Patient Rights and Protections
There are several important resources listed below that have been established to protect patients' rights. When we are seeking treatment we are all vulnerable and integrity and trust are essential ethical components of professionalism in providing and receiving care. We hope that by sharing this information you feel empowered to be an active collaborator and feel secure in your healthcare!
There are several important resources listed below that have been established to protect patients' rights. When we are seeking treatment we are all vulnerable and integrity and trust are essential ethical components of professionalism in providing and receiving care. We hope that by sharing this information you feel empowered to be an active collaborator and feel secure in your healthcare!
Good Faith Estimate / No Suprises Act
In January of 2022 a federal law called the "No Surprises Act" went into effect. This law was created to help protect uninsured and self-paying patients from unexpectedly high medical bills. It helps to create transparency and protections in estimating the costs of healthcare in advance of treatment. Health care providers are required to provide a Good Faith Estimate of the expected charges to receive care and services at the time of scheduling. Dr. Mascola will email this to you prior to your first visit to assist you in estimating the costs of his professional services. This information is important to review carefully to help you to determine if Dr. Mascola's practice and typical services are a good fit for your healthcare budget.
In January of 2022 a federal law called the "No Surprises Act" went into effect. This law was created to help protect uninsured and self-paying patients from unexpectedly high medical bills. It helps to create transparency and protections in estimating the costs of healthcare in advance of treatment. Health care providers are required to provide a Good Faith Estimate of the expected charges to receive care and services at the time of scheduling. Dr. Mascola will email this to you prior to your first visit to assist you in estimating the costs of his professional services. This information is important to review carefully to help you to determine if Dr. Mascola's practice and typical services are a good fit for your healthcare budget.
- The Good Faith Estimate is not a contract, and you are not required to obtain the services provided by Dr. Mascola.
- There may be additional services that may arise as part of the course of care with Dr. Mascola that may be difficult to anticipate at the outset that may be required that are not always reflected in the good faith estimate.
- The information provided in the Good Faith Estimate is only an estimate and actual services or charges may differ from the good faith estimate. The estimate is based on information known at the time the estimate was created.
- Fees can change at any time and advance written notice (e.g. 30 days) would be provided if this occurs.
- You have the right to dispute your bill if you believe your bill substantially exceeds the expected charges in the Good Faith Estimate. Substantially exceeds means an amount that is at least $400 more than the expected charges.
- You may contact Dr. Mascola to update your bill, negotiate the bill or ask for availability of financial assistance if the bill is higher than the Good Faith Estimate.
- You may initiate a dispute resolution process with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Initiation of a dispute resolution process will not adversely affect the quality of health care services provided to you.
- If you choose to use the dispute resolution process, you must start the process within 120 calendar days (about 4 months) of the date on the original bill.
- There is a $25 fee to use the dispute resolution process. If the agency reviewing your dispute agrees with you, you will have to pay the price they specify.
- If the agency disagrees with your dispute and agrees with the health care provider, you will have to pay the higher amount.
- To learn more and get a form to start the dispute process, or for questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
Conflicts of Interest / Notice of Open Payments Database
It is important that patients know that their doctor is unbiased and objective in providing recommendations regarding their healthcare. To help you determine this, a link to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Open Payments web page is provided here: https://openpaymentsdata.cms.gov. The federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act requires that detailed information about payment and other payments of value worth over ten dollars ($10) from manufacturers of drugs, medical devices, and biologics to physicians and teaching hospitals be made available to the public. Physicians are required by law (Assembly Bill (AB) 1278) to post this notice regarding the Open Payments Database as a means of protecting the public from conflicts of interest that could result in bias.
It is important that patients know that their doctor is unbiased and objective in providing recommendations regarding their healthcare. To help you determine this, a link to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Open Payments web page is provided here: https://openpaymentsdata.cms.gov. The federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act requires that detailed information about payment and other payments of value worth over ten dollars ($10) from manufacturers of drugs, medical devices, and biologics to physicians and teaching hospitals be made available to the public. Physicians are required by law (Assembly Bill (AB) 1278) to post this notice regarding the Open Payments Database as a means of protecting the public from conflicts of interest that could result in bias.
State Medical Board
Medical doctors are licensed and regulated by the Medical Board of California. To check up on a license or to file a complaint go to:
www.mbc.ca.gov,
email: [email protected],
or call (800) 633-2322.
Medical doctors are licensed and regulated by the Medical Board of California. To check up on a license or to file a complaint go to:
www.mbc.ca.gov,
email: [email protected],
or call (800) 633-2322.
Feel free to contact our office for additional information on these or other resources as you are seeking your care. We strive to empower our patients to receive care that is highly effective and exceptional in quality and integrity! We will do our best to direct you to any resources that we are aware of to help empower you to feel safe and protected when you are vulnerable.
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20331 Irvine Ave, E1
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(949) 230-0830 |