New Patient Resources

To schedule a new patient appointment, please call our scheduling staff at 360-733-5733. When calling, please have your insurance information available.

If you require an insurance referral, please contact your primary provider’s (PCP) office first and ask that a referral be sent before calling BAA.

Insurances Accepted

We are contracted with most major commercial insurance companies. Please contact your insurance company to ensure that we are part of their network.

The list to the right is not all-inclusive. If you do not see your insurance carrier listed, please contact us to see if we accept your coverage.

Aetna
Cigna
Regence
Premera
Kaiser Permanente
Out of State BCBS
UnitedHealthcare
First Choice
HMA
Trusteed Plans

Your Initial Visit

Prior to your first visit, a new patient history form will be sent to you electronically by email or text message. Please complete the form before your visit in order to expedite the check-in process. If you cannot complete electronically at home, you will be able to do so in the office. Please arrive 30 minutes early in this case.

Depending on your circumstances as well as the amount of testing required, please allow 1 – 2 hours for the initial visit.

At your initial visit, we will obtain a complete history and perform a physical exam, as indicated. Allergy skin testing, pulmonary function testing, labs and x-rays may be performed at the visit or ordered for after the visit in order to establish a diagnosis and treatment plan.

Allergy Skin Testing

Skin testing is a way of identifying either environmental or food allergens to which you may be allergic. The process involves putting a small amount of diluted allergen on the skin and prick/puncturing using a special device.

Some medications, particularly antihistamines, interfere with the testing process. These medications should be discontinued at least 5 days prior to your appointment.

If you feel that stopping antihistamines would severely impact your health, please continue the medications. Testing can be arranged at a later time.

The following medications can be continued before allergy testing:

steroid nasal sprays including fluticsone (Flonase, Aller-Flo), triamcinolone (Nasacort), mometasone (Nasonex), budesonide (Rhinocort)
montelukast (Singulair)
all asthma inhalers
guiafenesin (Mucinex)
decongestants like pseudoephedrine (Sudafed)

Medications To Stop Before Testing:

Over-The-Counter Antihistamines

Presciption Medications

Sleep Aids

Cough Medications

Cancellations

If you must cancel or reschedule your visit, kindly provide at least 24 hours notice by telephone. This allows us to schedule other patients who may be awaiting an appointment.

For patients who do not provide 24 hours notice or who do not show to their appointment, a $50 fee will be charged. This fee is not covered by insurance.

Billing Policy

Bellingham Asthma, Allergy & Immunology Clinic will submit a claim to your insurance company as long as we are contracted with your insurer. Submission of your claim is a courtesy.

Prior to your appointment, office staff will attempt to check your benefits to verify your coverage and to determine any co-pays, co-insurance or deductible remining that you may owe. It is office policy to collect these fees at the time of your visit. Cash, checks and credit cards are accepted.

Full payment is required if you do not have insurance coverage. A 30% discount is offered to private pay clients if paid at the time of service. If you cannot pay this at the time of service, payment plans can be discussed with the billing staff.

Insurance coverage is an agreement between you and your insurance company. The final responsibility for payment rests with you. We cannot accept responsibility for collecting your claim or for negotiating settlement on a disputed claim.

A service charge will be imposed on any balance over 60 days. If at that time a payment plan has not been arranged, your account will be sent to a collection agency. This may affect your credit rating.

For patients whose parents are divorced or in a state of family change, the parent who initiates care of the child at BAAIC is responsible for payment.