Well Check Visits
APPOINTMENT PURPOSE
Well Checks, “Physicals” or Well Child exams, are intended to address overall basic health questions and preventative topics such as vaccines as well as fill out school forms.
Every Well Check visit for children under the age of 5 years will require a corresponding ASQ form (please see below).
Ongoing chronic conditions and/or acute ill symptoms are NOT intended to be reviewed at Well Check visits (this is defined by our government’s visit codes and reimbursement structures), nor is medication management. If, during the routine exam, symptoms are discovered they must be documented, and therefore they will be reflected in the billing of the visit.
SCHEDULING
Well Checks are due at the following ages: Birth, 1 month, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, 15 months, 18 months, 2 years, 2.5 years (IF your insurance offers coverage), 3 years, and once a year, every year after that.
All children should have 1 Well Check annually (after the age of 3), preferably shortly after their birthday! Having your child’s annual Well Check performed shortly after their birthday helps you remember when it should be scheduled! This also keeps the office from having an abundance of Well Checks around the start of the school year (making it easier to find a visit time that works for you).
Our schedule allows for only 2 siblings to have consecutive Well Checks on a given day, and they should be on the same providers’ schedule. If you need your children to see separate providers the visits can NOT be consecutive or should be scheduled on separate days.
If you believe your child is sick, please call to reschedule your Well Check, or change it to a Same Day Sick visit.
Please note, Dr. Carine no longer performs any Well Checks. ALL Well Checks will be scheduled with one of our wonderful Nurse Practitioners.
“Ages & Stages Questionnaires” (ASQ) Forms for Well Checks
WHAT IS THE ASQ?
In an effort to better serve our patients, we utilize the “Ages and Stages Developmental Screening Questionnaires” (ASQ). This developmental screening allows us to keep track of our patient’s progress in key developmental areas. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends these screenings. In our office, they are a requirement for Well Checks. Therefore, if we are the Primary Care Provider (PCP) for you child(ren), you must complete an ASQ with every Well Check from 2 months to 5 years of age.
WHEN SHOULD I COMPLETE THE ASQ?
If your child has an upcoming Well Check visit, we ask that you take some time with your child, before your appointment, to complete the tasks listed in this questionnaire. It is best to complete these as close to the appropriate age as possible, so you would want to do the 9 month form the weekend before his/her 9 month Well Check visit (or as close to the child’s 9 month age as possible). As mentioned before, these are required for Well Checks with our office. This screening will allow us to provide the best care for your child and we appreciate you taking the time to fully complete the questionnaire.
WHERE DO I GET THE ASQ?
When we have the opportunity, we will provide you with a copy in advance (when leaving previous Well Check). You may request one at your leisure as well. Otherwise, a copy will be given to you at check in on the day of the Well Check. Whenever possible, please bring the completed form with you to your child’s Well Check where we will score the screening and discuss the results during your visit.
IS THE ASQ COVERED BY INSURANCE?
We are finding that some insurance companies are not completely covering this preventive health questionnaire; often a portion of the cost is patient responsibility. If your insurance does not cover the billing, please contact us at that time and we will try to file an appeal. However, if they deny the appeal, it will be the patient’s responsibility.