Supporting the future of veterinary medicine - University of ...

2009 – 2010 · VMC GUIDE FOR REFERRING VETERINARIANSPayment and Financial AssistancePreparing Clients for their VisitThe Veterinary Medical Center provides your clients ready access to state-of-the-art, high qualityspecialty care. While we strive to make this level of care affordable to those who need it, thereality is that secondary and tertiary level care can sometimes be very expensive. As a referralpartner, you and your practice can help by explaining this aspect of referral level care to yourclients before they arrive for their first appointment at the VMC.Clients often have multiple questions about the cost of care, and options for payment at the VMC.The most frequently asked questions, along with details about the VMC’s payment policy, arelisted below:Do clients need to pay for their animal’s appointment at the conclusion of each consultation?Yes. Similar to most veterinary clinics, the VMC asks that clients pay in full on the date outpatientservices are rendered.Does the Veterinary Medical Center require a deposit?Yes. For patients being admitted to the hospital for inpatient care, clients are required to pay adeposit in the amount of 75% of the written estimate. If inpatient care is ongoing, clients will beadvised of changes to the estimate and additional deposits may be requested, as needed. Thebalance of the patient’s care must be paid in full at the time of patient discharge.Does the Veterinary Medical Center offer a payment plan?The VMC does not offer in-house financing. However, CareCredit, a national financing program,is accepted by the VMC. Clients may apply for CareCredit to cover the estimated cost ofveterinary treatment/hospitalization (CareCredit is not used to cover diagnostic consultations).Clients who are granted CareCredit may choose a payment plan that best meets their needs.CareCredit applications are available at the Cashier’s Window.Please note that not all clients qualify for CareCredit. Clients with poor credit scores may bedeclined.Does the Veterinary Medical Center offer a sliding fee scale?The VMC does not offer a sliding fee scale at this time.If the Veterinary Medical Center is a teaching hospital, do they offer lower cost care byallowing students to treat patients?Although College of Veterinary Medicine students are involved in many aspects of veterinary careat the VMC, students do not diagnose or treat patients. All of the care provided to patients isdelivered and coordinated by our doctors and veterinary technicians, many of whom are boardcertifiedin their area of specialization. As such, we do not allow students to provide treatment forpatients at a reduced cost.Does the Veterinary Medical Center have any grant programs for low-income clients? TheVMC has limited grant money available for low-income clients whose cases qualify for financial10