Southeastern Emergency Physicians (SEP) provide emergency medicine services at hospitals across Tennessee including ETCH. If you or a family member received emergency care from a SEP provider you will receive a separate bill from their billing office. Paying your SEP bill online is fast and easy through their secure online payment portal. This article explains everything you need to know about paying your SEP bill online.
Who is Southeastern Emergency Physicians?
Southeastern Emergency Physicians is a physician group that staffs emergency departments across Tennessee, They provide emergency medicine services in partnership with hospitals and health systems
At East Tennessee Children’s Hospital (ETCH), SEP physicians work in the emergency department caring for pediatric patients. However, SEP bills for their services separately from the hospital.
So if your child receives emergency care at ETCH, you can expect to get two medical bills – one from the hospital for facility charges and one from SEP for the emergency physician services.
This is a common practice with emergency medicine groups. One benefit is that doctors can bill directly for their services.
Why You Get a Separate Bill from SEP
You might be confused about the reason for the two bills: one from Southeastern Emergency Physicians and one from the hospital.
There are a couple reasons for this:
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SEP physicians are not ETCH employees. They are a contracted physician group that provides staffing for the ETCH emergency department.
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Professional fees are billed separately. The SEP bill covers the emergency physician’s services. The hospital bill includes things like medicines, supplies, lab tests, and use of the ED.
In short, SEP charges you separately for the emergency doctor’s time and skill in taking care of your child. Other than the ED visit, the hospital bills for everything else.
While this may mean an additional bill, it allows you to clearly see what you are being charged for the physician services.
How to Pay Your SEP Bill Online
Paying your Southeastern Emergency Physicians bill online is quick and easy through their secure payment portal:
1. Go to the Payment Portal
Go to https://pay.teamhealth.com/. This is the SEP online payment portal.
Alternatively, you can pay directly through the link on your SEP bill.
2. Enter Your Bill ID
You will need the Bill ID from your SEP statement. Enter this 12-digit number in the Bill ID field.
3. Enter Your Date of Birth
They will also need your date of birth (MM/DD/YYYY format) to pull up your account.
4. Select Payment Method
You can pay your SEP bill with a credit card, debit card, HSA or FSA account. Apple Pay and Google Pay are also accepted.
5. Submit Payment
Review the balance and submit your payment! You will receive an email confirmation of your payment.
And that’s it! The online portal allows you to easily view your SEP bill and pay the balance due.
Helpful Tips for Paying Your SEP Bill
Here are some helpful tips to make paying your Southeastern Emergency Physicians bill even easier:
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Save your Bill ID to quickly log in later. You can find this on your paper statement.
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Opt-in to eBills to get instant email notifications when your bill is ready.
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Set up autopay or recurring payments to pay automatically each month.
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Pay on your phone using the SEP Pay app (available for iOS and Android).
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Call SEP Billing at 888-952-6772 if you have any payment questions.
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Check your insurance explanation of benefits – insurance often covers a portion of SEP bills.
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Contact ETCH billing at 865-541-8187 if you have questions about your hospital charges.
Paying promptly can help avoid late fees or sent to collections. So be sure to pay your SEP bill on time!
Financial Assistance Options
If you are having trouble paying your Southeastern Emergency Physicians bill, let them know as soon as possible. They have financial assistance options that may help:
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Payment plans allow you to pay the balance over 3-6 months with no interest.
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Hardship discounts may be available if you meet income requirements.
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Uninsured discounts are applied if you do not have health insurance.
Be upfront about your financial situation and they can find a solution that works for you. It is much easier to set up financial assistance before an account goes to collections.
Billing FAQs
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about SEP bills:
How long do I have to pay my SEP bill?
You should pay your SEP bill within 30 days of receiving it. After 90 days past due, the account may go to collections.
Why am I getting a SEP bill if I have insurance?
Your insurance may have applied some payment to your SEP claim, but you are responsible for any remaining patient responsibility – copays, deductibles, coinsurance, etc.
What if I already paid my hospital bill?
The SEP bill is separate from the hospital (ETCH) bill. You must pay both to resolve the full charges for your emergency visit.
Can I set up a payment plan for my SEP bill?
Yes, SEP offers no-interest payment plans. Call them at 888-952-6772 to make arrangements.
What if my information is incorrect on the SEP bill?
Call them right away to update any incorrect personal, insurance, or health information on your account.
Where do I send my SEP payment?
You can pay online or through the payment portal link on your bill. Or, mail a check to the remittance address listed on your statement.
Pay Your SEP Bill Online Today!
We know that emergency medicine is not a “one size fits all” solution.
At Southeast Emergency Partners, we build strong, local, physician-led teams who have real ownership in the practice. This model drives alignment with goals and attracts clinicians who place a high value on continuity and quality of care.
By building a strong local group of people who care about the area where they live, we make it possible for the clinicians to be a part of the hospital and its goals.
We think that the best emergency room structure has involved doctors who are in charge of their own care locally, chances for doctors to work together and be fairly compensated, and access to national business resources.
