New Patient FAQ

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What is the recommended well check schedule?

The American Association of Pediatrics recommendations are as follows: 

• Newborn
• 1 month
• 2 months
• 4 months
• 6 months
• 9 months
• 12 months
• 15 months
• 18 months
• 24 months
• 30 months
• Yearly starting at age 3

My child isn’t due for a checkup anytime soon, should I still schedule an appointment to establish care? 

While it is not required, it is recommended. Until a child is seen in the clinic they are not technically our patient. Until a child is seen in clinic, our nurse triage and afterhours staff are unable to provide any medical feedback.

Can my child be seen for a same day sick visit prior to being seen for a well check?

Yes.

Your Child!

Kind of important.

Medical Records

It is recommended that we have your child’s medical history on file before your first visit. If you intend for your child to receive vaccines at their initial visit, it is vital we have immunization history on hand at the initial visit. All clinic notes relating to ongoing medical issues will help with transfer and continuance of care.

What forms does my child need from their primary care physician to attend school?

All elementary schools, preschools, and daycare programs require proof of physical exam by a Tennessee provider as well as record of immunizations prior to the start of the school year. This document is generated from a Tennessee state database by a healthcare professional and a few things are required for the form to be valid. The first is that the child has had a check up by a licensed provider in the state of Tennessee in the last 12 months. The other is that the child is either up to date on their immunizations or the parent requests a religious exemption.

What are you business hours?

Our business hours are 8:00-5:00 Monday through Friday.

What happens if I need something after hours?

We work with a company that hires experienced nurses to cover our after hours care. They are reachable all hours of the day that we are not in office, including holidays, and use the same triage protocols as we do in the clinic. If needed or necessary a provider is on-call to address significant issues or concerns.

Is there a nurse I can speak with during business hours?

Yes. We have a two person team dedicated to answering patient calls and addressing concerns during business hours. We also offer a text service that is monitored real time during business hours and allows parents to send in questions, provide photos, and schedule appointments. 

Do we see the same provider for all our visits?

Unless the parents make it clear they have no preference, we will keep all well visits with the same provider. For same day appointments we can keep you with a preferred provider upon request. If a provider is not requested for a same day or sick appointment, we typically offer the time slots that are available with all providers that are in on that day.

Are all your providers nurse practitioners?

Yes. In accordance with Tennessee state law we do have a collaborating physician. Dr. Ana Lisa Carr however does not see patient at the clinic.

Are there any noticeable differences or limitations seeing a NP as opposed to MD for my child's primary care?

None. There are no differences or changes in the services performed, the tests that are run, the medications that can be prescribed, or what insurance does and does not cover. The patient care and experience is identical for a NP as it would be a MD.

How can I access my children's medical records?

Per request we can provide access to our patient portal. The portal provides access to clinic notes, measurements, medications, and immunization records. Essentially all things clinical. 

Are you able to run labs in the office?

We are able to perform all rapid testing which includes Flu, RSV, Strep & Covid. We draw labs, collect specimens, and offer feedback and recommendations based on the results. We also offer Genesight, food sensitivity, and allergy testing. If a lab is not available at our office, we can put orders in through the companies we work with to be collected or run at their local walk-in centers.

Do you have an X-ray machine on site?

No. We do not offer radiology on site. This is something that we would refer out to a local specialty clinic.

Up to what age do you see children?

We see children from birth to 18 years old.

Does Avery Mae Pediatrics force me to follow a vaccine schedule?

No. We offer vaccinations but do not require them. You can do all of them, none of them, some of them, a delayed schedule. Ultimately that is up to you.

Do you have resources to help us make decisions about vaccines?

Yes, our providers are very knowledgeable on the subject and happy to help you navigate all of the information as well as point you in the direction of some trusted resources.  

Do you accept my insurance?

We accept:

Aetna

Allied
All Savers
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield

ChampVA
Cigna

Golden Rule

Lucent Health
Medi-share (we accept all healthshare insurances)

Meritain

PHCS

Surest
Tricare Select
UMR

United Healthcare
US Health

While we are in-network with all other Cigna and Aetna plans, we are not in-network with Cigna or Aetna EPO plans. We do not accept Network L insurance for Blue Cross Blue Shield. 

We are not in-network with Tricare Prime. We are not currently accepting new patients that have Medicaid. This includes Amerigroup, BlueCare & UHC Community.

If your insurance is not listed that does not mean we do not accept it, please inquire for confirmation of coverage.

You are in-network with my insurance, what does that mean? 

It means that anything covered under your insurance plan, will be covered at our clinic. 

You are not in-network with my insurance, what does that mean?

It means that all visits carry out of pocket costs at the time of service. Please note that if your child has Tenncare you are not allowed to pay for primary care services out of pocket and we are not allowed to accept out of pocket payment.

How do I know what is covered under my plan?

Unfortunately, the answer to this question varies considerably. Most commercial insurances will cover well visits based on the recommended well check schedule, but not all do. If coverage and/or cost is a concern, we recommend calling the phone number on the back of your insurance card and having a representative of the insurance company address those concerns. A majority of a child's services at our clinic will be one of three things; well visits, sick visits, or lab submissions. If you do reach out to your insurance carrier, asking if those three visit types are covered under your plan will give you an idea of what you can expect as far as coverage and cost. If sick visits and/or lab work are not covered, most of the time that means your plan has a deductible to meet. Once met, what your insurance covers expands.

Do you offer a cash pay option?

We do. Self-pay pricing is as follows:

Office visits

New patient well visit $200.00

New patient sick visit $150.00

Established patient well visit $150.00

Established patient sick visit $100.00

Sports Physical $50.00

Nurse only visit $50.00

Medical grade ear piercing $125.00 (includes set of earrings)

Most services or procedures are covered within the cost of the visit, some are not. Certain visits require extending the amount of time we block out of the schedule and/or resources or material that carry additional cost.

Appointments or procedures that carry additional cost

Antigen Flu/Covid test +$50.00

Antigen RSV test +$25.00

Chemical cautery tissue +$50.00

Ear Cleaning +$50.00

EKG test +$50.00

Hearing Screen +$50.00

Incision and drainage +$50.00

Wart treatment +$50.00

Nursemaid elbow reduction +$50.00

Removal of foreign body +$50.00

Suture removal +$50.00

Vitamin K administration +$50.00

Wound care +$50.00

*Labs are drawn in clinic but in almost all cases the specimens are sent to an offsite lab for testing. All billing for lab draws is handled by those labs and carry cost separate from the cost of the office visit.