| A: | To ensure the most accurate results, certain tests require that you “fast” before arriving at the patient service center.
In most cases, unless otherwise directed, avoid eating or drinking anything except water for 12 hours before the sample is taken. That includes gum, hard candy and all other beverages. |
| A: | Although some patients do experience a slight discomfort when their blood is drawn, rest assured that MEDLAB’s skilled, experienced phlebotomists will do their best to help you remain as relaxed and comfortable as possible. |
| A: | We recognize that your time is valuable, so we try to keep wait times as short as possible. Except during high-volume times—mornings, early in the week and around beginning of the month—you can expect to wait 10 minutes or less from check in / registration until the phlebotomist (individual with special training to draw blood) calls you. |
| A: | MEDLAB operates Patient Service Centers throughout the Midwest regions in the states of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri. Click here for a complete listing, including addresses, phone numbers and directions. |
| A: | Appointments are not necessary for most tests performed at MEDLAB. For the few tests that do require an appointment for specimen collection, your Physician will provide you with the correct procedure. |
| A: | MEDLAB is a “laboratory,” separate from your doctor’s office, and we perform tests that are not usually done in the doctor’s office. MEDLAB is an independent facility, which means that test billing is handled separately from your other medical bills. In most cases, the laboratory report containing your test results is sent to the health care provider who ordered the test. For information about your results, please contact your ordering physician. |
| A: | By contacting your physicians for the results. |
| A: | MEDLAB is an outside resource used by your health care provider, and because we’re separate we must collect certain information from you. When you arrive at any MEDLAB Patient Service Center, you’ll be asked to provide the following documents and information:
1. The lab order (also called a requisition) provided by your doctor’s office
2. Your name, gender, and date of birth. You may be asked for your Social Security Number for trending of certain tests your physician is following such as tumor markers.
3. The name of the physician who ordered the test
4. Your insurance card and billing information
5. Any additional information depending on the test being performed
As a service to patients, MEDLAB bills most “primary” insurance companies or health plans. If you do not have insurance coverage, MEDLAB will bill you directly.
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| A: | MEDLAB will bill most primary insurance companies. If you think that we may not have your current insurance information on file, please contact the MEDLAB Client solutions team at:
• Northern Region: 800.522.8311
• Southern Region: 800.522.7556
• Western Region: 800.423.8977, St Louis 314.432.5030
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| A: | MEDLAB has received information from either your ordering physician or your insurance company indicating patient responsibility for testing services. For further information on the specific nature of the bill, please contact our Client Solutions Team. |
| A: | MEDLAB will send you a bill for each lab visit approximately once per month. Payment is expected promptly upon receipt of the bill. |
| A: | In most cases, MEDLAB is pleased to accept payment for laboratory service bills using any of the following methods: Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, personal check or money order. Please check with your laboratory facility for the correct method of payment by contacting the Client Solutions team for that region.
Please remember to attach the stub of the MEDLAB bill when mailing in payment and include your account/invoice number on the check. |
| A: | If MEDLAB received your correct insurance information at the time of your service, you should not receive a bill from us until your insurance has responded. Please read your bill carefully. A line-item adjustment will be printed on your bill if we have received payment from the insurance company. If you are still uncertain, you may either contact your insurance company directly or contact Client Solutions team at the telephone number printed on your bill. |
| A: | You should have received an Explanation of Benefits from your insurance carrier that explains in detail the services either paid for or denied. If you need further assistance determining the reason(s) your insurance company did not pay for your bill, please contact your insurance carrier directly. |
| A: | Each testing order sent to MEDLAB is given a new invoice number and treated as a new bill. Therefore, we require complete billing information each time testing is requested to make sure the correct party is billed for the services we provide. |
| A: | MEDLAB makes every effort to allow you or your insurance company to submit payment for your laboratory services. If you have received a bill from an outside collection service, payment must be made directly to that agency. Please contact the collection service directly using the information provided on the statement. |
| A: | Medicare pays for most laboratory testing, but there are exceptions. MEDLAB will bill you only if or when the Medicare carrier denies payment and lists “patient responsibility” as the reason. There are three lab services payment categories for which payment rules apply:
• Medical necessity testing. Your doctor may decide a test is necessary regardless of Medicare’s payment rules, and some tests are covered only for certain diagnoses. You may be asked to sign an Advanced Beneficiary Notice or ABN (see question below), accepting financial responsibility in the event your diagnosis is not covered.
• Screening tests. Medicare pays for certain screening tests on a fixed time schedule—such as Pap tests every two years. Tests performed more frequently than allowed may not be covered, so you will be asked to sign an ABN.
• Non-covered tests. Certain tests are never covered by Medicare. In those cases, MEDLAB first bills Medicare for the tests; when the denial is received, MEDLAB bills you directly. |
| A: | An ABN (Advance Beneficiary Notice) is a form you will be asked to sign at an MEDLAB testing site or at your physician's office if the staff determines that Medicare may not pay for your laboratory testing. Medicare does not pay for all laboratory testing, and the ABN will explain which tests are not likely to be covered.
The fact that Medicare may not pay for a particular item or service does not mean that you should not receive it. There may be a good reason your doctor recommended it. The purpose of the ABN is to help you make an informed choice about whether or not you want to receive these laboratory tests, knowing that you might have to pay for them yourself. |
| A: | Medicare does not cover all health care costs. Medicare may deny payment on tests deemed not medically necessary, screening tests performed more frequently than guidelines allow, or experimental or research use testing. Medicare will not make a determination on payment allowance until after the testing is performed; however, the ABN will help you determine which tests are likely to be declined for payment. |
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