What does a “Patient/Provider Relationship” mean?
The medical provider-patient relationship is central to the practice of healthcare and is essential for the delivery of high-quality health care in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. For effective treatment, a patient must have confidence in his/her medical provider. The medical provider must be knowledgeable in the care of the patient’s medical need. And the patient must be willing to comply with treatment modalities. The relationship begins after the medical provider completes an initial evaluation to determine if you are a suitable candidate and if they are able to provide you with appropriate care. (Filling out forms or insurance questions does not establish a provider/patient relationship.)
As a patient of FMOA, we want you to be as educated and involved in your healthcare as we are. We consider the patient/ healthcare provider relationship a partnership. With that in mind, we like to remind patients to over communicate with us about their care and to always let any specialists or hospitals know that we are your healthcare “home”. We are not always able to know when you are seen at another office; therefore, we need you to make sure any pertinent information is passed on to our office so that we may provide truly the best global care we can.
When I come for my first appointment what should I bring?
Please be ready to fill out any paperwork including medical and surgical history, demographics, insurance carrier.
If you are transferring your care from another provider, please bring in any necessary medical information, x-ray or lab results, and any medication orders.
Bring your insurance card, driver’s license or other identification and your copay amount. Co-pays and/or payments in full are expected at the time of service. We accept cash, check, and Visa or MasterCard.
What should I do if I can’t make it to an appointment?
Please call FMOA as soon as you know that you are not able to make it to an appointment. If you will be 10 minutes late, we will do our best to get you in to meet your provider, though we will need to respect the time of others that were on time for their appointments.
FMOA does charge a $55 fee for missed, late arrival (greater than 10 minutes), or rescheduling with less than 24 hours’ notice. After 2 late cancellation/no-show events FMOA may discharge you from our care.
Am I always able to see my provider?
FMOA desires to provide you with a prompt appointment. At times, this may mean that you will be seen by a different medical provider. If you prefer to see a particular provider, please schedule your routine appointments well in advance. We will make every effort to meet your request. For illnesses or injuries, it may be necessary for you to see whichever provider is available. FMOA providers are extremely collaborative in their care management and will do their best to discuss your case with your primary care provider.
What should I know about my insurance?
Payment is expected at the time of service. Our office does participate with major insurance plans. If we have an agreement with your insurance company, we will gladly submit the claim on your behalf once your co-payment and deductible amounts have been met. Our Front Office staff have been instructed to make a copy of your insurance card. It is your responsibility to be informed of the details of your health insurance coverage.
What if I can’t pay my bill?
Please call FMOA to discuss how we can assist you. FMOA is willing to set up an automatic pay per month program so that your account is kept active. Our process for billing is that we send out bills within 1-7 days of service. We will remind you within 30 days. If FMOA does not hear back from you or you do not provide a forwarding address, we will begin the process of notifying collections and potentially discontinuing your care.
Why can’t I have my regular visit at the same time as my annual visit?
While many insurances allow for a combination visit to discuss current medical issues along with the annual visit, some do not. A typical annual visit has many things that need to be covered in a short amount of time including an overall screening, physical exam, and labs. An annual exam is usually covered by most insurance companies at no cost to you. For some insurance policies, if medical conditions already being managed are discussed at this visit, they may refuse to pay for the exam and labs, leaving you responsible for the full bill.
On the other hand, if you have other medical conditions being treated by our office, our providers will often request a separate visit so that they can have the time to focus on your individual needs and address your concerns without rushing through the visit as we are trying to complete all of the annual exam requirements as well.
If you would like to discuss combining an annual visit along with a medication visit, please contact your insurance to see if they will allow for this. In some cases, if the visits can be combined, the annual exam will be fully covered and you will only be responsible for your copay for the additional time spent.
How long does FMOA keep my medical records?
FMOA follows federal and state laws regarding medical record retention. For many medical records, they are retained for 7 years after you reach the age of 18 years.
How do I request my records?
You can fill out a Release of Information form. Please provide FMOA 30 days to comply with your request. You may be billed, per federal regulations, for copying and posting your medical records.