Policies & Forms
Learn about the policies that help us provide your children with the very best of care.
Online Patient Forms & Downloads
For your convenience, you can complete our secure forms online. Questions about which forms you might need? Please call our office and we will assist you in preparing for your child’s visit.
New Patient Forms
- To help expedite your child’s first visit, please complete these forms before you arrive for your appointment.
- New Patient Registration Packet
TX Immunization Registry
Policy Documents
Insurance & Billing
We are committed to providing the best possible care and service to you, and appreciate your understanding of your financial responsibilities as an essential part of your child’s care. If you have any questions concerning these policies, please contact our office.
Your Responsibilities
- To know the limits and coverage of your particular health insurance policy.
- To show your insurance cards to us at each visit.
- To pay any copays or deductibles at the time of service.
- To provide updated address, phone numbers, and insurance information to our office.
Insurance
- We accept most commercial insurance plans. We are not accepting new patients with any marketplace, HMO or any form of Medicaid plans.
- While we do accept most insurance plans, it is your responsibility to make sure our provider is in-network under your specific plan. This will ensure the most cost-effective coverage.
- We will submit your medical claim to your primary insurance company for you. We do not file secondary insurance.
- If you have any questions about the plans we accept, please call our office.
Billing
- We will get a general quote of benefits before your child is seen by the physician and your copay/deductible/coinsurance is due at time of service. We also will collect payment in full from our self-pay patients, unless payment arrangements are made in advance.
- Your child’s welfare is our number one priority. We will try to work with parents when financial hardships arise. Please let our office know if your financial situation changes and we can set up payment arrangements.
Office Visits
Appointments Are Required
We will make every effort to see sick patients on a same-day basis. Well child visits should be scheduled in advance as much as possible. Please call our office to schedule your child’s appointment anytime during our normal business hours, or for your convenience, you may schedule appointments from our patient portal.
Mutual Respect of Time
We strive to stay on schedule. Although there can be emergency situations that prevent us from running on time, we pledge to provide quality care with minimal wait time to the best of our ability.
To respect your time, we make the following requests:
- Arrive early or on time for your appointments. If you are going to be more than 15 minutes late, please call our office so we can reschedule your appointment.
- Some visits may require more time. Please inform the receptionist when scheduling an appointment if your child has a detailed problem such as a mental health issue or learning disability, or is in need of a procedure. This enables us to plan accordingly.
- If you plan on having additional children seen at your appointment, please let us know in advance so we can better accommodate your family.
- If you cannot make your appointment, please contact the office as soon as possible so we can use this appointment for another child. Failure to cancel your appointment will result in a “No Show.” A third “No Show” will result in dismissal from ABC Pediatrics.
Phone Nurse
A nurse is available to answer your questions during our normal business hours. Because these calls are returned in order of medical urgency, you will be asked to leave a message. Please understand, we have many messages left on a daily basis, so you may receive a call back towards the end of the day. If you feel your child will need to be seen in the office, please schedule an appointment.
Prescription Refills
You can quickly and easily request medication refills and renewals from our patient portal. Or call our office and speak with one of our friendly team members.
ADHD Medications & Follow-Ups
We see and evaluate children with ADHD. We also prescribe medicine for this disorder if we have diagnosed ADHD. Since the medicines to treat ADHD are controlled substances and have strict laws governing them, we need to see ADHD patients every three (3) months. We request a 24-hour notice prior to filling this medication. This medication can be requested by calling our office during normal business hours or by logging into the patient portal and sending the request. As long as your child is up to date on their well exam, these visits can be done either via telehealth or in person.
Telehealth Visits
For your convenience, we offer telehealth for mental health and ADHD visits. Before your scheduled appointment, you will receive a text message from your provider with instructions and a link to connect.
- Your phone or computer’s camera and audio must be enabled.
- Good lighting is helpful. Place the light in front of you and your child, rather than behind you.
- Our telehealth visits are secure and HIPAA-compliant, but it’s important to consider any privacy needs in your space as well.
Medical Record Requests
All medical records requests must be submitted in writing. You may fill out a medical records release in our office or online. Once we receive this form, we will complete your request as quickly as possible.
- There is a $25 fee per child for individuals requesting and personally picking up records.
- There is not a charge for sending these records to a physician’s office (for the first request).
- There will be a $25 fee per child for sending records to a physician any time thereafter.
