Office Policies & Procedures

As a patient of Johnson County Pediatrics, you have the right to:

• Be treated in a manner that respects your privacy and dignity as a person.
• Receive assistance in a prompt, courteous and responsible manner.
• Be informed of the diagnosis, prognosis and plan of treatment in terms you understand.
• Be informed about any treatment your child may receive. The provider will request your consent for all treatment unless there is an emergency and your child's life and health are in serious danger. If written consent is required for procedures, be sure to understand the procedure and why it is advised.
• Participate in decisions with your physician regarding your child's care.
• Refuse treatment and be advised of the probable consequences of your decision. We encourage you to discuss your concerns with your physician.
• Be assured of privacy and confidentiality of your child's personal medical information.
• Express a complaint about the care you receive.
• Initiate a grievance procedure if you are not satisfied with the practice's decision regarding your complaint.
• Have family members facilitate care or treatment decisions for your child when you are unable to do so with appropriate authorization.
• Choose an advance directive, including withholding resuscitative services, to designate the kind of care you wish your child to receive.
• Refuse to participate in any experimental treatment.

You have the responsibility to:

• Understand fully the information provided by your health care insurer regarding your health benefits.
• Know the proper use of your health care insurer's services.
• Call the member services department of your health insurer if you have any questions about your coverage or benefits.
• Verify that the provider you receive services from is participating with the appropriate network.
• Present your most current ID card prior to receiving services.
• Consult your participating physician for direction prior to receiving medical care, unless your child's medical condition is life threatening.
• Keep scheduled appointments and notify the office promptly if you will be delayed or unable to keep an appointment.
• Establish a satisfactory relationship with your participating physician.
• Ask questions of your physician and seek clarification until you fully understand the care your child is receiving.
• Provide honest and complete information to those providing care to facilitate effective treatment.
• Follow the advice of your physician and consider the likely consequences when you refuse to comply.
• Know what medication your child is taking, why they are taking it and the proper way to take it according to your physician's order.
• Express your opinions, concerns or complaints in a constructive manner to the appropriate people within the practice.
• Make sure the practice is notified of any changes in family size, address, phone number or insurance coverage.
• Clearly understand and comply with the financial policy of the practice, including the payment of all applicable copayments at the time the service is rendered.

We strive to minimize antibiotic overuse by educating families on proper use and adhering to evidence-based guidelines for responsible prescribing. Since many illnesses are viral and don't require antibiotics, our pediatricians explain alternative treatments and emphasize the importance of natural healing when appropriate.

Furthermore, we avoid prescribing antibiotics over the phone, as we believe in conducting proper assessments before doing so. Antibiotics are prescribed only when necessary and appropriate, ensuring patient well-being while mitigating the risks of antibiotic resistance and unnecessary side effects.

We respect everyone's time and kindly ask that you arrive 5 minutes early for your appointment. While we understand delays happen, late arrivals may need to reschedule to keep us on schedule. 

Missed or canceled appointments without 24-hour notice may incur a fee, as they impact our clinicians, staff, and other patients.

Welcome to Johnson County Pediatrics.

Thank you for choosing us as the health care provider for your children. We are committed to affordable and quality healthcare. Due to many questions regarding patient and insurance responsibility for services rendered, we have decided to develop a financial/payment policy. Please read it, ask any questions you may have, and sign at the bottom of the page. A copy can and will be provided to you upon request.

Johnson County Pediatrics is doing everything possible to hold down the cost of medical care, and you can help a great deal by eliminating the need for us to bill you. The following is a summary of our payment policy effective January 2013.

