Information about Memberships Call: (310) 541-8919
Email for membership information: Info@pvmedicine.com
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the mission of your practice? Our goal is to provide the highest quality medical care and service, emphasizing a proactive, comprehensive approach to both disease prevention and wellness. Together, we will aggressively attempt to prevent medical illnesses before they occur. These services will be provided in a relaxed, professional setting with the focus on optimizing your health. We want you to be completely satisfied with every aspect of your care.
How will the practice be different?
We will be limiting the size of our practice so we can devote more time to each patient’s care and individual needs. This practice change allows us to schedule at least 30 minutes for routine appointments and 60 minutes for the annual exam. This means that appointments will start promptly and we can spend more time with you. If a problem requires extra time for evaluation, we will reasonably accommodate you to the best of our abilities. Our communication will be enhanced through a patient-dedicated cell phone and email
At what hospital(s) will you admit patients?
In most circumstances, Dr. Tim Norcross will admit and treat patients at Torrance Memorial Hospital. Dr. Tim Norcross anticipates admitting at Little Company of Mary in Torrance by 2012. At other facilities, we rely on the staff internal medicine physicians (hospitalists) of these hospitals to care for our patients upon admission. These excellent physicians staff the hospital 24 hours a day and are available for emergent needs during hospitalization. If you require hospitalization at Providence Little Company of Mary Torrance, San Pedro, or Harbor UCLA, we will make informal visits at our discretion at no charge to you. Regardless of where you are hospitalized, we will be in contact with you and your admitting physician to advocate on your behalf.
Who will cover for you when you are not available? Our goal is to be available to our patients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There will be infrequent occasions when we are out of town or otherwise unavailable. In these situations, a trusted colleague will serve as our covering physician.
Do I still need health insurance if I enroll with you? Yes. Our medical practice will not take the place of general health insurance coverage. Our practice is a primary care medical practice, not a health insurance program. You are advised to continue your PPO, Medicare or other insurance program as well as participation in your FSA or HSA plan.
Will you continue to be a ‘Provider’ on my insurance plan? No. As of October 1, 2011, we will no longer be a participating provider for commercial insurance plans. However, we will attempt to refer you to “in-network” physicians for any necessary consultations and to “in-network” facilities for diagnostic tests and hospitalizations as medically indicated. Those services will then be covered according to your particular insurance plan. Will private insurance reimburse my annual fee? It is unlikely that this fee is fully reimbursable. It may be possible for you to utilize funds from a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA) toward the annual fee. You are advised to consult your human resources representative, your FSA or HSA plan manager, or your tax advisor.
Will you still be a Participating Provider for Medicare? Yes. Our status with traditional Medicare is unchanged. Everything will remain the same. We will continue to file your claim with Medicare, as well as with your supplemental insurer on your behalf, as required by law. For those patients who have a Medicare Advantage, plan, an office visit fee will be charged and payment will be the responsibility of the patient
Do you bill Medicare for my annual fee? No. The annual membership fee only includes services that are not covered by Medicare and will not be paid for or reimbursed by Medicare. We will continue to submit claims to Medicare and to your supplemental insurance on your behalf for Medicare-covered services. As of January 2011, Medicare now includes portions of your annual comprehensive wellness examination as a covered service. Once your annual exam has been completed and we have billed Medicare and received their payment for that service, you will be reimbursed the amount paid to our office by Medicare for those portions of the annual exam which are covered by Medicare.
What are my annual fee payment options? Your annual fee may be paid in full by check to Norcross Family Medicine, Inc. or may be paid annually or semi-annually by credit card only. If you opt for a semi-annual payment option, the second half of your fee will automatically be charged to the credit card you indicate on your Patient Agreement Form on or about April 11st.
What additional fees can I expect outside of my yearly membership fee? Our office visit fee will be $25 per visit. Certain injections and special procedures may require an additional charge, but they will be billed to you at our cost to administer.
What about lab, x-ray, specialists’ fees and hospitalization? Procedures and services not performed in our office will be billed by the performing entity.What if I have an emergency? Please know that you can contact us anytime you feel the need to consult with us; however, if you have a life-threatening emergency, call 911 immediately. You can then call us or have the hospital personnel contact us so that we can assist in your care. If you have a non-urgent problem, we suggest you contact us first.
What do I do if I become ill while traveling or away on an extended vacation? If the problem is minor, call us first. However, call 911 if you have a life threatening emergency. Then call us. With the exception of a few controlled substances, most prescriptions can be ordered anywhere in the country. If you seek care at an emergency room or urgent care center out of our area, we request that you have the doctor seeing you call us for coordination. We will be readily available for phone consultation with you and/or other health care personnel. If you should require hospitalization while away, at your request we will attempt to establish daily phone communication with you and your attending physician(s) to ensure continuity of care. Will I be required to pay my annual fee even if I do not use your services? Yes. Paying your annual fee allows you to be a member of our practice whether you are sick or well. We strongly encourage you to utilize the benefits offered, regardless of your state of health, to proactively safeguard your health. What happens if I move out of the area after I enroll? If you move and wish to secure a new primary care physician, the annual fee will be refunded on a pro-rated basis. However, once the annual comprehensive wellness evaluation has been completed, there will be no refund. A copy of your records will be sent to your new physician upon receipt of a signed release. This release of records is required by law. Can I enroll in the practice at any time? By design, our practice is a membership practice with a limited enrollment. Once that enrollment limit is reached, a waiting list will be established. Every effort will be made to accommodate interested patients, but the enrollment limit must be honored in order to continue to provide the highest standard of personalized care and service to all patients.
Come meet the doctors, please contact us below or call 310-541-8919
