At Limestone, we feel strongly about children having routine check-ups. These visits allow us to monitor growth, developmental, behavioral and academic issues so that we can identify them early, intervene, and treat them effectively. Per the American Academy of Pediatrics, children should receive preventative care at the following ages:
- 1month of age, 2mo, 4mo, 6mo, 9mo, 12mo, 15mo, 18mo, 24mo, 30mo, then yearly from 3-22 years of age.
We expect parents to follow these guidelines so that we can provide quality healthcare to our patients. Failure to do so may result in our being discharged from our practice. Documents and school forms will not be completed for patients who are behind on well checks. Physicals for 3-22 years are done on a yearly basis most insurance requires these to be done 1 year and a day from the last physical. The office will send out reminders when it is time to schedule for an upcoming physical. If physicals are not kept up to date after several attempts by our office to schedule, our Providers may dismiss the family from the practice.
Difference between Well Child Physical and Office Visits
Preventive visits and office visits may seem similar, but there is a difference. Knowing the difference can help ease any confusion.
You schedule well child exams and wellness exams to help prevent or detect any health concerns. This is also known as your annual wellness exam or annual health maintenance exam.
Confusion arises when you want to discuss or receive treatment for a new or existing condition that requires action at your annual checkup. This is where a preventive visit can become an office visit, and your bill can be impacted.
Preventive Visit |
Office Visit |
Complete physical exam (annual health maintenance exam) |
Diagnosing and monitoring specific medical conditions |
A thorough review of medical history, general health and well-being |
Addressing medical concerns and treatment plans |
Developmental screenings*
Evaluation of future risks
|
Medication refills |
Vaccination review and update |
Addressing new or worsening symptoms |
|
Specialist referrals
Testing/lab results
|
Depending on benefits an office visit can result in additional costs
*Screenings
We follow the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) recommended screenings to be performed at certain visits. Insurance companies also encourage us to administer these screenings at visits, even though some of them will pass the cost of the screenings to the patient rather than covering themselves. The office does not know the cost of these screenings as this varies between insurance plans.
If during a routine preventative visit, you and/or your provider discuss the management of your child’s existing and/or any new medical problems, your insurance will be billed for a separate office visit. The additional office visit charge may not be considered by your insurance company to be part of the annual check-up. We are required to report to your insurance company everything that is done in the visit by listing all current and new diagnoses discussed. Your insurance company will determine whether to add a copay on to the well visit.
If we do not tell the insurance company everything that is done during the visit we could lose our contract with them. We cannot waive a copay as the insurance company considers that to be fraudulent on our part.