After-Hours Care
If your child’s illness or injury is life threatening, dial 911.
Phone Triage
We are available to you 24/7 if your child has an acute illness, injury or other medical emergency. For urgent matters that cannot wait until business hours, we offer a telephone triage consultation service that puts you in touch with a pediatric trained triage nurse. Call our office and follow the prompts.
- Our triage service has access to an on-call physician for urgent matters regarding such attention.
- There is an after-hour charge that will be billed to your insurance company (including Medicaid plans) for this service. If your insurance company doesn’t cover this amount in full, you understand that you will be responsible for no more than $30 charge.
Health Education Tools
- Medication Dosage CalculatorBe confident that you are treating your child with the correct dose of Tylenol, Motrin, or Benadryl. We can guide you on how much to give, based on your child’s weight.
- Symptom CheckerUse this symptom checker to learn how serious your child’s symptoms are, whether you need to see the doctor, and how you can provide relief. Brought to you by the AAP and HealthyChildren.org.
- Reliable WebsitesOur recommendations for accurate online resources you can depend on.
Poison Control Hotline
(800) 222-1222
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Dial 988
www.988lifeline.org
Urgent Care Centers
[Details about recommended local urgent care centers or ERs can go here.]
Vaccines save lives.
As Pediatricians, our top priority is the health and safety of your children. One of the most effective ways to protect them from serious diseases is by ensuring they receive all recommended vaccines on time, without unnecessary delays or splitting doses.
We believe all children should receive the recommended vaccines according to the guidelines provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the CDC. Vaccines are safe and effective in preventing diseases and health complications in children and young adults. Regular vaccinations help children ward off infections, and are administered as one of the safest and best methods of disease prevention. We are happy to discuss any concerns about vaccines at your child’s next visit.
If you choose to split up your child’s vaccines outside of the AAP’s recommended immunization schedule, your child will be scheduled with a nurse for these visits. A nurse visit will be billed to your insurance company. Some insurance companies may not consider this visit as ‘preventative’ since it is not billed with a well exam. If your insurance company doesn’t cover the nurse visit in full, you understand that you will be responsible for no more than $20.
Resources
- Immunization ScheduleAmerican Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
- Vaccine Information StatementsCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Vaccine Safety: The FactsAmerican Academy of Pediatrics
- VaccinateYourFamily.orgHelping to protect people of all ages from vaccine-preventable diseases
- Institute for Vaccine SafetyJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
- Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
- Immunize.orgFormerly Immunization Action Coalition (IAC)
- Vaccine Education CenterChildren's Hospital of Philadelphia
Addressing Social Media Misinformation
Recently, social media has become a hotspot for misinformation about vaccines. Some posts claim that receiving multiple vaccines at once puts too much stress on a child’s immune system. However, scientific evidence does not support this claim. The immune system is equipped to handle multiple vaccines safely, and delaying or splitting them does not reduce side effects—it only increases the time a child remains vulnerable to disease. Misinformation can be harmful, so it’s important to rely on trusted sources like the CDC and AAP.
For further information on vaccine safety and the extensive research behind immunization schedules, visit this resource from the American Academy of Pediatrics: Vaccine Studies: Examine the Evidence.
Additionally, Dr. Paul Offit, a renowned expert in infectious diseases at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, provides clear explanations on vaccine safety and why following the recommended schedule is essential. Watch his video here: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia – Dr. Paul Offit.
Vaccine Safety and Effectiveness
Vaccines undergo rigorous testing and monitoring to ensure they are both safe and effective.
Protecting Your Child
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out through your web portal or ask your doctor at your well visit. We know that parents want to provide the best care for their children. We share that view. Our goal is to work together to keep your child healthy, happy, and protected.
ABC Pediatrics
Office Hours
Monday - Friday
8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Sick visits for established patients only
Sunday
Closed
We require an appointment for your child to be seen. Please call our office to schedule any appointments and our front desk staff will accommodate you to the best of their ability. For your convenience, you may also schedule sick visits, well exams, and flu shots from our patient portal.
We are closed on holidays, including the Saturday nearest July 4th and the Saturday nearest Christmas Day.
After-Hours Care
If your child’s illness or injury is life threatening, dial 911.
For urgent matters that cannot wait until business hours, call our office to speak with our answering service. They can put you in touch with a pediatric nurse to answer your questions.
Poison Control Hotline
(800) 222-1222
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Dial 988
www.988lifeline.org