Office Policies

Reservations:

Please contact the office at (408) 356-8681 to reserve your OB/GYN or Aesthetic appointment.  For quicker response, please schedule your appointment on-line by clicking the above “Schedule My Appointment” and provide three choices, preferably on different days, for the desired appointment date/time and we will do our best to satisfy your request. 

Check-in:

Please arrive 10 MINUTES prior to your scheduled appointment to allow time for administrative check-in; otherwise, you could be rescheduled for arriving after your scheduled appointment time.

Preparing for Electronic Chart:

Women’s Care for Life is a digital clinic. Therefore, all medical charts are electronic. All patients must fill out their health history in the on-line, secure Electronic Medical Record (EMR) patient portal, prior to the first appointment. You will receive instructions via email from Women’s Care for Life explaining how to fill out your health history in the patient portal using your own computer. It is important that you fill out your health history, prior to your first appointment; otherwise, your appointment will not be scheduled.
    
If you do not own a computer or need assistance with entering your health history information into the patient portal, Women’s Care for Life will gladly assist you with this important step at the medical practice. Contact Women’s Care for Life to schedule an appointment for the exclusive purpose of entering your health history information into the patient portal, with the assistance of a staff member; afterwards, the staff member will assist you with scheduling a medical appointment on future date.
    
Additionally, you will be requested to email a copy of your insurance card to billing@womenscareforlife.com . Anticipate 7 business days to receive confirmation from Women’s Care for Life that your insurance is accepted by the medical practice.
    
These pre-appointment steps will ensure you have a smooth and pleasant appointment on the date of service.
    
NOTE:  please add (bookmark) the link to the EMR patient portal to your browser’s Favorite links: https://patientportal.digichart.com/

Cancellation Policy & Fees:

To avoid a $50 cancellation fee, contact Women’s Care for Life with at least a 24-hour notice. Also, no-show appointments will be charged a $50 cancellation fee. Scheduling an appointment is your acceptance of these policies. Additionally, a $10 late fee will be charged, if the invoice for service is not paid on time and subsequently, a $30 fee for submitting the invoice to a debt collector agency, on behalf of Women’s Care for Life. A $40 fee is assessed for a copy of the medical records given to anyone other than a healthcare facility (hospital, medical facility or physician). A $25 fee is assessed for credit card chargeback communication regarding a denied dispute.

Payments:

All co-pays, co-insurance and deductibles are the responsibility of the patient. Aesthetic services are not covered by insurance. Women’s Care for Life does not bill for any of its Aesthetic services. Cash paying OB/GYN patients receive a 20% discount.

Financing:

Women’s Care for Life offers a flexible, non-interest finance option for our services. If you are interested in the CareCredit® Patient Payment Plan, please inquire.

Good Faith Estimate:

Out-of-Network fees are charged, based on typical medical clinic, professional service rates. Should you elect to have Out-of-Network service performed at Women’s Care for Life, the final bill may vary from an estimate provided by HBC Medical Billing for reasons as follows: medical condition, unknown circumstances or complications, final diagnosis, and recommended treatment ordered by the provider(s). Thus, the actual service billed may be different than shown in the estimate. Prior to any Out-of-Network service, please contact HBC Medical Billing, to obtain a Good Faith Estimate.

HBC Medical Billing:

Women’s Care for Life’s medical billing is administered by HBC Medical Billing.  For answers to your specific billing questions, please contact a HBC Medical Billing representative at (408) 329-1155.

IN-NETWORK/OUT-OF-NETWORK (PPO):

Women’s Care for Life accepts most insurance plans. Please check with your insurance carrier to make sure Dr. Narisse E. Kendrick is your preferred provider. Also, find out if you have an IN-NETWORK or OUT-OF-NETWORK plan.

Women’s Care for Life accepts PPO patients who are OUT-OF-NETWORK; however, such patients will be administered as a “cash paying” patient. If the plan contains out-of-network benefits, the amount will be applied to reduce or fully pay the “cash paying” patient fee amount.

MEDI-CAL:

Please note that MEDI-CAL cards are not accepted by Women’s Care for Life. However, Women’s Care for Life will see anyone as a “cash paying” patient.

HEALTH-SHARE PLANS:

Please note that Health-Share Plans (cooperatives) are not accepted by Women’s Care for Life. However, Women’s Care for Life will see anyone as a “cash paying” patient.

HMO:

Santa Clara County IPA (SCCIPA) is the only HMO accepted by Women’s Care for Life. Please make sure your HMO insurance card clearly states “SCCIPA” or “Santa Clara County IPA” on it or contact the HMO carrier to determine if they are affiliated with Santa Clara County IPA.

IN-NETWORK (PPO):

Below are the PPO plans IN-NETWORK accepted by Women’s Care for Life. Contact your insurance carrier in advance to determine the “patient responsibility” amount. Also, please note that all PPO plans are contracted under the name, “Narisse E. Kendrick, MD”. Therefore, ask your PPO insurance carrier if “Narisse E. Kendrick, MD” is in-network. Do not use the “Women’s Care for Life” company name when inquiring about the in-network status. Note: 1.) Please call the office for special instructions on how to confirm in-network status for Anthem Blue Cross. 2.) Only Group plans accepted for Blue Shield of California.

