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FAQ Regarding Diagnostic Ultrasounds
BILLING AND INSURANCE INFORMATION
At Lewis Clark Imaging, we are committed to being your partner in healthcare. We are pleased to announce that we now participate in various medical insurance plans and are equipped to handle insurance claims for radiology services.
We understand that navigating insurance processes can be complex, so we want to offer some guidance to help streamline your billing experience. Please note that even if your insurance plan authorizes and covers your exam or procedure, you remain responsible for any co-payment, co-insurance, or deductible amount specified by your insurance plan. We encourage you to verify your coverage directly with your health plan.
Should you have any questions or concerns regarding your insurance coverage or billing, we are available to assist you. It's essential for us to have your current insurance information on file to ensure accurate filing of your claim.
We continue to emphasize our competitive cash-based pricing and accept all major credit cards, checks, or cash for your convenience. Payment is required by day of the appointment. If you'd like we can provide an itemized statement to submit directly to your insurance company for reimbursement. Please be advised, depending on your coverage, your insurance carrier may or may not acknowledge the claim. Although we will try to help you, we cannot be responsible for any reimbursements, or lack there, from your insurance group.
Thank you for choosing Lewis Clark Imaging for your radiology needs. We look forward to serving you and ensuring a seamless experience from appointment to billing.
All-Inclusive Pricing!
We are the ONLY free-standing imaging center offering true price transparency with our “know before you go pricing” and zero hidden fees.
Be Your Own Patient Advocate
The next time your provider orders an MRI or ultrasound you should ask them how much will it cost. Don’t be surprised if they have no idea. However, they will most likely suggest where you should go and often it is a hospital or outpatient imaging center they are affiliated with. Keep in mind, your provider is more concerned with the results of the tests they order, not the price.
The bottom line is that you should decide, not your provider, where you go and who will provide you with the most affordable and professional care.
Why Should I Pay Upfront If I Have Health Insurance?
Today, individuals and families are increasingly transitioning to a high deductible health plan (also known as a HDHP), either by choice or due to employer options, to lower the monthly cost of their insurance coverage. A high deductible health plan means exactly what the name implies. You will pay out a high amount of money (deductible) before the insurance plan starts paying for your medical bills. For example, if you have an individual plan with a deductible of $4,000 and you receive a medical bill in the amount of $1,200 for an ultrasound, the insurance company will not pay anything until you reach your deductible. Therefore, you will pay the entire amount out-of-pocket. Would you rather pay $1,200 for an ultrasound or would you rather pay $399? In other words, would you like to keep $801 in your pocket or give it to a hospital? This is a considerable savings by most accounts.
THE SCIENCE OF ULTRASOUND
What is an ultrasound?
Ultrasound (also called sonography or a sonogram) uses sound waves and a machine to create images of internal organs and blood vessels. It has a variety of applications for almost all the organs in your body. Ultrasound can be used to detect abnormalities in the different tissues of your body as well as evaluate fetal anatomy and growth during pregnancy. An ultrasound gel is placed on the the area being examined to allow for smooth movement and to eliminate air between the skin and the camera, also known as a transducer. The transducer sends out ultrasound waves at a frequency too high to be heard. The waves move through the body to the organs and structures within. The sound waves bounce off the organs like an echo and return to the transducer. The transducer then processes the reflected waves, which are then converted by a computer into an image of the organs or tissues being examined. The sound waves travel at different speeds depending on the type of tissue encountered - fastest through bone and slowest through air. The speed at which the sound waves are returned to the transducer, as well as how much of the sound wave returns, is translated by the transducer as different types of tissues. Another type of ultrasound is doppler ultrasound, sometimes called a duplex study, is used to show the presence of blood flow as well as the speed and direction of blood flow through structures of the body. Unlike a standard ultrasound, some sound waves during a doppler study are audible. Ultrasound may be safely used during pregnancy o in the presence of allergies to contrast dye, because no radiation or contrast dyes are used.
When is it used?
Ultrasound has a wide range of applications in the body, from head to toe! It helps clinicians assess the organs and blood vesels in the abdomen (liver, kidneys, spleen, gallbladder, bile ducts, aorta, pancreas, and more!). It also evaluates organs in the pelvis such as the uterus, ovaries, bladder, and prostate. Most obstetricians perform a routine diagnostic ultrasound to assess accurate dating of an early pregnancy as well as evaluate the growing fetus and maternal anatomy. Th breast, thyroid bland, and scrotum are well evaluated with ultrasound, as are soft tissue masses anywhere on the body. Ultrasound is also very useful in study both arteries and veins throughout the neck, chest, abdomen, and extremities.
