested in pricing. We
promise a response within 1-2 business days.
The pricing you receive is an
estimate for hospital-specific charges; there may be
additional charges related to physician, laboratory and
anesthesia costs.
Insurance Coverage
If the responsible party has provided complete and accurate insurance information and signed an assignment of benefits, credit will be extended on the account and the insurance company will be billed in full for the account balance due. Patients shall be informed that in the even their insurance company does not pay the claim within 60 days of submission, they will be billed personally for the full balance due. Lakeview Medical Center does not enter into disputes over insurance benefits. Any questions regarding coverage or benefits should be discussed directly with your insurance company.
Insurance Pre-Certification
Elective surgical and medical admissions to Lakeview Medical Center must be authorized by your insurance company before admission to the hospital. In most circumstances, emergency admissions need to be authorized within 24 hours after admission. Each insurance company has different requirements and patients should review their policies carefully regarding pre-certification requirements. It is the patient's responsibility to ensure pre-certification requirements are met.
Balances After Insurance Payments
Lakeview Medical Center will send a billing statement for services not covered by your insurance company and for copayments and deductibles that were applied. These balances are due in full 30 days from the date of the billing statement unless special arrangements have been made with the Credit Manager.
Medicare Payments
Medicare patients must present their Medicare card and supplemental insurance information upon admission/registration. Once the hospital has received payment from Medicare, we will bill up to two supplemental insurance companies. Lakeview Medical Center will notify the patient of any unpaid balances. Payment is due in full 30 days from the date of the billing statement unless special arrangements have been made with the Credit Manager.
Medicaid & HMO Managed Care
Medicaid patient must present a valid eligibility card upon admission/registration. If a valid card is not presented, the patient will be responsible for payment of the services rendered. All copayments must be paid the day the services are provided.
Patients covered by a Medicaid HMO plan should always check with their HMO and Primary Care Provider to make sure the services are covered. If Lakeview Medical Center is outside the patient's coverage area, authorization for care must be obtained by the patient prior to the services rendered.
Accidents & Injuries
Medical expenses from a motor vehicle accident or other liability are the patient's personal responsibility. If the patient has health insurance, Lakeview Medical Center will file that claim to the health insurance company. If the patient does not have health insurance, they must comply with the policy regarding uninsured balances.
Charity Care
Lakeview Medical Center is proud of its mission to provide the highest quality care to all who need it. If you do not have health insurance and worry that you may not be able to pay in full for your care, we may be able to help.
Patients may receive financial aid based on their income, assets, and needs. In addition, we may be able to help you identify other available resources or work with you to arrange a manageable payment plan.
It is important you let us know if you will have trouble paying your bill; federal law requires hospitals to apply their billing and collection criteria consistently to all patients. Unpaid bills may ultimately be turned over to a collection agency, which could affect your credit status.
Our financial planner will provide
you with an application to complete and return along with
proof of your income. A committee will review your financial
situation and determine if assistance is appropriate.
The factors affecting eligibility
for Lakeview Medical Center Financial Assistance include:
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Income – in general, if your
income is below two times the Federal Poverty
Guidelines, you are more likely to receive assistance
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Evaluation of your savings,
checking and investment assets
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Assessment of your property
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Any special circumstances that
you would like the committee to consider
The committee will review all of the
facts and circumstances surrounding your application and
provide you with their decision within 30 days.
For more information, please contact our Credit Manager at 715-236-6410. We will treat your questions with confidentiality and courtesy.
Uninsured Self-Pay Balances
You may choose to make an estimated payment in full at the time of service. The hospital will send an itemized billing statement to the responsible party within 7 days of the date of service. Payment if full is due 30 days from the date of the billing statement unless special arrangements have been made with the Credit Manager. Lakeview Medical Center accepts Visa and Mastercard.
Payment Arrangements
Lakeview Medical Center will provide counseling to any patient and their families experiencing difficulty in meeting payment obligations. If you are unable to make payment when it becomes due, please contact our Credit Department at 715-236-6410 as soon as you receive your first billing statement. A monthly payment schedule can be set up for you based on the responsible party's financial resources. Accounts that are not paid upon due date, and for which no special arrangements have been made, may be placed with a collection agency.
Patient Accounts Department
If you have any questions or need assistance with billing issues, please contact one of the Patient Account Representatives listed below. Our department is staffed Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Representatives have voicemail and will promptly return messages.
Medicare Representative:
715-236-6183
Medicaid Representative:
715-236-6182
Commercial Insurance Representative:
715-236-6184
Worker's Comp Representative:
715-236-6179
Credit Manager:
715-236-6410
Director:
715-236-6260
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