Dunedin Pediatrics & Family Annual “Retainer”

This retainer is required to become a patient with our practice.  It is for the family in the home.

By charging a retainer for each family, we are able to maintain a manageable patient load for each of our providers, thereby maintaining that “small town” feel we are so proud to offer. Most medical practices overload their providers and leave patients with only a few minutes per appointment. We are different. With smaller patient panels, our providers are able to spend an extended amount of time at each appointment. We really get to know you, and we actually take the time to answer all of your questions.

Services covered by the Annual Retainer:

  • Patient Portal- offers easy online scheduling, secure private communication with your provider, ability to access visit summaries, medical history, immunization records, labs and more.
  • Care Coordination with specialists.
  • Access to our After Hours Provider Line. We do not outsource after hours phone calls. When you call the office after hours or on the weekends for urgent medical concerns, you will be directed to one of our providers for a telephone assessment. (fees will apply)                                                           By providing this convenient option, we can avoid unnecessary and costly trips to the urgent care or ER.
  • Provide continuity of care by having the same handful of staff and not having a different provider each visit.
  • Same day if not next day scheduling.

 

Please review all tabs including Pricing before submitting your New Patient Survey, Thank you!

Commonly asked questions:

Do you take insurance?

Dunedin Pediatrics & Family now accepts many insurances. Currently we are active with:

  • BlueCross BlueShield
  • Aetna
  • Cigna
  • Simply Medicaid
  • Medicaid
  • Medicare
  • Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS)
  • Multiplan
  • Liberty

Reimbursement for out-of-network providers varies significantly from plan to plan. Please consult with a representative from your insurance company for your policies details.

When and how do I pay the membership fee?

Membership fees can be paid annually or paid in installments, charged monthly to your credit or debit card.

What is not covered by the membership fee?

The following services are not covered by the membership fee:

Vaccinations: We partner with a vaccine company called VaxCare. This partnership allows us to administer the vaccines, then VaxCare bills your insurance directly for all routine vaccinations. You will be responsible for any copay or deductible required by your insurance plan (just as in any other  practice).

Specialty visits, hospital stays, etc: Any medical services from other medical providers will be billed to your insurance by those providers.

Out-of-office procedures or labs: These, too, can be billed to your insurance by the office administering the labs.

After-hours telephone assessments- will be discounted

Virtual visits (telemedicine)- will be discounted

Do I still need to have insurance?

This is up to you, but we highly recommend having some sort of coverage that may protect you in the event of ER or hospital visits. Dunedin Pediatrics is not a substitute for health insurance. If you choose to come to our practice you may find it advantageous to choose a different insurance plan. You should consult with a financial advisor or a representative from your insurance company to guide your plan choice.

Do you offer house calls?

Yes. Schedule permitting we are willing to see your child at your home for an additional charge.

Is there a geographic limit for house calls?

Yes. Home visits are typically limited to the following areas: Largo, Pinellas Park, Dunedin, Clearwater, Palm Harbor (west of Lake Tarpon), Oldsmar, and Tarpon Springs. If you are outside these areas and you would like a home visit, give us a call and we’ll try to work something out.

What about expectant parents?

Call our office to set up a meet and greet. After your baby is born we can see you at home (for an additional charge) or in the office. Normal newborn visits are around 3-5 days, at 2 weeks and at 1 month.

At which hospitals do you have privileges?

Many of the local hospitals have their own “hospitalists.” These are physicians who examine babies in the nursery after birth, and care for children who are admitted to the hospital. We work closely with these physicians to ensure comprehensive and continuous care after discharge, but our doctors do not specifically maintain privileges to admit or treat at any hospital.

If my child gets admitted to the hospital will you care for him/her there?

Yes and no. Children admitted to local hospitals (Baycare, All Children’s, or St. Joseph’s) are under the direct care of their respective hospitalists. We will work closely with the doctors there to optimize your child’s care, and we will provide prompt follow-up upon discharge.