Examples of ultrasound study types & purpose
Doppler ultrasound: to visualize blood flow through a vessel. Abdominal ultrasound: to evaluate the gallbladder, liver, and other abdominal organs. Thyroid ultrasound: to evaluate and monitor nodules. Fetal ultrasound: to view and measure the growing fetus in pregnancy. And many more!
What happens during an ultrasound test?
A water-based gel is applied to the skin over the area to be examined to block any air between the skin and transducer, the eliminate friction on the skin, and provide the best quality images. The technologist will then place the transducer over the area to be examined in several different ways to image the body. Different transducers are used to image different parts of the body.
What are the benefits and risks?
There is no ionizing radiation exposure with an ultrasound. Ultrasounds are painless and have the highest safety use in all of radiologic imaging. However, we still practice prudent use of the ultrasound and specific modes of imaging, especially for diagnostic obstetrical sonography.
ELECTIVE OBSTETRICS | SEE YOUR BABY AT ANY TIME
FAQ Regarding 3D Ultrasounds
For your convenience, we’ve put together a list of some common questions and answers. Can’t find what you’re looking for? Drop us a line and we'll be happy to find the answer for you.
What is the difference between 2D, 3D, and 4D ultrasound?
We get a lot of questions regarding what the difference is between 2D, 3D, and 4D ultrasound! So, we're going to answer that for you! 2D Black & White (B&W) ultrasounds are the traditional images that are used for diagnostic purposes and where you will see a cute picture of baby's profile or gender! 3D ultrasound is a still image that shows the surface features of a baby's face, hands, and body! 4D ultrasound is where you see the surface features of the baby, but you are watching a real-time video of what baby is doing! This is where we can watch baby yawn, smile, or suck its thumb! We use all of these technologies here at LCI to ensure the best quality images and give you the best experience possible!
Does my gender reveal or 3D/4D ultrasound replace the one with my provider?
No. This is strictly an elective ultrasound for the purpose of bonding and sharing this exciting time with your family! You will have to sign a waiver stating your understanding of the non-diagnostic nature of these ultrasounds and that you are under the care of a Midwife or OB/GYN. Your diagnostic anatomy ultrasound will go through and check all the internal anatomy of the baby, from the heart and other internal organs to the brain and it's structures, to make sure your baby is healthy. With LCI, our elective 3D/4D ultrasound is focused solely on the external features and movements in order to cultivate a bond between the mother, the family, and the baby!
What do I need to do to prepare for my session?
DRINK LOTS OF WATER!!! We cannot stress this enough. To improve your chances of getting great 3D/4D pictures you need to drink lots of water and stay hydrated. We recommend, for at least the 2 weeks leading up to your ultrasound session, to drink a minimum of 64oz of water a day. This will help maintain good fluid levels around the baby, which is needed to obtain good pictures!
What will determine the quality of the pictures?
Unfortunately, not all ultrasound sessions will look like the ones you see in magazines or when you google search. With the best technology and with registered sonographers, we believe your chances are great at achieving some beautiful images with LCI! Although, there are several factors, out of mine and your control that will affect the quality of the images. These are... 1. Position of the baby. The baby's position has the greatest impact on image quality. Many babies cooperate with lots of open face views, smiles and yawns. Others however, hide behind feet, hands and the placenta. Some baby's sleep through their sessions... while others press their face right against the uterine wall. And yet others will face the mother's spine, giving us a great view of their back. If your baby is not in a good position, our sonographers will work to safely encourage the baby to change position. 2. Tissue density. Since ultrasound waves must pass through the skin and uterine wall to reach the baby, the composition and thickness of skin tissue and the uterine wall can impact image quality. 3. Amniotic fluid levels. The amount of fluid surrounding the baby will also impact image quality. The more fluid, the better, which is why we encourage our Moms-to-be to increase their fluid intake during the weeks leading up to their session!
What is your cancellation policy?
You must either call, message, or email at least 24 hours in advance of your scheduled session if you need to cancel or reschedule. Cancellations under 24 hours and no-shows will be charged a $50 sitting fee.
What if you can't tell the gender of my baby?
We will bring you back free of charge until we are confident! Please schedule at least 3 days prior to any scheduled or planned gender reveal parties you might be having. We want to be confident in the gender prior to your celebration.