Frequently Asked Questions

Specialize in diagnosing and treating complicated infections.

When your doctor thinks the expertise of an infectious disease provider is needed to treat your infection.

It is always our goal to provide you with the ability to perform your infusions in the comfort of your home; however this benefit is not covered by all insurance plans. Our billing specialist will be happy to discuss your individual benefits package to determine if you are eligible for this service.

Infusion Therapy is the method in which intravenous medications, including antibiotics, are administered through an intravenous catheter (IV) or Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC).

Don’t panic! Check to see if the PICC line is completely out or just a small length was pulled out. The PICC line extends several inches inside the vein. If the PICC line is still in the skin, tape it in place. If it has completely come out, apply pressure on the site for 10 minutes. Either way, contact your doctor right away. If you feel it is an emergency, go to your nearest Emergency Room.

Please call your pharmacy with your refill request and they will send the request to our office with all the needed information. Please allow 2 business days for prescription refills to be sent to your pharmacy.

Please call our office at (208) 338-0148 during office hours to reschedule your appointment.

Please call our office at (208) 338-0148 and you will be directed to our billing specialist.

You can call our office at (208) 338-0148 and we will attempt to triage your phone call. If you feel that it is a true emergency please call 911.

Please call our office at (208) 338-0148 to schedule a lab draw appointment.

What is “balance billing” (sometimes called “surprise billing”)?

When you see a doctor or other health care provider, you may owe certain out-of-pocket costs, such as a copayment, coinsurance, and/or deductible. You may have other costs or have to pay the entire bill if you see a provider or visit a health care facility that isn’t in your health plan’s network.

“Out-of-network” describes providers and facilities that haven’t signed a contract with your health plan. Out-of-network providers may be permitted to bill you for the difference between what your plan agreed to pay and the full amount charged for a service. This is called “balance billing”. This amount is likely more than in-network costs for the same service and might not count towards your annual out-of-pocket limit.

“Surprise billing” is an unexpected balance bill. This can happen when you can’t control who is involved in your care-like when you have an emergency or when you schedule a visit at an in-network facility but are unexpectedly treated by an out-of-network provider.

You are protected from balance billing for:

Emergency services

If you have an emergency medical condition and get emergency services from an out-of-network provider or facility, the most the provider or facility may bill is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount (such as copayments and coinsurance). You can’t be balanced billed for these emergency services. This includes services you may get after you’re in stable condition, unless you give written consent and give up your protections not to be balanced billed for these post-stabilization services.

More information about your rights and protections

• cms.gov/nosurprises Federal Regulations
• legislature.gov/sesssioninfo/2020/legislation/HO502 Local Regulations

Certain services at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center

When you get services from an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, certain providers there may be out-of-network. In these cases, the most those providers may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount. This applies to emergency medicine, anesthesia, pathology, radiology, laboratory, neonatology, assistant surgeon, hospitalist, or intensivist services.  These providers can’t balance bill you and may not ask you to give up your protections not to be balance billed.

If you get other services at these in-network facilities, out-of-network providers can’t balance bill you, unless you give written consent and give up your protections.

You’re never required to give up your protections from balance billing. You also aren’t required to get care out-of-network. You can choose a provider or facility in your plan’s network. 

When balance billing isn’t allowed, you also have the following protections:

• You are only responsible for paying your shar of the cost (like copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles that you would pay if the provider or facility was in-network). Your health plan will pay out-of-network providers and facilities directly.

• Your health plan generally must:

• Cover emergency services with out requiring you to get approval for services in advance (prior authorization).

• Cover emergency services by out-of-network providers.

• Base what you owe the provider or facility (cost-sharing) on what it would pay an in-network provider or facility and show that amount in your explanation of benefits.

• Count any amount you pay for emergency services or out-of-network services toward your deductible and out-of-pocket limit.

If you believe you’ve been wrongly billed, you may contact cms.gov for information for enforcing the federal and or state balance billing protection laws.

More information about your rights and protections

• cms.gov/nosurprises Federal Regulations
• legislature.gov/sesssioninfo/2020/legislation/HO502 Local Regulations