Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

 

MVP Financial Policies

 

MVP Accepts the following insurances:

  • Aetna
  • Cigna
  • Emblem/GHI
  • Traditional Medicaid
  • Healthfirst and Healthfirst Leaf
  • Empire BCBS Healthplus
  • Empire BCBS Commercial
  • Fidelis
  • Oscar
  • Multiplan/PHCS
  • Magnacare
  • United/Oxford
  • 1199

MVP Credit Card on File FAQ

How do I enroll to have my credit card stored on file?

If you log into your child’s portal and select “Credit Card on File” from the various portal messages you can review our policy, consent to have your credit card on file and enter your credit card information. Otherwise, when you visit the office, you can complete the form in person.

Why did you introduce credit card on file?

We are trying to streamline our front desk process and help improve our patient experience, having a credit card on file will greatly help reduce wait time and paperwork. Going forward we can automatically process co-pays and payments.

How do I know a payment went thru?

We will send a receipt to your email after we process your payment.

What if I have a large balance?

We will charge any amount under $100, for any larger amount we will contact your directly. If you approve the larger amount, we will process the payment. If you cannot pay the sum all at once then we will work with you to set up a payment plan.

What if you are concerned you were charged an incorrect amount?

If you review your email receipt and think there was an error, please call our office. We are always willing to discuss your bill and payments. If any mistake was made, we can correct the error and refund you immediately.

What if I don’t want to give you my credit card information?

Hopefully the convenience of having a credit card on file will appeal to all of our families. However, if you have any concerns, we are happy to answer any questions , please contact us during regular business hours.

Credit Card on File Authorization Form

All are Welcome Here

In recent months many pediatric practices have started charging annual fees to families in their practice. These fees are meant to cover the extra work pediatricians do outside of business hours; phone calls, portal messages, and forms are all time-consuming and add an extra layer of work on top of the day-to-day visits and chart completion. Due to the increasingly common nature of these fees, we have had multiple inquiries from families in our practice about whether MVP plans on instating an annual fee.

The short answer is–NO

MVP has no plans to start charging an annual fee to our families. There are many reasons behind this decision, but most importantly we value caring for families of all socioeconomic classes. We accept almost every insurance, including multiple Medicaid and exchange plans. It is impossible for us to charge a fee without breaching insurance contracts with Medicaid plans. So, please, be assured there are no annual fees in MVP’s future.

Explanation of MVP’s Office Fees

All the fees we charge are listed below, as well as in the registration paperwork you receive when registering for the practice:

1. Form Fee: $10 for forms requested at any time including during the well visit
2. Expedited Form Fee: $25 for a form needed within 48 hours
3. No Show Fee: $50 if you cancel < 24 hours before or no show for a well visit
(valid for non-Medicaid health plans)

We hope you understand that our fees are in place to cover the extra work and time needed to complete forms in addition to the day-to-day operations of our office. The No Show Fee is in place to discourage families from missing appointments, resulting in delayed well visits and empty spots in our schedule. If, for any reason, these fees are financially prohibitive for your family, please let our front office know, and we will figure out a mutually agreeable solution.


Spring 2024 Updated Form Fee Policy

Effective immediately, Manhattan Valley Pediatrics has implemented a revised policy regarding form submissions during Well Care appointments. To streamline administrative processes and ensure the timely completion of necessary paperwork, there will be a charge of $10 for each form that requires filling out.

Policy Details:

  1. Fee Structure:

    • A fee of $10 will be charged for each form submitted for completion.

    • The fee is applicable per form, regardless of the number of forms submitted for a child.

    • For example, if two forms are submitted for a child, the fee will be $20.

  2. Payment Procedure:

    • The form completion fee must be paid at the time requested.

    • Payment can be made via cash, credit card, or other accepted payment methods.

  3. Exceptions:

    • Certain forms required for medical or legal purposes may be exempt from this fee. Please inquire with our staff for further clarification.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we strive to provide efficient and comprehensive healthcare services. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or require further assistance regarding this policy update.

Thank you for choosing Manhattan Valley Pediatrics.

Please feel free to reach out if you have any further questions about MVP’s fees.

MVP Services

 

We at MVP believe in evidence based medicine, which has firmly shown the safety of vaccines. We believe vaccinating children and adolescents is one of our main responsibilities as your pediatrician. In order to best protect our patients, we require families to vaccinate their children. We strongly encourage following the CDC and AAP vaccination schedule. While we do not believe in any benefit of separating vaccines, we believe in working with families to provide care that is supportive and allows us to grow together. To this end, we can bring your children back for additional vaccine appointments if you chose to separate vaccines, though we do not encourage this as it leaves your children at risk for serious illness. If you are unable to commit to completing vaccines by the end of the year in which they are required, we cannot care for your children in this practice. We look forward to working together to keep your family healthy and thriving.

