FOR PATIENTS
PATIENT RESOURCES
At Core Clinical Partners, we are committed to supporting not just hospitals and clinicians—but the patients they serve. While your care is delivered inside the hospital, many of the physicians and advanced practice providers you meet may work for Core Clinical Partners.
We understand that billing can be confusing, and we’re here to help clarify the process. Below, you’ll find helpful links, a glossary of terms, and answers to common questions to help you better understand your bill and your rights as a patient.
HOW TO READ MY BILL
We want to make sure you understand every part of your bill. Below is a breakdown of key terms you may find on your statement:
Account Number
Your unique patient or billing ID used by the healthcare provider.
Balance Bill
A bill for the difference between what your provider charges and what your insurance covers. Often occurs when seeing out-of-network providers. Protected against in many cases under the No Surprises Act.
Balance Due
The amount you owe after insurance payments and adjustments.
Billed Charges / Total Charges
The total amount the healthcare provider charges before insurance discounts.
Coinsurance
Your share of the cost of a covered service, calculated as a percentage (e.g., 20%) and paid after your deductible is met.
Copayment (Copay)
A fixed fee you pay for a covered healthcare service, usually at the time of the visit (e.g., $20 for a doctor visit).
CPT Code
Standardized codes representing medical procedures or services provided.
Date of Service (DOS)
The date you received the medical care or procedure.
Deductible
The amount you must pay for healthcare services out-of-pocket before your health insurance begins to pay.
Explanation of Benefits (EOB)
A summary from your health insurance company showing what was billed, what they paid, and what you may owe.
Good Faith Estimate
An estimate of expected charges for medical services, provided before scheduled care if you are uninsured or self-paying.
In-Network
Providers or facilities that have a contract with your insurance plan to provide services at a discounted rate.
Insurance Adjustments / Contractual Allowance
Discounts providers apply based on agreements with your insurance.
Out-of-Network
Providers or facilities not contracted with your insurance plan, often resulting in higher out-of-pocket costs.
Paid Amount / Insurance Payment
The amount your insurance company paid toward your bill.
Patient Responsibility
The portion of the bill you are responsible for paying, including copays, coinsurance, and any amount not covered by insurance.
Primary Insurance
The health plan that pays first on a medical claim.
Provider
The healthcare professional or facility that provided your care.
Secondary Insurance
A second health plan that may cover costs not paid by your primary insurance.
Service Description
A brief summary of the medical service you received.
Surprise Bill
An unexpected charge from an out-of-network provider at an in-network facility or during an emergency.
Units
The quantity of services or procedures performed.
Write-Off
The amount the provider forgives or doesn’t charge you, often due to an agreement with your insurance company.
Frequently asked questions (faq)
What is Core Clinical Partners? What does Core do for patients?
Core Clinical Partners is a physician services group. We partner with hospitals to provide emergency and hospital medicine services. That means while your care was delivered at the hospital, the provider who treated you may be employed by Core.
Why am I receiving multiple bills for the same visit?
It’s common for patients to receive multiple bills for the same hospital visit. You may receive a bill from the hospital for facility charges and a separate one from us for the physician or advanced practice provider who cared for you.
What are my rights? What are surprise bills or balance bills?
Under the No Surprises Act, patients are protected from unexpected out-of-network charges in many situations. A surprise bill (also called a balance bill) can occur when a patient receives care from an out-of-network provider at an in-network hospital or receives emergency services without the ability to choose the provider. Patients have the right to be informed in advance if a provider is out-of-network and to only be billed their in-network cost share in most emergency and hospital settings.
What is the different between primary and secondary insurance?
When a patient has more than one health insurance plan, the primary insurance is billed first and pays according to the patient’s benefits. The secondary insurance is billed next and may cover remaining costs. It’s important to keep both plans updated in the patient’s records so billing can be done correctly.
I have health insurance – why do I still have a balance?
Even with health insurance, patients may still owe a balance if their deductible hasn’t been met, if their plan requires a copay or coinsurance, if some services weren’t fully covered, or if complete insurance information was not received. Patients should check their Explanation of Benefits (EOB) or contact Billing for clarification.
Need more help understanding billing terms?
Here are some more common terms you might see on your medical bill. If you have questions, please contact our team at billing@coreclinicalpartners.com.
Balance Bill
A bill for the difference between what your provider charges and what your insurance covers. Often occurs when seeing out-of-network providers. Protected against in many cases under the No Surprises Act.
Copay (Copayment)
A fixed amount you pay for a covered healthcare service, usually at the time of service (e.g., $20 for a doctor visit).
Coinsurance
Your share of the costs of a covered service, calculated as a percentage (e.g., 20% of the allowed amount).
Deductible
The amount you must pay for healthcare services before your health insurance starts to pay.
Explanation of Benefits (EOB)
A summary from your health insurance company showing what was billed, what they paid, and what you may owe.
In-Network
Providers or facilities that have a contract with your health insurance plan to provide services at a discounted rate.
Out-of-Network
Providers or facilities not contracted with your insurance plan, often resulting in higher costs.
Primary Insurance
The health plan that pays first on a claim for medical care.
Secondary Insurance
A second health plan that may pay after the primary insurance has paid its share.
Surprise Bill
An unexpected charge from an out-of-network provider at an in-network facility or during an emergency situation.
Good Faith Estimate
An estimate of charges you can expect for medical items and services, provided before scheduled care if you are uninsured or self-paying.
STILL HAVE A billing question?
Our dedicated billing team is here to provide you with the answers and assistance you need. Please call, email, or complete the following form and someone from our team will be in touch with you shortly.