New Patients
We are accepting new patients and, in most cases, can schedule an appointment in a reasonably short period of time.
Making an Appointment
To make an appointment at the health center, call 207-796-5503 during our normal business hours which are listed on the Our Healthcare Center page. A real person will answer the phone, ask you a few questions, and make an appointment for you.
Your First Visit
If this is your first visit to St. Croix Regional Family Health Center, you should plan to arrive 15 minutes early. This will allow time for you to complete the patient registration form. This form will provide important information for your health record and to your healthcare provider. Bring all of your current medicines and any other healthcare information that will help the providers to become familiar with your healthcare status.
St. Croix Regional Family Health Center Good Faith Estimate
Call 207-796-5503 to Request a Good Faith Estimate for St. Croix Services
Starting on January 1, 2022, the No Surprises Act’ (NSA) protects uninsured (or self-pay) individuals from many unexpectedly high medical bills. The Act requires that health care providers and facilities give uninsured (or self-pay) individuals an estimate for the cost of their health care before the individual agrees to get the item or service. Throughout this document the term “providers” also includes providers of air ambulance services People with insurance may also ask for an estimate, which will generally be shared with the insurance plan.
If the uninsured (or self-pay) individual is billed for an amount at least $400 above the estimate, the individual may be eligible to start a Patient-Provider Dispute Resolution (PPDR) process by submitting a request to HHS and paying a small administrative fee. The PPDR process is handled by a third-party company certified by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
This company will decide if the estimated amount, or billed amount, or another amount in between the estimated amount and billed amount should be paid.
Good Faith Estimates for Uninsured (or Self-Pay) Individuals
You are generally considered an uninsured or self-pay individual if you do not have health insurance, or do not plan to use your insurance to pay for a medical item or service. If you are an uninsured or self-pay individual, a provider or facility must give you a “good faith estimate” detailing what you may be charged before you receive the item or service.
The good faith estimate will include:
- A list of items and services that the scheduling provider or facility reasonably expects to provide you for that period of care.
- Applicable diagnosis codes and service codes.
- Expected charges or costs associated with each item or service from each provider and facility.
- A notification that if the billed charges are higher than the good faith estimate, you can ask your provider or facility to update the bill to match the good faith estimate, ask to negotiate the bill, or ask if there is financial assistance available.
- Information on how to dispute your bill if it is at least $400 higher for any provider or facility than the good faith estimate you received from that provider or facility.
If you get a bill that is at least $400 more for any provider of facility than the total expected charges for that provider or facility on the good faith estimate, there is a new patient-provider dispute resolution (PPDR) process available to you. Under the Patient-Provider Dispute Resolution (PPDR) process, you may request a payment review and decision from an independent company certified by HHS. These companies are referred to as Selected Dispute Resolution (SDR) entities. The SDR entity will decide what amount you must pay if your bill is at least $400 more for any provider or facility than your good faith estimate from that provider or facility.
Does the PPDR process apply to people with health insurance?
The Patient-Provider Dispute Resolution_(PPDR) process is set up for:
- People without health insurance.
- People with health insurance who receive an item or service that isn’t covered by their plan or coverage.
- People with health insurance who plan to not use their plan or coverage to pay for a portion or all of the costs for the item or service.
People with health insurance includes those with:
- A group health plan (a plan through their employer or union),
- Group or individual health insurance coverage offered by a health insurance issuer,
- A Federal health care program (such as Medicaid, Medicare or TRICARE), or
- A health benefits plan under a Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program.
Note: Enrollees in Federal health care programs are not eligible to receive a good faith estimate as there are other surprise billing protections under these programs.
Where can an uninsured (or self-pay) individual find information about a good faith estimate?
If you have questions about the cost of items or services, your provider or facility must inform you in writing or orally about requesting a good faith estimate.
When can you expect a good faith estimate?
If you schedule an item or service at least 3 business days before the date you will receive the item or service, you must be given a good faith estimate no later than 1 business day after scheduling. If you schedule the item or service at least 10 business days before the date you will receive it, or request cost information about an item or service, the provider or facility must give you a good faith estimate no later than 3 business days after scheduling or requesting.
Is the good faith estimate a bill?
No. The good faith estimate shows the costs of items and services that your provider or facility expects to charge you for an item or service. The estimate should be based on information known at the time the estimate was created and does not include any unknown or unexpected costs that may arise during the course of treatment. For example, an individual could be charged more if complications or special circumstances occur.