Manhattan Valley Pediatrics administers COVID vaccines for everyone, patients, non patients, and adults. To schedule a vaccine, please contact the office

We are excited to be offering Walk-In Appointments! These appointments follow the rules of “ones” meaning 1 per week, per concern. Examples of appropriate walk in issues would be: sore throat, ear pain, vomiting, rash. Examples of inappropriate walk in issues would be: chronic constipation, depression, headache for more than a week. Walk in appointments are available

Monday- Thursday:  8am – 5pm

Friday: 8-4

Saturday: 9-11

Feel comfortable with safe, sanitary ear piercing by our wonderful trained piercing professionals. Ear piecing is currently scheduled for select Saturdays. Please call (917) 921-6219 or email the office at info@manhattanvalleypediatrics.com to schedule an appointment.


Make an appointment with any of our providers who can help assess and treat your child's warts and/or molluscum. Please call (917) 921-6219 or email the office at info@manhattanvalleypediatrics.com to schedule an appointment.

Regular Hours

Monday – Thursday: 8am – 8pm
Friday: 8am – 5pm
Saturday:  9am – 12pm (Sick)


Walk-In Hours

Monday – Thursday: 8am – 5pm
Friday: 8am – 4pm
Saturday:  9am – 11am
Walk in hours follow the rule of one; one child, one problem, present less than one week.

Newborn FAQs

 

We generally see newborns 2-3 days after you leave the hospital. The pediatrician who sees your baby at the hospital will advise you how quickly you need to follow up the day you go home.

In the hospital, newborns have a hearing test, a test for jaundice (called transcutaneous bilirubin,) and a test that checks the amount of oxygen in the infant’s blood to screen for congenital heart disease. If the infant is born early, he or she will also have a “car seat test” to make sure they fit safely into an infant car seat.

In addition to some very small onesies, swaddle blankets, diapers, wipes, and a bassinet, we have a few other items we recommend having on hand when you bring your newborn home:  an ointment, such as Aquaphor or Vaseline, nasal saline drops, unscented detergents and soaps, a rectal thermometer and some slow flow bottles.

Your newborn’s first vaccine will be Hepatitis B, usually administered in the first 48 hours after birth. There are a group of vaccines given at 2, 4, and 6 months that protect your infant from the following: Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Polio, Haemophilus Influenza B, Pneumococcus, and Rotavirus.

In the beginning, we see our patients very frequently. As stated above, the first visit is 2-3 days after leaving the hospital. The next visit is at two weeks, although often we will see the infant at some point between. We then see the baby monthly until they reach four months.

All of the providers at MVP are well-equipped to give good breastfeeding advice and support. We also work with a lactation consultant when necessary. With your first baby, it can take 4-5 days for breastmilk to come in; while in the hospital, work with the lactation consultant to make sure your infant is latching well. Once home, keep track of the wet diapers and bowel movements so your pediatrician can have a good idea of how much the baby is eating those first few days. Every person has a different experience with breastfeeding – the providers at MVP are here for you even before your first visit, so please reach out if you are having difficulties with breastfeeding, and we will give you personalized advice as needed.

Infants with fever are usually very fussy and not eating well. Sometimes they are lethargic and difficult to arouse. They often feel warm to the touch. If you are concerned we recommend taking a rectal temperature. It is important you call your pediatrician for any temperature > 100 or < 97.6.

Every practice is different, but most have some answering service or nursing service that screens calls and gets in touch with an on-call provider as needed. At MVP, there is always a physician or nurse practitioner on-call after hours. You can message us via email or our patient portal for non-urgent matters. During the day, we are always responding to phone messages, portal messages, and emails.

For the first two months of the infant’s life you want to be very careful. Avoid anyone who is sick and any large crowds or gatherings. That being said, you should feel comfortable going for walks or popping into a coffee shop as needed.

Usually, around 3-4 months of age,qu the infant will start sleeping in slightly larger chunks (4-6 hours at a time.) The providers at MVP are always happy to hop on a telehealth call to discuss sleep training if that is something your family is interested in discussing.

Welcome to MVP! To get started, please use the following checklist to prepare for your newborn's first visit:

Newborn Checklist:

  • Please bring your discharge paperwork that was given to you at the hospital or birthing facility.
  • Insurance Card
  • Photo Identification