• Aetna
• Anthem Blue Cross (including COVERED CALIFORNIA – affordable health insurance plans and Individual plans)
• Blue Shield of California (Group plans only)
• GWH(GreatWest)-Cigna
• Galaxy
• Health Net (including COVERED CALIFORNIA – affordable health insurance plans and Individual plans)
• Humana
• MultiPlan (Beech Street, PHCS, PPO Next)
• Medicare (65 and older, people under 65 with certain disabilities)
• Pacific Health Alliance (PHA)
• United Healthcare
• USA Health Network
• Tricare (military members)

Notice of Privacy Practices (HIPAA)

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY. 

This Notice of Privacy Practices describes how we may use and disclose your protected health information (PHI) to carry out treatment, payment or health care operations (TPO) and for other purposes that are permitted or required by law. It also describes your rights to access and control your protected health information. “Protected health information” is information about you, including demographic information, that may identify you and that relates to your past, present or future physical or mental health or condition and related health care services. Uses and Disclosures of Protected Health Information Your protected health information may be used and disclosed by your physician, our office staff and others outside of our office that are involved in your care and treatment for the purpose of providing health care services to you, to pay your health care bills, to support the operation of the physician’s practice, and any other use required by law.

Treatment:

We will use and disclose your protected health information to provide, coordinate, or manage your health care and any related services. This includes the coordination or management of your health care with a third party. For example, we would disclose your protected health information, as necessary, to a home health agency that provides care to you. For example, your protected health information may be provided to a physician to whom you have been referred to ensure that the physician has the necessary information to diagnose or treat you.

Payment:

Your protected health information will be used, as needed, to obtain payment for your health care services. For example, obtaining approval for a hospital stay may require that your relevant protected health information be disclosed to the health plan to obtain approval for the hospital admission.

ALL SALES ARE FINAL Policy:

All sales are final. There are no reunds or cancellations. A credit is issued for the amount paid subject to restrictions.

Healthcare Operations:

We may use or disclose, as-needed, your protected health information in order to support the business activities of your physician’s practice. These activities include, but are not limited to, quality assessment activities, employee review activities, training of medical students, licensing, and conducting or arranging for other business activities. For example, we may disclose your protected health information to medical school students that see patients at our office. In addition, we may use a sign-in sheet at the registration desk where you will be asked to sign your name and indicate your physician. We may also call you by name in the waiting room when your physician is ready to see you. We may use or disclose your protected health information, as necessary, to contact you to remind you of your appointment. We may use or disclose your protected health information in the following situations without your authorization. These situations include: as Required By Law, Public Health issues as required by law, Communicable Diseases: Health Oversight: Abuse or Neglect: Food and Drug Administration requirements: Legal Proceedings: Law Enforcement: Coroners, Funeral Directors, and Organ Donation: Research: Criminal Activity: Military Activity and National Security: Workers’ Compensation: Inmates: Required Uses and Disclosures: Under the law, we must make disclosures to you and when required by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to investigate or determine our compliance with the requirements of Section 164.500.

Other Permitted and Required Uses and Disclosures Will Be Made Only With Your Consent, Authorization or Opportunity to Object unless required by law.

You may revoke this authorization, at any time, in writing, except to the extent that your physician or the physician’s practice has taken an action in reliance on the use or disclosure indicated in the authorization.

Your Rights Following is a statement of your rights with respect to your protected health information.

You have the right to inspect and copy your protected health information. Under federal law, however, you may not inspect or copy the following records; psychotherapy notes; information compiled in reasonable anticipation of, or use in, a civil, criminal, or administrative action or proceeding, and protected health information that is subject to law that prohibits access to protected health information.

You have the right to request a restriction of your protected health information. This means you may ask us not to use or disclose any part of your protected health information for the purposes of treatment, payment or healthcare operations. You may also request that any part of your protected health information not be disclosed to family members or friends who may be involved in your care or for notification purposes as described in this Notice of Privacy Practices. Your request must state the specific restriction requested and to whom you want the restriction to apply. Your physician is not required to agree to a restriction that you may request. If physician believes it is in your best interest to permit use and disclosure of your protected health information, your protected health information will not be restricted. You then have the right to use another Healthcare Professional.

You have the right to request to receive confidential communications from us by alternative means or at an alternative location. You have the right to obtain a paper copy of this notice from us, upon request, even if you have agreed to accept this notice alternatively i.e. electronically.

You may have the right to have your physician amend your protected health information. If we deny your request for amendment, you have the right to file a statement of disagreement with us and we may prepare a rebuttal to your statement and will provide you with a copy of any such rebuttal.

You have the right to receive an accounting of certain disclosures we have made, if any, of your protected health information. We reserve the right to change the terms of this notice and will inform you by mail of any changes. You then have the right to object or withdraw as provided in this notice.

Complaints You may complain to us or to the Secretary of Health and Human Services if you believe your privacy rights have been violated by us. You may file a complaint with us by notifying our privacy contact of your complaint. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

This notice was published and becomes effective on/or before April 14, 2003.

No Surprises Act:

Effective January 1, 2022, the No Surprises Act, which Congress passed as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, is designed to protect patients from surprise bills for emergency services at out-of-network facilities or for out-of-network providers at in-network facilities, holding them liable only for in-network cost-sharing amounts. The No Surprises Act also enables uninsured patients to receive a good faith estimate of the cost of care.
Please visit: Ending Surprise Medical Bills