Financial Department
Departments > Finacial Department
|
|
The financial department was established to help clients determine the best way to pay for emergency veterinary care or major elective procedures. We have instituted several steps to avoid the accumulation of bills that clients are unable to pay. For procedures that require hospitalization we give clients a written
estimate sheet. We have a number of acceptable
payment methods and also have enrolled the hospital in the Care
Credit Program, an independent short term loan program for qualified clients.
|
| Questions or
concerns, please contact
financial officer Lacey Mosher, (508)584-1600; Mon, Tues, Wed, & Fri
9a-5p |
| Written Estimate Sheets |
| |
 |
Include itemized costs of proposed veterinary
care for sick or injured pets including diagnostic tests, surgical
procedures, nursing, and hospitalization. |
|
Gives a range of high and low ends to try and prevent any financial surprises when a final bill is generated. |
|
On occasion the estimate will need to be revised as a patient’s condition changes. Clients are always notified of any anticipated changes in the estimate. |
|
When clients advise us that they have
limited financial resources, the attending veterinarian will
limit the estimate to include those tests and treatments that
are considered to be the most essential. Under these circumstances
our ability to achieve optimum results may be compromised. |
| Payment Options- accepted
forms |
| |
|
Cash or money order |
| |
|
Personal check with a valid driver’s license
that is approved by a check guarantee company. |
| |
|
Credit cards (we accept Visa, MasterCard, and
Discover) |
|
Regrettably we are unable to extend credit agreements
as a billing option. In the past when we had utilized this method
we discovered that many clients were unable to meet their financial
obligations. We ask that each client pay their fair share so
that we can keep fees as low as possible for everyone. |
| Care-Credit Program |
| |
|
Care Credit is an independent financial resource
that extends credit to clients on a short term, interest free
basis (up to three months). |
| |
|
Requirements include a verified income
of at least $1,000.00 per month and a valid picture driver’s
license. The application may be filled out by one individual
or with a co-applicant. Applications can be processed Monday
through Saturday from 8:00 AM to midnight and on Sunday from
11:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Approval is usually received within 5-10
minutes. |
| |
|
Approved applicants can utilize a portion or
all of their approved credit line to pay for veterinary services. |
| |
|
Why does the New England Animal Medical
Center participate in the Care Credit program? We recognize that
medical care is expensive and we want every pet owner to have
quality veterinary care available for their pet. Even though
the Hospital pays a significant fee for the use of the Care Credit
Program (5% of what a client borrows) the service allows many
owners to obtain the funds necessary in an emergency situation. |
| |
If you have questions please contact
our financial officer, Lacey Mosher, at (508)-584-1600 Monday
through Wednesday from 8:00 Am to 4:00 PM or Fridays from 8:00
AM to 4:00 PM. |
| Why Quality Veterinary Care Can Be
Expensive |
| |
|
High Cost of Pharmaceutical Drugs- We find
most clients do not realize how expensive medication is, for
we all get used to paying a small co-pay in relation to the
ACTUAL COST of the drug. We use a combination of "veterinary" (ie
heartworm preventative) & "human" (ie heart disease,
antibiotics, chemotherapy, pain medications,& anesthetics)
pharmaceuticals that are all fairly expensive. Some special "emergency" drugs
such as the antidote for antifreeze and a drug to breakdown
large blood clots cost hundreds of dollars per dose. Unfortunately,
the cost of these pharmaceuticals is the same for us as for
human medical doctors, and insurance does not pay the majority
of the cost. |
| |
|
High Cost of Medical Equipment- such
as ECG & blood pressure monitors, anesthesia and X-ray
machines, X-ray film, IV fluid pumps, blood analyzer
machines, microscopes, and all the other equipment we use.
As an example, a single fluid pump unit costs us nearly $500-
and we have over 30 pumps. Some equipment is bought new,
but we get much of the equipment secondhand from human hospitals
that are upgrading. The quality is still excellent
and the cost is still very high, but compared to the cost of
new equipment, it is the only option. |
| |
|
High Cost of Surgical Equipment- such
as our CO2 surgical laser, surgical instruments, suture material,
surgical staplers, and fracture repair/bone plating equipment. A
single bone plate can cost us between $100-200 from the company. |
| |
|
Salaries of the staff- including
doctors, technicians, receptionist, and other support staff. Staffing the Emergency
Center 24 hours a day 7 days a week is a huge expense. Patient
care at the Emergency Center costs more because your pet is
constantly monitored and treated 24 hours a day by dedicated technicians & doctors
on the premises at all times. |
|
Continuing Education- for doctors
and technicians to stay current on new medical treatment protocols,
pharmaceuticals, surgical techniques, disease epidemics, and
legislation pertinent to practicing veterinary medicine. The hospital covers
costs of professional meetings & seminars, journal subscriptions,
and on-line veterinary resources. |
|
Hospital Operating Costs- including management,
accounting, and office costs, government taxes, employee benefits,
professional licenses, insurance, and the other hundreds of
costs involved with maintaining a comfortable working environment
for staff, patients, and clients. |
| The old saying "you get what
you pay for" is never more true |
