WEIS EYE CENTER, PA
Billing & Collection Policy
Original Effective Date: 10/1/2024
Last Revised Date: 5/23/2025
Please read the following information regarding Weis Eye Center’s billing, collection and payment policies. If you have any questions about these policies please contact us at 218-625-1917.
1. Referrals: Some insurance plans require a referral to receive services. If your plan requires one, you must obtain it before your visit. Without a referral, your insurance may deny coverage, leaving you responsible for the full cost.
2. Insurance Coverage: If you have insurance through a plan we accept, we will bill your insurer for the services provided based on the insurance details you provide. While we accept many insurance plans, we cannot guarantee coverage. It is your responsibility to confirm your benefits and meet any plan requirements. We will verify demographic information and will ask to see your insurance card and photo ID at check-in. If you do
not have insurance, we will discuss payment plan options.
3. Financial Responsibility: You are responsible for all charges not covered by insurance, including co-payments, deductibles, and non-covered services. Co-payments are due at the time of your appointment.
4. Billing Statements & Payment Terms: Billing statements are sent out monthly and mailed to the patient or person/party listed as account responsible. After your insurance company processes the claim, any remaining balance is your responsibility and is due within 30 days of the statement date. If you cannot pay on time, please contact us to arrange a payment plan.
5. Billing Error Review: If you believe your bill is incorrect or should be covered by a third party, contact our billing office. We will review and correct any billing errors. During the review, we will pause billing for the disputed charges. If over-payment is found, a refund will be issued within 30 days of review completion.
6. Notifications Regarding Billing Errors: Within 30 days of identifying or being notified of a potential billing error, we will inform you of the issue, the review process, and the temporary hold on billing. Within 30 days of completing the review, we will provide an explanation of any corrections or reasons for no change, along with relevant documentation.
7. Communication and Payment Support: We send monthly statements showing outstanding balances. If you are going through a financial hardship, please contact our office. We will help answer your questions and offer reasonable payment plan options.
8. Use of Collection Agencies or Law Firms: If your account remains unpaid 120 days after the statement date and no payment arrangements have been made or followed, we may refer your account to a collection agency or law firm. We do not report medical debt to credit bureaus. Collection efforts will stop once a debt is paid or deemed noncollectable.
9. Outstanding debt/ Access to Medically Necessary Care: We will not deny medically necessary services due to outstanding medical debt owed by you or your family. However, we may require enrollment in a payment plan for the existing debt. Payment terms will reflect your financial situation. If you cannot meet these terms, communicate with us to discuss options. Legal remedies may be pursued if payment terms are not followed.
10. Compliance with Legal Requirements: We comply with all applicable laws in debt collection, including the Minnesota Debt Fairness Act, HIPAA, the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, and Minnesota privacy laws.
11. Contact Information: For questions about this policy or billing issues, please contact us at 218-625-1917.
Minnesota Statute Information:
Notice of Public Availability: As of October 1, 2024, pursuant to Minn. Stat. 62J.806, a policy for collecting medical debt must be made available to the public by (1) being posted on the provider’s website, and (2) being provided to any individual who requests a copy. The Act’s specific requirements for the policy is that it “must at least specify the procedures followed by the health care provider to: (1) communicate with patients about the medical debt owed and collecting medical debt; (2) refer medical debt to a collection agency or law firm for collection; and (3) identify medical debt as uncollectible or satisfied, and ending collection activities.” (Minn. Stat. 62J.806.) Those three items are covered by paragraphs G, H, and I. The other paragraphs in this policy are not required to be in this policy under the Act, but some cover some of the procedural requirements of the Act which seemed appropriate for a patient-facing policy like (see paragraphs E, F and J). There are many other requirements under the Act that providers will need to comply with in their billing practices, but those items are not appropriate for an external policy. Other paragraphs of the policy (A, B, C, D, K, and L) are not based on the Act, but instead contain general billing and collection language that clients may want to have in this policy (and may want to modify to more accurately reflect their practices).
Based on 62J.808. This summarizes certain requirements of the Act, but there is no requirement that this language be included in the policy.
Based on 62J.806. This language or other language covering communication with patients about the medical debt owed and collecting medical debt must be included in this policy. Based on 62J.806. This language or other language covering referral of medical debt to a collection agency or law firm for collection must be included in this policy. The 120-day period is not set by law and can be revised as desired.
Based on 62J.806. This language or other language covering the identification of medical debt as uncollectible or satisfied, and ending collection activities, must be included in this policy.
Based on 62J.807. This summarizes certain requirements of the Act, but there is no requirement that this language be included in the policy.