My insurance company won't pay the bill, now the doctor is billing me! Can the Medical Board stop the doctor from billing me or sending my account to a collection agency?

Medical procedures are defined in your health care contract with your insurance carrier. Most insurance handbooks give a list of “excluded” procedures – procedures that, if provided, the patient must pay. You should read your benefits brochure or contact the insurance company's "Coverage Verification Office" prior to agreeing to have a procedure. Patients should not rely solely on the information provided by the physician's office, as ultimately, you are financially responsible for all authorized medical procedures. The ultimate responsibility is on the patient to know what procedures the insurance company will or will not cover. The Georgia Medical Board has no authority to intervene in insurance or billing disputes between a physician and a patient.