Patient Information
Welcome to the California Sinus Centers
Whether this is your first visit or you’ve been our patient for years, we want to welcome you to our practice!
Patient Forms Center
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New Patients
Please refer to the following information about scheduling your first appointment and preparing for the day of your visit.
Schedule an appointment
It is easy to request an appointment at California Sinus Centers. Simply complete and return our patient registration forms. Once your forms are processed, our staff will call you to schedule an appointment.
To request an appointment via telephone, please call your preferred office between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM.
When you call, please have the following information available:
- Fax number or email address that you sent your completed forms to
- Patient name and date of birth
- Insurance information (Please have your insurance card available)
- Name of the referring physician (if applicable)
- Reason for your visit
Complete the New Patient Forms
Forms require free Adobe Reader. Most computers already have this installed, but if you need it, install Adobe Reader.
Once your forms are complete, select ‘print’ to print or save a copy of your forms to your computer. You may send completed forms via fax or mail. We would prefer to receive the paperwork prior to your appointment so we can prepare for your visit.
Please note: Electronic message is not a protected method of communication. Any protected health information (PHI) sent via email is not secured.
Please send your completed forms to the staff members of the physician you are scheduled with. Fax numbers are provided below each physician.
Dr. Fong
(925) 906-9780
Dr. Vaughan
(650) 366-4930
What to bring to your first appointment
Please bring the following documentation with you to your first appointment. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact our office.
- Completed New Patient form if you have not faxed them to our office yet
- Health insurance card
- A list of your questions, concerns, past medical history and prior treatments
- A copy of your XRAYS, CT scans or any other relevant medical imaging (not just the reports – please acquire the actual films or images on a disc from the radiology facility)
- Copies of records from doctors related to your sinuses, nose, allergies and lungs
What to expect at your first appointment
When you first arrive for your visit, you will be greeted by our front office staff who will check you in. Please arrive 10 minutes prior to your appointment time to allow for check-in.
During check-in, we will obtain a picture for you for our records, make a copy of your insurance card and accept any co-pays. Our office staff will then verify that we have received your completed paperwork and take any scans or records that you have brought with you.
You will then be brought to one of our exam rooms by our medical staff. Your medical history and records will be reviewed including the reason for your visit, your symptoms, and prior treatment. Any scans that you have brought will be reviewed with you. If you need to have a CT scan performed, we have a low dose radiation CT scanner to obtain any required imaging on the same day as your visit.
Once your medical history has been obtained by our staff, an exam of your nose and sinuses will be performed with a nasal endoscope. Prior to your exam, you will be sprayed with medication that will decongest and numb your nasal passages. The endoscope allows your provider to look deeper into your sinuses than with traditional instruments. You will be able to view your exam at the same time.
Your visit is a time for us to get to learn about you, your condition, and how best to treat you. At the end of the visit, we will explain our findings and help you understand your condition and treatment options.
Existing Patients
When you return to our office, it is important that you always:
- Bring your current insurance card(s).
- Update us regarding any changes to your address or phone number.
- Update us regarding any changes in prescription medications, over-the-counter medications or supplements you take.
We are proud to announce that our Secure Online Patient Portal is now available!
If you would like to obtain your username and password, please call our Atherton office at (650) 399-4630 to create your login or get more information about our new online patient portal. The portal will enable you to securely message your provider and obtain access to your medical records.
If you have already obtained your username and password, you can access your personal portal by clicking the button below.
NOTE: Online Patient Secure Portal will leave this site in a new browser window.
Billing Frequently Asked Questions
Do you accept my insurance?
We are a preferred provider for Medicare and many of Northern California’s PPO healthcare plans. We are a member of very few HMOs. Patients that have Anthem Blue Cross through Covered California, Select Networks, Sutter, or Kaiser Plans are welcome to pay for their visits on a cash-pay basis.
Student Health Insurance plans often require prior authorizations. Please contact us to check if our services are covered by your insurance plan.
It is highly recommended that you contact your insurance carrier before making an appointment to ask about your:
- Copay for specialist office visit (new: 99203 or return: 99213)
- Deductible remaining and what that means to you concerning Procedures and copays.
- Copay for procedures like endoscopy (code = 31231) and sinus CT scan (code = 70486).
In the event we are not a member of your insurance plan, self-pay options are available.
Why does my bill say Bay Area Surgical Specialists, Inc. (BASS)?
BASS Medical Group is a multi-specialty practice management organization based out of Walnut Creek, CA. Cal Sinus is excited to join BASS’ team of highly skilled physicians and look forward to expanding sinus care services throughout the Bay Area and Northern California in this partnership.
The Bass Billing Number is 925-329-6417
Please note that any clinic or surgical services provided prior to October 1, 2016 were billed under Sacramento ENT.
How can I pay my BASS bill for services provided after October 1, 2016?
Do you have questions about your bill? Let BASS Medical Group’s billing departments help you.
Call the appropriate billing department to help answer your specific billing question(s).
NOTE: Online billing questions will leave this site in a new browser window.
Who should I call with billing questions?
For any billing questions or concerns please contact our billing manager at 1-925-329-6417.
Surprise Billing Act
Effective January 1, 2022, the No Surprises Act, which Congress passed as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, is designed to protect patients from surprise bills for emergency services at out-of-network facilities or for out-of-network providers at in-network facilities, holding them liable only for in-network cost-sharing amounts. The No Surprises Act also enables uninsured patients to receive a good faith estimate of the cost of care.
Billing Disclosures – Your Rights and Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills
When you get emergency care or get treated by an out-of-network provider at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, you are protected from surprise billing or balance billing.
What is “Balance Billing”, Sometimes Called “Surprise Billing”? When you see a doctor or other health care provider, you may owe certain out-of-pocket costs, such as a copayment, coinsurance, and/or a deductible. You may have other costs or have to pay the entire bill if you see a provider or visit a healthcare facility that isn’t in your health plan’s network.
“Out-of-network” describes providers and facilities that haven’t signed a contract with your health plan. Out-of-network providers may be permitted to bill you for the difference between what your plan agreed to pay and the full amount charged for a service. This is called “balance billing.” This amount is likely more than in-network costs for the same service and might not count toward your annual out-of-pocket limit.
“Surprise billing” is an unexpected balance bill. This can happen when you can’t control who is involved in your care–like when you have an emergency or when you schedule a visit at an in-network facility but are unexpectedly treated by an out-of-network provider.
Good Faith Estimate
The federal “No Surprises Act” grants consumers the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much their medical and mental health care will cost. Under the law, health care providers, including psychotherapists, must give clients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the expected charges for treatment services.
The act also requires healthcare providers, including psychotherapists, to inform their clients of this right. Additionally, this act requires that information regarding the availability of a “Good Faith Estimate” must be prominently displayed on the website of all health care providers, including psychotherapists. You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy services.
You can ask all of your health care providers, including your therapist and other providers from whom you seek treatment, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service. If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.
For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises/.
How can I pay my bill?
We have 3 convenient options for bill payment:
- You may send your payment by mail to our office.
- You may call our offices to pay your bill over the phone.
Atherton: 650-399-4630
Walnut Creek: 925-300-4680
There is no additional fee for making a payment over the phone.
You may also make your payment online by clicking the link below, please make sure to have your account information ready.
NOTE: Online bill pay will leave this site in a new browser window.
We accept Visa, MasterCard, and personal checks only.