At Mia Bella Pediatrics, we embrace FAMILY-CENTERED CARE, and strive to work TOGETHER as a team with our families to provide skilled and compassionate care that not only meets but exceeds the pediatric standard of care. In doing so, we respect each family’s innate strengths, view the health care experience as an opportunity to build on these strengths, and support families in their care-giving and decision-making roles. We apply this approach in ALL situations, including care for our newborns in multiple birth settings. This could include not only the delivery of the newborn by an Obstetrician within the traditional hospital setting, but also midwifery care by a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) for birth in a hospital setting, an in-hospital Birth Center, or a freestanding Birth Center. Mia Bella Pediatrics has established long-standing, working relationships with multiple CNMs than now span over 15 years, and believes excellent care can best be achieved through continuing efforts by all participating health care providers to develop and sustain communications and understanding on the basis of professional interaction and mutual respect.
As per the guidelines from both the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), hospitals and birthing centers are the safest settings for birth in the United States. In addition, both AAP and ACOG support provision of care only by midwives who are certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board (Certified Nurse Midwives).
Lastly, as we support our families in their decision-making roles for the care of their newborns, we also embrace our role as child advocates and believe every newborn infant deserves health care that adheres to the standards as set forth by the American Academy of Pediatrics, as detailed in their Guidelines for Perinatal Care (1) and Policy Statement on Home Birth (3), outlined below:
Care of the newborn infant immediately after delivery should adhere to standards of practice as described in Guidelines for Perinatal Care (1). Subsequent newborn care should also adhere to these AAP standards, as well as to the AAP statement regarding Care of the Well Newborn Infant (2). A few practice points are worthy of specific mention:
We work hard to not overuse antibiotics.
We educate families on appropriate use of antibiotics, but follow evidence-based guidelines and don’t automatically treat ear pain or a green snotty nose with antibiotics.
We do not routinely prescribe antibiotics over the phone as we do not believe that is good medicine. We will prescribe an antibiotic when we believe it is an appropriate treatment.
Everyone's Time is Equally Valuable.
We ask that you arrive 10-15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time. We understand sometimes things happen beyond your control that may cause you to be late. However, we reserve the right to ask you to reschedule if you arrive late for your appointment.
Our practice makes every effort to run on time with appointments, as we believe everyone’s time is equally valuable.
Upcoming Appointments Via Phone/Text Message/Email
Missed Appointments: Broken appointments represent a cost to us, to you, and to other patients who could have been seen in the time set aside for you. As such, a fee for canceled or missed appointments will be charged. We request 24 hours notice for cancellation of appointments.
Multiple missed appointment may result in discharge from the practice.
All co-payments are expected at time of service. For your convenience, Mia Bella Pediatrics accepts cash, personal checks, and Visa/MasterCard debit and credit cards. Surcharges will be assessed for returned checks or co-payments not made at time of service.
Our contracts with insurance companies require that we verify your current coverage and collect your co-payment at each visit. If your insurance plan requires deductibles and coinsurance, you will be asked to leave a credit card on file so we can charge the assessed patient responsibility after your payer returns the Explanation of Benefits. We do not store credit card numbers in our office, but we use a secure link to access the information when we need to process a charge. Please bring your insurance card to every appointment.
If you would like to contact our biller, Christine, please call 949-584-9641 or call our front office at 949-206-0001.
Download our payments and billing policy.
Fees for Non-Covered Services
The following fees will be charged for services that are not covered by insurance:
Mia Bella Pediatrics' HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) Privacy Policy outlines how patient health information (PHI) is protected and managed in compliance with federal law, and includes these key components:
1. Patient Rights:
- Access: Parents or guardians can request and obtain copies of their child's medical records.
- Amendment: Patients (or their legal representatives) have the right to request corrections to medical records if they believe there are errors.
- Restrictions: Individuals can request restrictions on how their health information is used and disclosed, though the office may not be required to agree to all requests.
2. Use and Disclosure of PHI:
- Treatment: Information may be shared among healthcare providers for the purpose of providing medical care.
- Payment: PHI can be disclosed to insurance companies to obtain payment for services provided.
- Healthcare Operations: Information may be used internally for improving care, quality assessments, training, etc.
- Authorized Uses: Written authorization is needed from the parent or guardian for any use of PHI not otherwise permitted or required by law.
3. Confidentiality & Security:
- Safeguards: Mia Bella Pediatrics has physical, technical, and administrative safeguards in place to protect patient information, including secure electronic records systems and staff training.
- Minimum Necessary Rule: When using or disclosing PHI, Mia Bella Pediatrics only shares the minimum necessary information.
4. Third-Party Sharing:
- Information may be shared with other healthcare providers, specialists, or labs involved in a child’s care, but only under appropriate privacy standards.
- Business associates (like billing services) must comply with HIPAA and sign agreements to ensure PHI protection.
5. Parents' Access:
- Generally, parents or guardians have access to their child’s medical records, until age 18 years old, unless otherwise restricted by law (e.g., cases involving certain adolescent privacy rights or legal exceptions).
6. Complaints:
- There are procedures for filing complaints if a patient believes their PHI rights have been violated, either with our office’s privacy officer or the Department of Health and Human Services.
7. Policy Updates:
- Our office will inform patients (or guardians) of any changes to our privacy policy.
Mia Bella Pediatrics’ HIPAA policy ensures compliance with laws governing the privacy and security of health information while providing necessary information to those involved in a child's care.
Efficiency through the use of technology
You will be encouraged to consult our website, register for and use our patient portal, and effectively use automated reminders for appointments and for routine care/immunizations that are due.