Are you willing to provide ‘virtual’ medical visits?

Yes. Practice members, when appropriate, can use photos, phone calls and video calls to communicate with us during office hours. In many cases questions can be answered and diagnoses can be made (or ruled out) without an office visit. This saves families time and money. If you are not an active member, or the call is “after-hours,” then a telephone assessment fee is incurred, but may be discounted.

What if my child gets sick when we are out of town?

Given the small size of our practice, your doctor will have the benefit of knowing your family well and of knowing your child and his/her medical history. So we will do as much as we safely can via phone, text and video. This long-distance care may include calling in a prescription to a local pharmacy or helping you find a local urgent care or ER should further evaluation or testing be required.

What is your position on vaccines?

We are advocates of the parent’s right to choose. We will provide excellent care to your child regardless of their vaccine status. We do, however, reserve the right to insist on timely preventative visits. Just because a family chooses not to vaccinate, doesn’t mean they shouldn’t still come in for regular well child exams at the routine intervals recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Are you willing to see patients outside of your practice on a fee-for-service basis?

We are willing to see sick patients who are not members on a fee-for-service basis if our schedule permits. Well-child care is limited to patients who are members of Dunedin Pediatrics. Contact our office to check availability and pricing.

What if I decide to leave the practice?

If you decide to leave Dunedin Pediatrics & Family for any reason there is absolutely no fee or penalty, unless you are a member. Members sign a yearly contract for services, and there is an early termination fee(for members on the monthly payment plan). The reason for this is simple. Some people sign up for our membership because the price is so reasonable. They use our services extensively, then try to cancel after a month. This is an attempt to get multiple visits for only $50. A business cannot be successful this way, and in doing this, a patient is trying to take advantage of the very person who is trying to take excellent care of them. The early termination fee is a deterrent to this practice.

What happens when my doctor goes on vacation?

When your doctor is on vacation, you will be notified (if you have an appointment scheduled or if you call to schedule a new appointment.) We do have two providers in our practice so someone should always be available to take care of your family.

Can I be “billed” for services if I don’t have the payment at the time of my appointment?

Unfortunately, under most circumstances we cannot “bill you” for services rendered. Much like you would be expected to pay for your groceries as you leave the grocery store, we insist on payment when you receive services. It is a sad revelation, but after being in business for 5 years, rarely has anyone followed through with payment after leaving the office. Therefore it is our firm policy to collect payment at the time of the appointment. We encourage our patients to become members so that you can predict your costs each month.

Does Dunedin Pediatrics & Family offer a Meet & Greet? 

Yes, on availability with our providers and schedules. We do offer meet & greets, there is a $ 60.00 charge as we take an actual appointment to schedule the staff and provider to meet you and your family. We also offer vaccine consultations for the same fee.

 

 

 

 

New Patient Survey

  • Expecting Your First Child or New to the Practice?

    Dunedin Pediatrics & Family shares the excitement and joy of expecting a child. Dr. Herrero is more than happy to set up a Prenatal Consult with you in person or over the phone to briefly discuss the practice. We do charge a $60.00 fee for the personal consultation as each child and family are unique. Please reserve 20 minutes for the consultation. We also offer vaccine consultations.

    We are always accepting newborns as well as new patients of all ages. We invite soon-to-be parents and “Old pro’s” alike to join. If you are interested in making Dunedin Pediatrics & Family your family's medical home, please complete this survey so we can ensure that we are a good match for you. A member of our office will contact you after receipt of the survey to discuss appointment availability.

  • The cost of the New Patient appointment is $155.00 and the Retainer fee are due at the time of service.
  • Once you have completed the New Patient Survey, please complete the "Release of Medical Records" form. Please email it or fax it into office, once records are received we can schedule your appointment. Thank you.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

 

If you want to release your records or request your records from another doctor…

please fill out the Release of Medical Records   and drop off or fax it in to be processed.