Preserving Independent Pediatric Care

At Mia Bella Pediatrics, our goal has always been to provide relationship-based, physician-led pediatric care focused on continuity, accessibility, and thoughtful support for children and families throughout South Orange County.

As healthcare systems continue to change, independent pediatric practices face increasing administrative demands, rising operational costs, and evolving care delivery pressures. Our practice has intentionally chosen a different approach — prioritizing continuity, individualized care, accessibility, and physician involvement whenever medically appropriate.

To help sustain this care model, Mia Bella Pediatrics utilizes a modest annual administrative fee that supports non-covered administrative and practice operational services not reimbursed by insurance.

This fee is not for medical care and is not billable to insurance or health savings plans. Your health insurance will continue to be billed for covered medical services in the same manner as a traditional pediatric practice.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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Why does the practice charge an administrative fee?

The administrative fee helps support practice operations and non-covered services that allow us to maintain a smaller, relationship-based pediatric practice model focused on continuity, accessibility, and individualized care.

This includes operational costs and administrative services that are not reimbursed by insurance despite being essential to maintaining the level of support families expect from our practice.

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Is this concierge medicine?

No.

Mia Bella Pediatrics remains an insurance-based pediatric practice. We continue to bill insurance for covered medical services in the same manner as a traditional pediatric office.

The administrative fee supports non-covered administrative and operational services and helps sustain the practice model families have come to expect from our office.

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What does the fee help support?

The administrative fee helps support services and practice operations including:

• Continuity-focused physician involvement
• Longer visits when medically appropriate
• Care coordination support
• Administrative staffing and operational infrastructure
• Technology and communication systems
• Timely scheduling and accessibility efforts
• Ongoing practice sustainability as an independent pediatric office

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Will insurance still be billed?

Yes.

Insurance will continue to be billed for covered medical services, including office visits, immunizations, and other medically necessary care, according to your insurance plan benefits.

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Is the fee eligible for insurance reimbursement or HSA/FSA use?

No.

Because the administrative fee is for non-covered administrative and operational services, it is not reimbursable by insurance and is not eligible for HSA or FSA reimbursement.

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Does paying the fee guarantee unlimited visits or services?

No.

Medical care continues to be provided based on medical necessity, scheduling availability, and physician clinical judgment.

The administrative fee supports the overall practice model and non-covered administrative services; it is not a prepayment for medical treatment.

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Why are more independent pediatric practices implementing administrative fees?

Independent pediatric practices nationwide are facing increasing financial and administrative pressures, including rising operational costs, staffing costs, insurance administrative burdens, and declining reimbursement rates.

Many practices are implementing administrative fees in order to preserve independent, continuity-based pediatric care while avoiding high-volume models that often reduce appointment time and physician continuity.

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Does this affect my child’s medical care?

Our goal is to continue providing thoughtful, relationship-based pediatric care with continuity and individualized physician involvement whenever medically appropriate.

The administrative fee helps support the sustainability of this care model over time.

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What are my enrollment options?

Families may either opt in to the annual administrative fee program or opt out and utilize fee-for-service billing for non-covered administrative services.

Annual administrative fee statements are distributed to all active families to ensure each household has the opportunity to review and complete the annual enrollment process.

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Questions?

If you have questions regarding the administrative fee program or enrollment process, please contact our office at 949-206-0001.