Express Care Billing

Frequently asked questions about billing at these locations

How will I know if my visit will be billed as a hospital outpatient facility or a specialty physician office?

You can find information about whether your visit is considered a physician office or hospital outpatient visit in notices found in our waiting rooms. Information related to this is also found on this website and the websites of our hospitals and physician groups, and in printed guides.

What will be my payment responsibility for the express care/walk-in services that I receive?

For specialty physician office locations

• For services billed as a physician or nurse practitioner visit, your out-of-pocket costs are usually limited to the co-payment required by your health insurance plan.

We will request your co-payment when you check in for the visit.

For hospital outpatient locations

• For services billed as a physician or nurse practitioner visit, your out of pocket costs are usually limited to the co-payment required by your health insurance plan.
• You will also be billed for what is commonly known as a “facility fee” for use of the hospital space, equipment, and support staff.

Your health insurance plan may apply these hospital fees to your annual deductible, and after you have paid your deductible in full, you may be billed for a co-insurance payment.

We will request your co-payment when you check in for the visit.
We will send you a bill if there is any unpaid balance after we receive payment for your visit from your health insurance plan.

Referrals and prior authorizations

For both specialty physician office visits and hospital outpatient visits, your health insurance plan may require you to get a referral or authorization. In addition, our providers may be considered “In Network” or “Out of Network” depending on the specifics of your health insurance plan, which could affect the amount you pay.

Billing for procedures performed during the visit

No matter the location, if a procedure is performed during the visit, you may have further out-of-pocket costs for additional physicians’ services and for use of the hospital facilities and staff, even if the procedure was performed in the same exam room as the visit with the physician. Your health insurance plan may apply these additional physician and hospital charges to your annual deductible, and after you have paid your deductible in full, you may be responsible for an additional co-insurance payment.

Laboratory and imaging services

If your physician ordered laboratory tests or imaging services (such as X-ray, CT or MRI), you will be billed for these tests by the hospital, clinical laboratory, or imaging center, and you may also be billed for the services of the physicians (usually pathologists and radiologists) who interpreted the test results.

Special notice for Medicare patients

If you are a Medicare beneficiary and your visit takes place in a hospital outpatient location, you will be responsible for a Medicare Part B out-of-pocket co-insurance payment of approximately $25 for the hospital facility charge. Procedure charges or other testing could increase your out-of-pocket expenses.

Understanding how much my visit will cost

It is your right to receive an estimateof the cost of your visit in advance of the visit. Please contact Patient Billing Solutions at least two business days prior to your visit to get an estimate:

Phone
617-726-3884
Monday: 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. ET
Tuesday: 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Wednesday: 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Thursday : 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Friday: 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Email
patientbilling@partners.org for general questions only; a representative will respond generally within three business days.
(Please use www.patientgateway.org to view details of your account, send messages with confidential information, or pay your bills.)

Mailing address
Correspondence only (no checks)
Mass General Brigham
Patient Billing Solutions
399 Revolution Drive, Suite 410
Somerville, MA 02145-1462

Please have as many details as possible about the upcoming visit, including the provider name, location, and details of the planned service or procedure.

Please contact the Member Services department of your health insurance plan to verify your coverage and financial responsibility for urgent care/walk-in services provided at any of the locations listed on this page. This phone number is usually located on your insurance card.