Our Mission
Our mission at the Kenerly Orthopaedic Center is to offer you the finest orthopaedic care available. We consider it a privilege to be trusted with your Orthopaedic care. We will make every effort to treat you as a real person and to listen to your needs. We will try our best to treat you like we would like to be treated.

Financial Policy
Please bring all your current health insurance cards with you to your appointment.

If you have health coverage:
We are providers for BCBS, United Healthcare, Principal, State Health Benefit Plan, Medicare, Medicaid and many other major insurance carriers and Networks such as First Health, GHP, 1stMN and Southcare.  As a courtesy to our patients we file all primary and secondary insurance claims.  If you are unsure if we participate in your insurance plan or network, please feel free to contact us before your appointment as out-of-network benefits may apply.  It is important that you provide us with current and accurate information about your insurance coverage.  Incorrect information will delay processing your claim and may require the entire balance be transferred to you, the patient.

In accordance with Federal Law, we cannot write off deductibles and co-pays.  Your Insurance Carrier requires us to collect applicable co-pays and deductibles at the time of service.  Therefore, you will need to pay all applicable co-pays and deductibles at your initial and subsequent office visits.  Once your insurance has processed your claims, if there is any remaining patient balance due, you will receive 1 statement. Payment in full will be expected within 30 days.  All unpaid patient balance due accounts are transferred to a collection agency for further collection actions after 30 days. 

If you have been injured at work:
If you have had an injury on the job your employer should provide a form to you or may fax it directly to us at (912) 427-6029 that includes their Worker’s Compensation Insurance Information and their authorization for treatment.  We must have this signed authorization prior to you being seen.

If you have been injured in an auto accident:
We DO NOT file motor vehicle accident claims. Payment is expected IN FULL at each office visit and prior to any procedures being performed. Our initial exam and x-rays is estimated at $350. If surgery is required, you will be expected to pay the estimated cost prior to the surgery being scheduled. We will be glad to provide you with any documents you need to file your claim.

If you do not have health coverage:
Your initial office visit charge and any other service provided to you must be paid at the time of service.  Because we do not know in advance all the treatment options your condition will require, we have estimated that the initial office visit will cost approximately $138.  If x-rays are done, the cost is approximately $100-200.  Therefore, we ask that you bring $350 with you on your initial visit.  We will require that you pay the $350 prior to being seen.  Should your initial visit cost less than this amount, we will promptly refund that portion of your advance payment to you before you leave.  Please be aware that Injections, Fracture Treatments, Casts, Braces and Supplies may generate additional charges.  These charges will be discussed with you prior to the treatment and payment in full will be expected at the time of service. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our billing department.

We Accept: MasterCard, VISA, Discover, AmericanExpress, Debit Cards, CareCredit, Checks and Cash

Prior approval and eligibility
If you have insurance Dr. Kenerly’s staff will verify your eligibility prior to the office visit.  Certain services recommended by Dr. Kenerly may require prior approval by your insurance company.  This includes MRIs, CT scans, bone scans, DXA scans, certain injections, nerve conduction tests, certain prescriptions, and almost all surgeries.  This process may take a day or two or sometimes even longer to complete.  We understand this process can be very frustrating particularly when the patient and Dr. Kenerly are ready to proceed with diagnostic and treatment measures for your condition.

Workers compensation
Dr. Kenerly treats many workers compensation injuries.  All patients with work-related injuries must provide proof of coverage by their employers insurance company or the employer directly.  This verification must be received in our office prior to the appointment.  Dr. Kenerly insists that the workers compensation patient be 100% compliant with all instructions.  This includes office appointments, physical therapy appointments, diagnostic study appointments and return to work status.  The patient's failure to comply with Dr. Kenerly's instructions in these cases may result in Dr. Kenerly's discharging the patient from care.  At the completion of each visit the patient will be provided with a "work status certificate" which outlines the patient's ability to perform certain functions.  The employer will then use this information to determine whether or not the employee can actually return to the workplace.

Disability insurance
If your condition results in your inability to work and you have disability insurance you must bring this issue up to the doctor during the office visit.  The office staff will complete your disability insurance for a charge of $10 per form payable prior to the form being completed.  Once payment is received, please allow one to two weeks for form completion.  Individual policies define “disability” and “benefits” and these vary greatly from policy to policy.  We will honestly state on the forms what you physically can and cannot do.  Your insurance company will then determine if that level of function qualifies you for disability benefits.

Medications
Medications will be refilled during office hours only (and on Fridays by noon!).  It is advisable to request prescription refills before the current prescription runs out.  This will allow time for your prescription to be refilled properly.