Office Policy
To review our office policies, including late policy etc.
Making Appointments
We see patients by appointment Monday through Friday, 8:30AM to 4.30 PM. When you call to schedule your first (initial) appointment, we will schedule it to allow additional time as you and your provider become acquainted and review your medical history. You may print this paperwork from our patient forms page, located here. Complete it at home and bring it to your appointment. If you do not have internet access or are unable to print the forms, please arrive thirty minutes early for your first visit or stop by the office prior to your appointment so that you can get the blank forms. The physician at your first visit is your assigned provider for this group as long as you are a patient in our practice.
Canceling An Appointment
If you are unable to keep your appointment or are going to be late, please call our office as soon as possible. This courtesy allows us to be of service to other patients. If we do not receive a cancellation call at least one business day in advance, you will be considered a no-show for your appointment and a $25 fee will apply. Also, if you call the same day as your appointment to cancel and/or reschedule the $25 fee will apply. If you miss three appointments, we will ask you to obtain medical services from a different medical group.
Fees
We collect all co-payments at the time of check-in. We accept cash, check, money order and major credit cards except American Express. There is a $25 fee for all returned checks in addition to any fees imposed by your personal financial institution.
Detailed Financial Policy that you are expected to review and sign. Here
If you have a document that requires completion by the provider, please make an appointment. There are additional fees, please check with our receptionist for details.
Telephone Calls
Our telephones are answered from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Monday through Friday. We usually have same day or next day appointments available for acute illnesses. In order to follow the Centers for Disease Control recommendations for appropriate antibiotic use, we require an office visit with physical exam prior to prescribing antibiotics.
New prescriptions and prescription renewals require an office appointment. Good medical care requires regular evaluation of your medical problems and monitoring of your condition(s) and the effectiveness of the medication. If you need a prescription renewal, please call and schedule an appointment.
We strive to get back to you as soon as soon as we receive your test results. However, It may take up to 2 weeks to receive your test results in some cases, including blood work and x-rays. Your provider may have told you to schedule a follow up appointment to discuss your results. Follow the instructions given to you at your appointment. If no follow up was advised, please call if you have not heard from us within two weeks.
In order to better serve our patients in the office, the providers are not available for telephone consultation. If you have medical concerns you would like to discuss with your provider, please make an appointment.
All referrals and authorization requests are processed by the medical assistant. Call our office and notify the medical assistant as soon as you have scheduled your appointment with your specialist. It may take up to two weeks to receive approval from your insurance company.
Emergency Care
If you have an urgent problem, please call our office for instructions. If it is after hours, leave a message, and your call will page the provider on call who will return your call as soon as possible.
In a true emergency, it is best to go to the Emergency Department of the nearest hospital where the physician on duty will begin treatment. If you are treated in the emergency room or hospital, please notify the physician at the hospital that we are your primary care provider so that we will receive information regarding your medical care. When you are discharged home, please call the office so we can request your hospital records and schedule your follow up appointment.
Confidentiality
Your medical record is strictly private. We will not give out information regarding your condition to your employer, friends, or relatives. The only exception to this is when required by law, as in industrial injuries, assault, etc.
Doctor- Patient Relations
These are best when based on a mutual understanding. We make a special effort to explain everything to you regarding your condition, medication and treatment, etc. Please do not hesitate to ask your provider or one of our staff members if you have questions or need clarification.
We have chosen our personnel, office procedures, and medical equipment with much thought and care to provide quality medical services in a pleasant, efficient, and friendly atmosphere. If you have any suggestions or complaints regarding our services or fees, please tell us so that we may better serve you and your friends.
Prescription Policy
- Good medical care requires evaluation of your medical problems and monitoring of your condition(s) and the effectiveness of your medication.
- Many medications require regular blood work for monitoring for your safety.
- If your prescription requires monitoring blood work, please allow time for your provider to receive your results before your appointment.
- At each office visit, review your medication list and make sure that you have enough refills of all your medication to last until your next office visit.
- If you are on any prescription medication you will need a follow up at least every 6 months. Many medical conditions require more frequent follow up
Patient Responsibilities
Your Co-payment, Co-insurance or Deductibles are your responsibility. All patients are expected to present an insurance card at each visit. All co-payment, co-insurance, deductibles and past balances are due at the time check in.
If you have deductibles that have not been met then then our policy is to charge $75-150 at the time of the visit. You will be billed for any residual balance as determined by your insurance.
If you are unable to pay your co-payment, co-insurance or deductible, your appointment may be rescheduled unless you have made prior arrangement. Any amount not paid at the time of service is subject to an additional fee of $25.00 to cover billing cost. This fee will be waived if payment is made within 5 days. We urge you to help keep our administrative costs down so we can focus on providing quality medical care. Any denial(s) for service(s) not covered under your policy remain your responsibility.
Insurance
- Keep in mind that your insurance policy is basically a contract between you and your insurance company. As a courtesy to you,
we will file your insurance claim if you assign the benefits to the doctor. In order to file your claim, we require that you disclose all insurance information including primary and secondary insurance. Failure to provide complete insurance information may result in patient responsibility for the entire bill. Acceptable insurance identification is defined as a valid insurance card. If your insurance company does not pay the practice within a reasonable period of 45 days from the date of billing, we will bill you for payment. If, we later receive a check from your insurer, we will refund any overpayment to you.
- Desert Rose Medical Consultants will bill only contracted insurance plans. If a non-contracted insurance company covers you, full payment is required at the time of service. We will provide you with an itemized statement. You would need to submit the claim to your insurance company for direct reimbursement to you.
- Not all insurance plans cover all services; such as vaccines etc. that are deemed necessary by your physician. In the event your insurance plan determines a service to be “non-covered,” you will be responsible for the complete charge. Payment is due upon receipt of a statement from our office.
Missed Appointments
There will be a charge of $25 for any missed appointment. (All No shows and failure to give at least 24 hrs notice of cancellation/ rescheduling is considered “Missed appointment”)
Selfpay
The full amount is due at the time of service unless payment arrangements are made in advance.
Dishonored Checks
Dishonored checks will be subject to a $25.00 service fee. Dishonored checks not redeemed within 20 days of written notice to the maker will be referred to the County Attorney’s office for enforcement of bad check laws. You will be placed on a cash only basis following any returned check.
Delinquent Accounts
Delinquent accounts may be assigned to a collection agency or attorney. Additional fees including collection, attorney’s fees and interest at 2% per month will be added to the total amount due.
Medical Records
There will be an additional charge for purposes other than continuity of medical care.
Outstanding Balance Policy
It is our office policy that all past due accounts be sent three statements. If payment is not made on this account, a single phone call will be made to try to make payment arrangements. If no resolution can be made, the account will be sent to the collection agency. In the event an account is turned over for collections, the person financially responsible for the account will be responsible for all collections costs and other additional costs as noted above for delinquent accounts.
Receipts
Provided to you at time of visit for any payments will be your proof of payment. Please keep these carefully.