Candlewood Valley Pediatrics follows the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) schedule of well-child care, which includes yearly checkups after age 3.
These are important visits to help keep children healthy and safe. The visits also give us the opportunity to focus on development, nutrition, and exercise and to give anticipatory guidance to prevent future issues as well as review ongoing management of existing medical diagnoses.
Because these PREVENTIVE SERVICES are so important to the wellbeing of our nation’s children, the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act (ACA) includes a rule requiring that all preventive care screening services and vaccines must be covered by most insurance companies. The ACA also stipulates that if PROBLEM ORIENTED SERVICES, which are more complicated and involve more time or expertise (i.e., chronic headaches, stomach pains, psychological/school problems) occur at the time of the well-child visit, the provider may need to charge for that additional service. This is because such services are treated differently by insurance companies and usually require a separate code and charge in addition to the checkup. Depending on the insurance plan, the patient may be required to pay any applicable copay, coinsurance, or deductible.
Aside from the insurance implications, complicated, non-preventive issues should be attended to at a separate visit so that they may be adequately addressed. If such a concern is identified at a well-child visit, we may ask you to schedule a separate extended sick visit to thoroughly evaluate the concern. If a concern develops at home, please do not wait until the well-child visit to have it addressed.
Your child’s health and wellness are our top priority. Adhering to the AAP’s schedule of well-child visits and scheduling appropriate problem oriented services as they arise are important steps in providing your child with the tools needed for healthy development.
Thank you
