Insurance and Payment Policy
Verify Insurance
Before your first office visit (link webview), it is essential to verify your insurance coverage. If you changed insurance since your last visit, please call your insurance provider to confirm that Rio Grande Medicine or Dr. Julio A. Saviñon is accepted under your insurance.
If your insurance company requires you to pick a Primary Care Physician (PCP), Dr. Julio A. Saviñon MD must be the PCP listed on your insurance card.
Although Rio Grande Medicine’s friendly staff is here to assist you, your health insurance contract is between you and your insurance company. Any questions or complaints regarding your coverage should be directed to your insurance carrier.
Each time you arrive for your appointment, you will be asked to present your insurance card and verify your home address, email address and all phone numbers. While this may seem like an inconvenience, we have found that often the insurance companies make slight changes to coverage that are important for us to know. Please be prepared to present this information when checking in for your appointment.
Co-pay, Co-Insurance, and Deductible Payments
Dr. Julio A. Saviñon MD and Rio Grande Medicine are contracted with most insurance plans. However, if we do not carry your plan, payment is necessary at the time of service. If you do not have an up-to-date insurance card, self-pay fees for each visit is required until we can verify your coverage. You will have to file with your insurance company for reimbursement of payment to our office.
If Doctor Julio A. Saviñon MD is a participating provider for your insurance company, Rio Grande Medicine will file the office visit charges. You must pay your co-pay and/or deductible amounts when you check out from your appointment. If we cannot reach your insurance company to verify your coverage, payment in full is required at the time of your visit.
In the event of an emergency procedure during your office visit, you must pay any co-insurance before you leave the clinic. Self-pay patients must provide 100% payment at the time of service.
Non-covered Services
Please be aware that some services might not be covered by your particular insurance plan. Some, or even all, of the services you receive may be non-covered or considered unnecessary by the insurer. It is very important to verify your coverage – non-covered services must be paid for in full at the time of the service.
Claims Submission
Your insurance company might need you to supply certain information directly. It is your sole responsibility to comply with their request.
Billing Office
If you have questions or concerns about your statement, or need to set up past due balance payment arrangements, please feel free to contact our front desk at 956-421-2757.
No Show/Cancellation Policy
Failures to fulfill office appointments (“No-Shows”) will be recorded in patients’ charts. To cancel an appointment with your doctor, we require 24 hours notice. This policy makes it possible for us to see other patients who might not otherwise be treated.
We at Rio Grande Medicine realize circumstances might cause you to arrive late or miss an appointment. If you are unable to keep your appointment, please call the office 24 hours in advance to cancel.
Medicare Policy
Rio Grande Medicine is a Medicare Participating Provider, which means Medicare tells us the amount to charge for our services. Of the amount Medicare allows us to charge, Medicare will pay 80% and you (or your supplemental insurance) will pay 20%.
In addition, Medicare has a yearly deductible that you need to pay before Medicare pays. Your co-pay (which is 20% of Medicare’s allowed amount) is due at the time of your appointment, unless you have a supplemental insurance policy.
If you have a supplemental insurance policy, we will file with that secondary insurer after we receive a response from Medicare. You will receive a bill from us the month following Medicare’s response. We allow 60 days from the date Medicare responds for your supplemental policy to pay. After 60 days, the balance becomes your responsibility.
Please bring your Medicare card with you so we can copy it for our records. If your spouse is employed and has insurance covering you, or if you have other insurance that is primary over Medicare, please bring those insurance cards as well.
Correspondence and Medical Records Policy
Telephones are answered throughout our open office hours. Rio Grande Medicine staff is happy to answer your questions about office policy, and scheduling appointments. For questions, please call 956-421-2757.
Hours of Operation/Scheduling Appointments
Front Desk: 956-421-2757 (8:00 am to 5:00 pm)
Release/Transfer of Medical Records
We require an administrative fee for the duplication, transfer and release of a patient’s medical chart. This fee covers the cost of duplication and any applicable postage to forward those medical records. Prior authorization from the patient is required before any copies are released. The Rio Grande Medicine’s fee policy for the transfer of records is in accordance as required by the Texas Medical Board.
Records Release
Medical Record releases will be completed within fifteen (14) business days. As a courtesy, records will be released to any physician upon your written request and authorization. Please complete the following Permission to release PHI (release of medical record) form.
There is a charge for personal records release requests. The usual fee is $25.00 for the first twenty pages, $0.50 each additional page. If an affidavit is requested, a reasonable fee of $15.00 will be charged for execution.
- Release of Medical Records <-- LINK
Medical and Legal Forms Completion
Our office charges $25 for the completion of forms. These charges are the patient’s responsibility.
Attorney Referrals/Letter of Protection Policy
Dr. Saviñon does NOT accept Attorney Referrals for patients in litigation because of accidents and injuries.
It’s Time to Review Your Medicare Plan