1. Proof of Insurance. All patients or responsible parties must complete our patient information form. We must obtain a copy of your current insurance card to provide proof of coverage. If insurance coverage cannot be verified, you will be expected to pay in full at the time of service. If you are unable to pay the charges in full, you may be asked to reschedule your appointment or make payment arrangements with our billing department prior to your visit.
2. Insurance. We participate in most insurance plans. If you are not insured by one of the plans that we participate with, payment in full is expected at time of service. Knowing your insurance benefits is your responsibility. Please contact your insurance company with any questions regarding your coverage. As part of our contract with your insurance company, all office co-pays, coinsurance and deductibles are required to be paid by you. You are responsible for all non-covered benefits and agree to pay any balance that remains after benefits have been determined by your insurance company. If your insurance is non-responsive and does not make timely payment on your behalf, then we will bill you and payment becomes your responsibility. If you have an HMO plan, please sign the HMO form.
3. Co Pay and Deductibles. All co-pays and deductibles must be paid at the time of service. This is part of your contract with your insurance company.
4. Payments. We accept Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard and Discover. A $25 fee will apply to any check that is returned for any reason.
5. Claim Submission. We will submit your claims directly to your insurance company as a courtesy. Please be aware that insurances vary on which services they cover.
6. Non-Covered Services. Please be aware that some services received may be non-covered or not considered necessary by your insurer. You must pay for these services not paid by your carrier.
7. Nonpayment. If your account is over 90 days past due, you will receive 2 letters to pay your account in full. Partial payments will not be accepted unless otherwise negotiated. Please be aware that if a balance remains unpaid, we may refer your account to a collection agency.
8. Missed appointments. Missed appointments and appointments cancelled at the last minute represent a cost to us and to other patients who could have used the time. Please call ahead to make any scheduling changes. Our policy is to charge $ 25 for missed appointments not canceled with 24 hours notice. These charges will be your responsibility and billed directly to you. Please help us serve you better by keeping your regularly scheduled.
9. School and Camp Forms. We encourage you to keep your child’s immunization card completed and up to date. In order to complete a form for school or camp we require three to five business days. We can complete a form based on well checks performed within the previous 365 days. Forms - with demographic information completed - can be submitted in person at our office, via fax at 913.384.5209, or through email at records@jocopediatrics.com. We do not accept blank documents. In order for us to complete forms for high school students you must fill out the entire page-one questionnaire. You will be notified when the forms are completed. Once completed the forms can be picked up at our office, they can be mailed if the parent/guardian provides a stamped, self-addressed envelope or may be obtained through our patient portal if you have registered your child on the portal.
10. Procedures. There are procedures that may be done in the office that may not be processed by insurance companies as part of the office visit. Those procedures are billed separately and may be applied to your deductible. Those procedures can include, but are not limited to: wart treatment, eye exam, hearing exam, fluoride treatment or labs done in the office.

Our practice values efficiency by utilizing technology. We encourage you to visit our website, register for our patient portal, and use automated reminders for appointments and routine care or immunizations when available.

The health and well-being of your children are our top priorities. We firmly support the expert guidance and recommendations provided by leading health authorities, including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). As such, our vaccine policy aligns with the evidence-based immunization schedule developed by these organizations.

We believe:

• Vaccines save lives. Immunizations have been proven to prevent serious illnesses, reduce the spread of contagious diseases, and protect vulnerable populations.
• Vaccines are safe. Extensive research and rigorous safety standards ensure that vaccines are both effective and secure for children and young adults.
• Vaccines protect communities. By vaccinating according to the recommended schedule, we help prevent outbreaks and protect individuals who cannot be immunized, such as infants too young for certain vaccines or those with certain medical conditions.

Our Policy Highlights:

• Recommended Schedule: We follow the immunization schedule endorsed by the AAP and ACIP because it has been carefully developed to provide the best protection at the most appropriate times.
• Evidence-Based Approach: Our recommendations are grounded in the latest medical research and data, reflecting a strong consensus among pediatric and public health experts.
• Transparent Communication: We are always available to discuss any questions or concerns about vaccines and are committed to providing clear, respectful information about the benefits and potential risks.

We understand that deciding how to protect your child’s health is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. By following this policy, we aim to ensure that every child in our care has the opportunity to grow up healthy, safe, and protected against preventable diseases.