The insurance landscape has changed over the last several years-premiums and co-pays have increased significantly and high deductible plans have become more prevalent.

We are trying to maintain our current policy of billing insurance first and then billing the patient once we have obtained the explanation of benefits, the number of patients who have high deductible plans have increased to the point where soon we may no longer be able to continue in this manner.

Therefore, effective February 1, 2018 we started using a new payment system that makes it much easier for our patients to pay their bills or set up their own payment plans. This new system also allows us to keep a credit card on file that we either charge when you tell us or we can set up to charge automatically once your responsibility has been determined called a Greenlight, this is recommended for patients with a HSA (health savings account) or FSA (flex spending account).

If you would like to set up a Greenlight please see me when you are in the office or contact me via phone or email below.

How May I Pay?

https://www.navicurepayments.com/DoctorKate/pay

I want to set up a payment plan:

https://www.navicurepayments.com/DoctorKate/plan#!/

We believe that healthcare is important. We do not want finances to keep you from receiving care that you might need, but we have financial obligations in the office as well. We are always willing to discuss other possible arrangements if people talk to us, so please do not ignore this request. I look forward to your personal interest and cooperation in this matter.

Sincerely, Jessica Hawley, CPC

Billing Supervisor

Phone: 413-549-8400

email: jhawley@doctorkate.net 

Atkinson Family Practice now has an email dedicated for any referral related questions and comments.  Please defer all referral related messages to referrals@doctorkate.net.

We are sad to announce that Hope Lounsbury is no longer seeing patients at AFP.  You may contact the front desk at (413) 549-8400 or office@doctorkate.net with any questions.  In April, we will welcome a new provider.

A Message from Hope Lounsbury, PA-C:

Hi Everyone,

You are receiving this letter because I am listed as your PCP in the Atkinson Family Practice system. After many months of deliberation, I have made the difficult decision to leave Atkinson Family Practice to pursue career interests closer to my home in Eastern MA. I have been commuting from the Boston area for the last 2 years and unfortunately the commute was not sustainable for me or my family. This was an incredibly difficult decision for me to make, especially because I feel such a connection to this practice and my patients. I will miss every single one of my patients dearly, but it gives me great relief to know that there is a highly capable and caring team here to care for my patients after I leave. Please feel free to call the office to choose a new PCP within our practice. Thank you all in advance for your patience during this transition. I could not have imagined a more wonderful group of patients; I am truly blessed to have known each and every one of you!

Lots of love and gratitude,

Hope Lounsbury, PA-C

So you just saw one of our lovely providers, and they told you that they sent a prescription to the pharmacy. When you call the pharmacy to confirm, the pharmacist has no clue what you’re talking about! They try to tell you AFP never sent the prescription over, and that we are at fault. Undoubtedly, confusion, rage, and hopelessness muddles your head, and you begin to lose faith. Who should you believe?

There are several plausible reasons as to why the pharmacy tech could have told you they never received the rx…

1. They haven’t checked the fax machine recently.
2. The insurance denied the prescription.
3. The pharmacist had questions about the prescription and didn’t want to release it without speaking to the provider first.
4. They have been too busy to check the prescriptions left on the pharmacy voicemail, which is supposed to be checked every hour.

Please don’t sadly leave the pharmacy thinking your AFP provider has let you down! While we – both the pharmacists AND the AFP staff – are only human and it’s certainly possible the mistake was on our end, that’s rarely the case. Have faith in us to check into your situation further!

Have you switched up your insurance in the New Year? Or ever? If so, we need to know!

Whenever your insurance changes, please notify us. If the information we have for you is incorrect it takes MUCH longer for services you need – such as prior authorizations, referrals, and imaging – to go through because they can’t be approved with old info.

Any questions? Give us a call at 413-549-8400 and we’d be happy to talk to you about it. Thanks a bunch for your cooperation!

(January 15, 2016)

Beginning July 1, 2012, it is illegal to dispose of any sharp needles in Massachusetts landfills.

This means you can no longer throw out sharps in your household trash.

What do I do?!

1. Purchase a Sharps container at either the Amherst Health Department or the Amherst Transfer station (cost of container includes disposal when returned to an Amherst facility)

2. Fill the Sharps Container with used needles and syringes.

3. Return the full box of Sharps to one of the following locations:

Amherst Health Department
Bangs Community Center – 1st Floor (70 Boltwood Walk, Amherst MA 01002)
9 am – 12 pm



OR



Amherst Transfer Station
740 Belchertown Road, Amherst MA 01002
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday 8 am – 2 pm

Please direct all questions to the Amherst Health Department at 413-259-3077

July 1, 2012

“I love everyone at your practice. You’re entire staff are top notch. Every single one, from the front desk to the nurses and all the practitioners. I’m so grateful to have found you all.”

“I can’t begin to tell you how impressed I was with her (Jessica Jimison) knowledge, presentation and most importantly to me – warmth of personality. … Jessica made me feel incredibly encouraged and supported… I can’t thank her and your team enough. What a great team to encourage and inspire me to succeed toward my goal of improved health.”

“Everything from the atmosphere to the front desk staff to the medical professionals and even the furry Nurse Ginger (a therapy dog) is top notch. Dr. Kate is an excellent doctor who runs a fantastic practice that really cares about its patients. Many doctors turn their backs on chronically ill patients out of frustration. As a person who was diagnosed with chronic intractable migraines over 12 years ago, I can truly say that Dr. Kate and Company have never given up on me, making appointments available to me on short-notice during migraine attacks, negotiating with my insurance company regarding various treatments, working well with other specialists on my team, and always offering up a healthy dose of empathy and compassion. Their integrative approach to healthcare is refreshing and helpful. These folks begin to feel like family, their office like a medical home. Even if I eventually re-locate from the Valley someday, I suspect I’ll commute back for appointments if at all possible. I give AFP my highest recommendation.”

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