FAQ
Comprehensive Perinatal Care in NJ at NJPA
At New Jersey Perinatal Associates, we specialize in caring for women whose pregnancies are considered high-risk due to medical, surgical, and obstetrical risk factors. We also perform ultrasounds for pregnancies that are not high risk.
Our award-winning Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialists, also known as perinatologists, have provided care for over 30 years. Our team consists of extensively trained and board-certified physicians, nurses, sonographers, and genetic counselors, carefully assembled to provide our patients with comprehensive care.
We understand that having a pregnancy that is considered high-risk can add stress to what should be an exciting time. It is our responsibility to present you with all available medical options related to your care . We want to ensure that all of your questions are answered and that you fully understand all steps taken for your health, along with how our care process works.
Several factors can lead to a pregnancy being considered high-risk. You or your baby may be at increased risk of health problems before, during, and after delivery. A high-risk pregnancy can be due to medical issues, lifestyle factors or conditions of the pregnancy. Examples include high blood pressure, polycystic ovary syndrome, diabetes, kidney disease, age, substance use, fetal growth restriction, multiples, and previous preterm birth.
NJPA offers a wide range of services to provide the optimal result for a mother and her unborn baby. A preconception consultation prior to your pregnancy allows you to meet with our perinatologists to review your medical and pregnancy history. An individualized care plan can be made to optimize your chances of a successful pregnancy outcome.
For women who are already pregnant, typical care includes genetic risk assessment and first and second trimester fetal ultrasound (including 3D/4D). Other services include chorionic villous sampling, amniocentesis, fetal echocardiography, fetal growth monitoring, Doppler blood flow studies, fetal biophysical evaluations, and select fetal therapies.
Your obstetrician should fax a request along with any pertinent records to our office. Our office will then contact you to schedule an appointment.
Maternity care is billed as a global fee at the time of delivery for each pregnancy. Sonograms, fetal testing, blood draw, and other complication/problem visits outside of routine prenatal care are billed separately. Please note that your visits with NJPA are not part of global obstetrical care.
We are consultants to your primary OB/GYN team and NOT part of the global fee. A ‘referral’ is often required for insurance coverage. Understanding the difference between a clinical referral and insurance authorization is crucial for ensuring a smooth care process:
Clinical Referral
Purpose: A clinical referral is communication between healthcare providers. It informs us about your diagnosis, due date, and what your doctor would like addressed.
Insurance Authorization (or Referral):
Purpose: An insurance authorization is necessary to ensure your visit is covered by your insurance plan. It verifies that the visit is medically necessary as per your insurance provider's guidelines.
Benefit: Having this authorization means you won’t be financially responsible for the visit beyond what your insurance plan specifies.
Clarifying whether what your doctor sent to NJPA is clinical referral (for medical information) or an insurance authorization (for coverage) helps us ensure all aspects of your care are addressed promptly.
Should you request a preconception consultation, it may be possible for us to see you as a self-referral, but we will still need all relevant past medical records PRIOR to your visit.
Insurance coverage for maternal-fetal care can vary widely depending on your specific insurance plan. It is important for you to review your policy to familiarize yourself with services covered, in-network providers, and whether a pre-authorization is required. It is vital to understand what portion of costs you may be responsible for through co-payments, deductibles, or coinsurance. Finally, it is crucial to gather information as early as possible in your pregnancy about coverage for screening and laboratory services to avoid financial stress upon billing.
We accept most health plans. If a claim is denied, you have the right to appeal your decision with your insurance company.
We partner with leading insurance companies to offer a range of options. Please note that the insurance landscape is constantly evolving. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always check directly with your insurance provider.
- Aetna
- Amerihealth (HMO/PPO)
- Cigna (HMO/PPO)
- GHI PPO (via Qualcare)
- Health Republic (via Qualcare)
- Horizon BCBS of NJ OMNIA Health Plans
- Horizon BCBS of NJ (Managed Care/ Traditional)
- Local 472 (via Cigna)
- Local 825
- Medicare NJ
- Medicaid NJ
- Oxford (Liberty/Freedom)
- Qualcare (HMO/PPO)
- Railroad Medicare
- Cooperman Barnabas System Health Plan
- Tricare – Certified NonNetwork
- United Healthcare
- Wellcare
Anyone looking to become pregnant should have a conversation with their OBGYN about how to maximize health. A preconception consultation may be recommended with NJPA to review medical conditions, genetic conditions, medications or lifestyle factors in order to minimize risks during pregnancy. These visits can be done in a telehealth fashion for your convenience.
Our team will inform you of specific preparation instructions needed for your appointment depending on the type of service you are scheduled for.
For example, several tests require you to drink a certain amount of water beforehand and come to your appointment with a full bladder.
After a comprehensive assessment of each patient’s case, an individualized care plan is proposed based on evolving evidence-based guidelines and protocols. Screening and diagnostic testing options will be explained and offered in line with individual needs.
Patient preferences, values and goals are essential in decision-making. Throughout pregnancy, the care plan is reviewed and modified as needed.
Ultimately, decisions are made collaboratively among the patient and entire healthcare team.
Absolutely! Your Primary OB/GYN team remains a critical member of your caregiver team and they remain your delivery team. We keep him or her closely informed throughout your clinical journey through both reports and direct communication.
Videotaping or taking pictures of the exam is against our department policies. We are happy to provide you with printed ultrasound pictures whenever possible.
The length of each exam varies depending on the baby’s position as well as maternal tissue factors. Some exams are scheduled for 30 minutes, whereas anatomy scans can take 1 hour and if there are multiple fetuses, the exam will take even longer.
The anatomy ultrasound is the most comprehensive evaluation of your baby. The service involves evaluating the baby’s body from head to toe, checking your ovaries, the placenta, and the cervix by transvaginal ultrasound. You may need to return for a follow-up appointment to complete this evaluation depending on fetal position and maternal tissue limitations.
Our ultrasound machines are 3D and 4D capable. This technology is used to help diagnose certain structural aspects of the fetus. We understand the importance of commemorating special moments like images of your baby’s face during ultrasounds: we will do our best to capture images for you within the constraints of appointment times and ultrasound limitations.
Screening tests are used to identify people who have an increased risk for a condition and are NOT definitive. A positive screening result should often be followed by a diagnostic test. Diagnostic tests, such as CVS or amniocentesis, are performed to confirm or exclude presence of a specific condition.
We understand the desire for reassurance about your baby’s health. It's important to recognize that while medical tests such as ultrasounds, screening tests, and diagnostic evaluations can provide valuable information about the health of the fetus, they cannot provide guarantees of a completely healthy outcome.
A single, adult support person may accompany the patient during the ultrasound.
Children are not allowed due to multiple factors including: the need for the technician and physician to concentrate during each exam, sensitivity towards other patients in our waiting rooms, and to decrease risks for unwittingly transmitting infections.
Your delivery will be performed by your OB/GYN team member.
Please first contact your Primary OB/GYN team for all routine prenatal questions.
If you experience a problem related to your high-risk condition, please call our team (973) 322 – 5287.
Please notify us as soon as possible if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment. Missed appointments impact other patients who were unable to be seen. To mitigate the impact of missed appointments, you may be responsible for a cancellation fee.
If you have additional question, please contact us at NJPA today!
We will put you and your baby first, every step of the way.