Billing FAQ’s

If you received any lab work while a patient at a local/contracted hospital, you may have received a bill from The Pathology Laboratory. This bill is separate from any charges billed by the hospital. Our pathologists are directors over certain hospital labs, and they are professionally and legally accountable for your results.

Although you may not have physically visited a Pathology Laboratory location, your physician may have sent your specimen out to The Pathology Laboratory for testing/analysis. The invoice you received from us is for lab testing fees only and is separate from any bill you may have received from your physician and/or paid at your physician’s office.

The Pathology Laboratory obtains diagnosis information from the ordering physician’s office. If your insurance carrier denied your claim due to the diagnosis code, please contact your physician’s office.

When patients come to The Pathology Laboratory for the drawing of a specimen, and the labs are sent to one of our reference labs, a draw fee is charged. Insurance may cover this fee for many of our patients. However, patients whose insurance does not cover the draw fee and uninsured patients are responsible for the payment of the draw fee.

Once your account is past due and several attempts have been made to contact you, the account is sent to Lake Area Collections (337-494-7475). You can pay either the collection agency or The Pathology Laboratory directly.

Insurance plans typically change annually. Providing current information at each visit ensures proper billing and accounts for any lapses or cancellations in coverage.

No. It is the patient's responsibility to verify benefits with their insurance carrier before services are performed.

Credit/debit cards (all major cards), HSA cards, money orders, personal/business checks, check by phone, or online bill pay through your bank.

• An Advanced Beneficiary Notice (ABN) is a form requiring a signature when Medicare is not expected to cover certain tests. By signing, the patient assumes responsibility for payment if Medicare denies the claim.

Filed approximately two weeks after service.

Usually received 30 to 90 days after service once insurance has processed the claim. Payment is due upon receipt.