Regional Medical Laboratories, Inc. (RML) is an independent clinical laboratory whose roots date back to the 1950’s. Dr. Arthur A. Humphrey, a Pathologist who was associated with the Mayo Clinic, set up a number of hospital laboratories in southwest Michigan and he started RML in a downtown office with one Medical Technologist. The company expanded with the addition of Pathologists, technical and clerical staff. Currently RML’s team includes five Pathologists, 42 Medical Technologists/Technicians and 136 support staff.

RML provides a broad range of laboratory services for physicians, hospitals, health departments, clinics, nursing homes, veterinarians, and occupational medicine facilities. Our service area includes greater Battle Creek, southwest Michigan and northern Indiana. We also are certified to test water for potability.

To accommodate RML’s continuous growth, we opened a state-of-the-art Patient Service Center in February 2009 at our College Street location. This patient service center features private registration and phlebotomy booths, a very comfortable waiting area and convenient parking.

RML offers three methods of billing: direct patient, third party and monthly account. If you wish to have tests billed to your monthly account in addition to patient billing, the test for monthly billing must be submitted on a separate Test Request form.

Our base fees for monthly account billing are determined by cost analysis of the labor and materials involved for each laboratory test. Patient and third party fees are somewhat higher to cover the additional clerical work and materials involved. 

The following section explains our billing process and information required. 

PATIENT BILLING

For those not covered by insurance, your patient will receive an itemized bill from RML within two weeks from the date of service. Patient statements are mailed based on a 28-day cycle. RML requires the following information to bill your patient who is not covered by insurance: 

* Patient's name
* Patient’s birth date
* Responsible party name if patient is under 18 years of age
* Complete current address with zip code
* Telephone number

THIRD PARTY (INSURANCE)

RML is certified by Medicare, Medicaid and Blue Cross Blue Shield to perform the laboratory tests listed in our Fee Schedule. We bill any combination of these carriers at no additional charge to your patients provided we receive adequate billing information with each requisition. Generally, patients do not receive a bill from RML until the insurance makes a partial payment or have not responded to our claim within 60 days.

BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD

RML currently participates with Blue Cross Blue Shield and accepts their reimbursement as payment in full. Patients are billed for policy copays, deductibles and tests not covered after Blue Cross Blue Shield payments or denials are received. In addition to the patient’s name, address and phone number, RML requires the following Blue Cross Blue Shield information: 

* Diagnosis
* Subscriber's name
* Subscriber’s birth date
* Patient relationship to subscriber
* Contract number, including any alpha prefix

MEDICAID

RML is currently a Michigan Medicaid participating provider. Patients covered by Medicaid or a Medicaid HMO are billed only for tests not covered or if no response is received within 60 days of the claim. In addition to the patient’s name, address and phone number, RML requires the following Medicaid information: 

* Diagnosis
* Medicaid number
* Name of Medicaid HMO, if applicable

MEDICARE

Patients covered by Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans are billed only for copays, deductibles and tests not covered by Medicare. Patient billing begins after we receive notice from Medicare. In addition to the patient’s name, address and phone number, RML requires the following Medicare information: 

* Diagnosis
* Medicare number (nine-digit and one letter)
* Name of Medicare Advantage plan, if applicable

COMMERCIAL INSURANCES

RML bills primary insurance carriers directly for all covered services. Patients are billed for policy copays, deductibles and tests not covered by their policies after partial payments or denials are received. In addition to the patient’s name, address and phone number, RML requires the following insurance information:

* Diagnosis
* Policy holder’s name
* Policy holder’s birth date
* Patient relationship to policy holder
* Carrier name and address
* All policy numbers

MONTHLY ACCOUNT BILLING

At the beginning of each month, you will receive an itemized invoice for all laboratory work that you requested to be billed to your account during the previous month. The invoice shows each request date, patient name, tests ordered and fees. Accompanying each invoice is a statement showing the current and past open invoices. Invoices are due and payable within 30 days.

RML offers three methods of billing: direct patient, third party and monthly account. If you wish to have tests billed to your monthly account in addition to patient billing, the test for monthly billing must be submitted on a separate Test Request form.

Our base fees for monthly account billing are determined by cost analysis of the labor and materials involved for each laboratory test. Patient and third party fees are somewhat higher to cover the additional clerical work and materials involved.