Appointment Request

Please call any of the follow numbers to contact our office:

**WHEN SCHEDULING A MINOR**

Parent MUST be present at first visit. If friend or other family member, over 18, is to bring the patient to future visits, CENT requires a Notarized form with this persons information that has the parents approval on file. This persons ID will be checked before the patient will be checked in for any appointment. If this is not on file, the appointment is subject to reschedule. This is for the safety and care for all parties involves. 

Coastal Billing Practices

Coastal Ear, Nose and Throat strives to educate our patients with the information needed prior to being seen in our offices. 

We are an Ear, Nose, and Throat specialty practice, which means that per MEDICARE and INSURANCE guidelines some exams that are done in the offices are categorized by Medicare/Insurance Companies as SURGICAL procedures.

For example, during your exam, the doctor may be using different instruments and endoscopes. The scopes are used for diagnostic purposes; these are endoscopic light sources used to examine your nose and/or throat.  The doctors use these tools as a vital part of your diagnostic exam.  Although the exam can be quick, the use of this technology has provided the doctor to rapidly and thoroughly assess your condition. On your insurance explanation of benefits, it may say this was a surgical procedure and is billed separately from the office visit. The office visit is one code used; the exam/procedure is the second codes. These are separate charges and are subject to separate copays.

 Hearing/Audio visits:

 For hearing loss and some hearing related symptoms, such as tinnitus or vertigo. An audio test may be required for a full evaluation and treatment. This is completed by the audiologist. This is a separate charge and may have a separate copay depending on your plan. Your insurance may or may not cover this exam. We will bill them on your behalf.  If your insurance does not cover this exam, we automatically give a discounted rate.

 Coastal ENT is not a contracted hearing aid provider with any insurance company therefore, if hearing aids are purchased thru Coastal ENT, it is the patient responsibility to pay the full purchase price of the hearing devices regardless of insurance coverage.

 It is important to note that our billing process follows all Medicare guidelines and protocols for the insurance company’s we participate with. Coastal abides by their established fees for these procedures and all Dr exams.

 Due to the number of different insurance policies, Coastal Employees are unable to know what each individual plan is going to cover. This is why we file with the insurance on your behalf; we also have to wait for the claim to process before we will know what they require us to collect before we can send a bill.

 You can always check with your insurance for any exclusions before scheduling your appointments for coverage information regarding audiograms.