Policy for Divorced or Separated Parents

 

Morgan Vision Center’s providers and staff are dedicated to providing the highest quality optometric care to your child(ren). We are not party to nor wish to be involved in any legal issues involving divorce, separation or custody agreements. As the parent or legal guardian of a patient of Morgan Vision Center, please read the following policy so that we may focus on the care and wellbeing of your child(ren).

 
1. The physicians, medical assistants, office and billing staff will not be put in the middle of domestic issues or disagreements over the phone or in the office.

 
2. Please make decisions regarding appointments, dilation and/or any other office procedures PRIOR to visiting our practice.

 
3. Only in situations where there is a confirmed, documented Court Order will one of the parents be denied access to the minor child(ren)’s health records or visits at the office. Morgan Vision Center must have a copy of this Court Order on file in the minor child(ren)’s chart.

 
4. If there is NOT a Court Order on file with our office, either parent or legal guardian can sign a “Consent to Treat” form that authorizes any named individuals (like grandparents, nannies, etc.) to bring your child(ren) to our practice, be present during the visit, and consent to any treatment during that visit. We will not be involved in any disputes regarding named individuals on the consent forms unless instructed by the court. Either parent or legal guardian can schedule an appointment for their child, be present for the visit and/or obtain a copy of the visit summary.

 
5. It is both parents’ responsibility to communicate with each other about the patients’ care, office visit dates and any other pertinent information relevant to the patient. It is not the responsibility of the provider to communicate visit information to each custodial parent separately. Our providers will not call the non-attending parent following visits.

 
6. Additionally, we will not call the other parent for consent regarding appointments scheduled, restrict either parent’s involvement in the patient’s care unless authorized by law or tolerate appointment scheduling/cancelling patterns or behavior between parents.

7. Furthermore, payments including co-pays, deductibles, coinsurance or any additional fees charged by your insurance are due at the time of service regardless of which parent is responsible for medical expenses. We are not a party to your divorce agreement. We will collect payment from the parent who brings the child to their visit. If the divorce decree requires the other parent to pay all or part of the treatment costs, it is the authorizing parent’s responsibility to collect from the other parent. Any disputes about payment that ends up in the collections process, will be due at the next time of service or the patient will not be seen. If we feel that any of the above-mentioned items are not being followed, become an issue for our staff or serve as an impediment to properly caring for your child(ren), we reserve the right to discharge the family from the practice.