POLICIES AND PROCEDURES:

Below we have outlined a few of our office policies that help us serve you better!

Appointments:

Appointments can be made during regular business hours. If you are unable to keep your appointment, we ask that you be considerate of other patients who may need to be seen by canceling as soon as possible. We will bill you a cancellation fee for a missed appointment without proper notification. If you arrive late for your appointment, we will make every attempt to work you in, however your appointment may have to be rescheduled.

Telephone calls for the Providers or Nurse:

Our phones are answered by our staff from 8:30 to 5:00. Our trained staff accepts all calls from patients, enabling the Doctor to spend more time with the patients in the office. A nurse will return all calls received before 4:00 pm by the end of the day. Calls received after 4:00pm will be returned by the end of the next business morning.

After hours Emergency Calls:

Our providers are always available after office hours for emergency calls. Night and weekend coverage is shared with other qualified area physicians. Call our main number, 817/329-8364 for instructions. In a life-threatening situation, go to the nearest Emergency Room or call 911.

Prescriptions:

Your medical record is needed to determine whether a refill should be issued, therefore refills cannot be approved after normal business hours. During your visit your Doctor will give you prescriptions in amounts to last until you need to be seen again. These follow up appointments are scheduled so that your provider can monitor your condition and adjust medications accordingly. To ensure appointment availability, please make this appointment at the time of your current visit or at the time you get your last refill. Prescription requests received after 4pm will be processed by the end of the next business day. If you do find yourself in need of more medication prior to your appointment, please call your pharmacy, who will call us for any additional refills. Limited refills may be given to allow time for you to make your appointment.

Referrals:

Some managed care plans require your primary care doctor to obtain authorization to be referred to another provider. If your managed care plan requires this, we will obtain authorization from your insurance company within 3 business days. Please do not make an appointment with the specialist until you have received a call from our referral department.

Outpatient Procedures:

We will obtain authorization from your insurance company and you will be contacted by the facility to which you are being sent to within 5 business days to schedule your procedure. Test results should be available to us within 3 business days after your procedure.

Lab Results:

Acute illness lab results: If you don't have an appointment to review your lab results you will be notified of your results by telephone. If you do not receive a call, please call us.

Chronic disease results: Labs are drawn 1 week prior to your appointment with the Provider. Results are reviewed at this appointment.
Physical lab results (including pap smears):
Labs are drawn on the day of your physical. A physical follow up appointment should be made for 2-4 weeks after the physical. Results are reviewed at this follow up appointment.

Surgical Biopsy result: Results will be either called or reviewed during suture removal appointment

Treatment of a Minor:

A minor is a person under the age of 18 who has never been married and never been declared an adult by a court. Generally, minors do not have the legal capacity to consent to medical treatment.

In order for us to treat a minor we must have a written consent from a parent or legal guardian including a statement as to the nature of the medical treatment to be given on a specific day.

Minors age 15 and under MUST be accompanied by an adult (18yrs old and older)

With the written consent, we will perform the following:

• Examination
• X-Rays
• Other testing
• Noninvasive procedures
• We will not perform
• Invasive procedures
• Immunizations
• Lab work
• Injections

Managed Care:

We accept dozens of insurance plans with various deductibles, co-pays, and coverage’s. We cannot know all of the coverage limitations and rules of your plan. It is important that you read and understand the provisions of your insurance.

Co-Pays:

All co-pay payments are due at check in.
Please bring your insurance card to every visit.

Responsibility for ensuring Insurance Coverage:

You are responsible for ensuring that we are providers on your insurance plan and for knowing what services you have coverage for including but not limited to office visits, labs, x-ray, procedures, physicals and immunizations. You will be responsible for paying for all services not covered by your insurance plan.

Motor Vehicle Accidents (MVA):

We do not file charges for MVA insurance policies. All charges for services rendered due to a MVA are payable in full at the time of your visit unless we can verify that your managed care plan will pay for the services as they would pay any other illness. You will need to submit your charges and seek reimbursement from the MVA insurance company.

Third Party Liability:

“Third party liability” means that someone else’s insurance is to cover your illness/injury. For example, a fall at a grocery store, where the grocery store’s insurance will pay for your medical bills.

We do not file charges for payment to attorneys or any other third party payor. All charges for services rendered are payable in full at the time of your visit unless we can verify that your managed care plan will pay for the services as they would pay any other illness. You will need to submit your charges and seek reimbursement from the third party insurance payor.

Workman’s Compensation:

We do not file workman’s compensation insurance, therefore we cannot treat you for any work related illness or injury. Due to State Laws, you could be denied benefits if you claim your condition is not work related but it actual is.