Orthopedics

Appointments and Emergencies

Our Orthopedic Clinic sees patients by appointment if at all possible. This policy is to keep waiting time to a minimum for those patients with scheduled appointments. We do reserve times for emergency work-ins and our appointment secretaries are instructed to obtain information regarding your problem or injury in order to provide effective scheduling. While we want you to be able to see the provider of your choice, scheduling availability and emergencies occasionally limit specific open appointments. Your cooperation will help ensure proper time is allowed for your visit and keep everyone’s waiting to a minimum.

Emergencies during office hours may be treated by calling 434-793-4711 to see whether the office or emergency room is the most appropriate for your emergency needs. If you are seen in the Emergency Room, your first evaluation will be by the ER Physician who will then contact our “ON-CALL” doctor if necessary. If you need to contact our “ON-CALL” doctor after service hours, please use the answering service at 434-792-3111.

Your Visit

Free parking is available at River District Tower. Upon arrival at the office, give your name to the receptionist who will obtain the information necessary to begin the check-in process. If x-rays are necessary, we have our own x-ray department.

If you have been to another doctor or the Emergency Room prior to this visit, please bring those x-rays with you for comparison. X-rays may be loaned or copied depending on individual circumstances. We do charge a fee to copy x-ray films and require several days advance notice to prepare these copies.

If hospital admission or surgery scheduling is necessary, these arrangements will be made as well. Before admission or surgery, arrangements will be made for you to have a History and Physical Examination performed and to obtain your hospital orders.

Insurance

Insurance pre-certification is a part of most insurance coverage. We will be happy to assist you in obtaining the necessary information. Insurance policies vary. Thus, it is ultimately the patient’s responsibility to make sure insurance requirements have been met to provide us with any needed information.

As a courtesy we will file your insurance at no charge for primary and secondary coverage. You should give our receptionist complete insurance information including copies of cards with policy number and address. You should also sign an authorization the first time you are seen for a problem. If you prefer, or if adequate information is unavailable, a form will be sent directly to you for submission to your insurance company. We file all claims for Medicare, Medicaid and Blue Cross Blue Shield. Other insurance’s are also filed as requested.

Prescription Requests

Requests for prescription refills are taken only during normal office hours. When you need a prescription refilled, notify your pharmacist or call our office 434-793-4711. Please have the prescription name and Rx number available. You should call several days before your prescription runs out. Please allow 72 hours for prescriptions to be refilled.

Billing & Payment

Fees for services are due at the time of your visit. Co-payments are determined by your individual insurance company, not our office. Spectrum Medical must collect these copays in order to adhere to our contracts with each insurance company. Patient’s outstanding balances are billed monthly. Outstanding balances are due regardless of pending insurance claims. Any overdue balances are forwarded to our collection agency for judgment including garnishment of wages. Please make payment arrangements with our Insurance Department whenever necessary. In the case of an overpayment to our clinic, a bill will be sent and any refunds over $25 will be mailed by check once treatment is completed. Refund amounts less than $25 will be held as a credit to the patient’s account or mailed at their request.

There is a $35 fee for returned checks.

Specific information concerning any motor vehicle accident or Worker’s Compensation visit is required on your initial visit. This includes any insurance company along with the attorney’s name, address, claim number or other information that will help us with your account. We will file the insurance for you at your request. We can also send billing statements and records to specific attorneys at your request. There will be a charge for this service at $.50/page up to 50 pages, then $.25/page thereafter. You may be asked to pay in advance for motor vehicle accidents. A written release of information and/or authorization for payment is also required on your initial visit.

Patients should understand that litigation or pending settlement is not a reason for delay of payment. Non-payment of outstanding balances will be turned over to collections.

Compensation claims will be filed with your employer or insurance carrier. Your employer must be notified of your claim prior to your visit. Reports are sent after each visit as a complimentary service to our patients. Any claims denied are the full responsibility of the patient. A $15.00 charge, payable in advance, is made for completing disability forms related to any type of loan. Other disability forms are generally free of charge but mist be picked up or accompanied by a self addressed stamped envelope. Please allow 5 working days for completion of all forms. Spectrum Medical does not charge for completion of FMLA forms, Government requested forms for housing assistance, DMV forms, homebound student forms. Spectrum Medical does utilize a third party company called MediCopy to assist with the completion of loan and disability forms. MediCopy will charge the patient $30.00 per form. If more than one form is dropped off & uploaded to MediCopy then each additional form is $15.