FAQs

This section of our website has been dedicated to answering some of the common questions parents and families may have regarding their children.

I’m expecting a new baby. Do I need to see the doctor before I deliver?

We welcome prospective parents to make an appointment with our office for a meet-and-greet. Once you choose our practice, give our office information to the registration desk at the hospital when you go in to deliver or when you pre-register. They will contact us as soon as your baby is born.

What hours is your office open?

We are open Monday-Friday from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM. We offer telemedicine for relevant cases. We are not open on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.

Will I always see the same provider?

Most patients see the same doctor for appointments made ahead of time. This is part of our Medical Home philosophy, allowing us to establish rapport with families and to best know kids’ personalities and medical history. We all share the same goals and medical values.

Can I just walk in with a child in the case of an emergency?

We ask that you please call our office to find out if we can see your child. We are accustomed to fitting patients in throughout the day, as that is the nature of a pediatric practice. If you really think it is an emergency, go to the emergency room, which is best equipped to handle true emergencies.

What if I just have a question?

Our triage nurses stand by the phones during all office hours and are prepared to answer any and every question. No question is too big or too small. Our nurses typically return calls within a few minutes and do consult a doctor when needed.

We also encourage patients to use the portal for non-urgent messages. We will reply within 24 hours as much as possible. We also offer telemedicine.

How do you handle after-hours calls?

After office hours, we ask you to call only if it is a reasonable concern or emergency. We understand that when it comes to children, emergencies can and do occur. For urgent medical questions and concerns, medical providers can be reached 24 hours a day during non-office hours by calling our Answering Service at (315) 591-4908.

How often do you see infants in the first year?

After discharge from the hospital, we ask that you schedule your first visit to the office with your infant within one week. We check that your baby is gaining back his or her birth weight and discuss any questions, issues or expectations you may have. We also have our lactation consultants available for moms who are breastfeeding, and a lactation room for nursing moms. The next routine well-child exams occur at one month, two months, four months, six months, nine months, and twelve months. Each visit helps us answer questions, check on your child’s development, and follow our immunization schedule.

What about school forms, school forms, or immunization records?

We will gladly complete these forms for you. In order to do this, your child should have had a well-child visit within the past 12 months. Visits for an illness address a specific problem and are not comprehensive enough for us to complete these forms. Forms can be emailed, mailed, or faxed.

Which insurance plans do you take?

We accept most insurance companies. For any questions you may have regarding billing information, please call our office at (315) 216-6865 to speak to our biller or email md@juniopeds.com.

We participate in most healthcare plans offered in the area. It is advisable to notify your insurance carrier of your baby’s arrival and that you have selected one of our pediatricians as your child’s PCP (primary care physician) to ensure maximum coverage for health care costs. Some policies will not cover the expenses for your baby unless notified within 30 days of birth. We also require that you notify us (by copy of the front and back of your insurance card) any time a change is made to your insurance plan or carrier. We ask that you familiarize yourself with the coverage of your plan and its restrictions. You are ultimately responsible for services that are not a covered benefit. Please be sure to bring your insurance identification card with you to each visit.

How do you handle co-pays or fees?

Your insurance company expects the payment of your copay at the time of service, as do we. Our policy is not to bill for co-pays, but if we must, a billing fee will be added to your charge. We accept cash, checks, American Express, MasterCard, Visa, and Discover.
Fees for services rendered are based on the prevailing fee schedule for this area. Payment is expected at the time of the visit. You may pay by cash, check, or American Express, MasterCard, Visa, and Discover. In the cases of divorced parents, we expect the parent or person who brings the child to the office to pay any fees. All co-pays must be paid at the time of the child’s visit regardless of who accompanies the child. In the event that a friend or relative brings your child to the office, we ask that person to be responsible for paying the bill or co-pay. Please save your cash receipts. For your convenience, you may keep your credit card information in your file and sign an authorization that allows us to charge your account for your co-pays or co-insurance.