Office Policies
ON-TIME ARRIVAL POLICY: Patient agrees to arrive at least 10 minutes and 30 minutes scheduled appointment for established and new patients, respectively. Patients who arrive more than 10 minutes late for their scheduled appointment may have to reschedule their appointment for another day and pay the cancellation and missed appointments fee since our physicians make a strong effort to adhere to their pre-arranged schedule at all times.
CANCELLED, RESCHEDULING, AND MISSED APPOINTMENTS: Patient agrees to cancel or reschedule their appointment at least 24 hours in advance by speaking to someone from the office in person or on the phone or by leaving a voicemail message. If a patient misses an appointment and/or does not cancel or reschedule their appointment within 24 hours, a fee will be charged to the patient. New patients will be charged $250 and follow up visits will be charged $150. Patients who decline to pay these charges prior to rescheduling appointment and patients who decline to schedule follow up appointment will be discharged from the practice. Patients who miss or fail to keep two or more appointments in a twelve (12) month period, without any notification, will be discharged from the practice.
REFERRAL/AUTHORIZATION: If a patient chooses to access specialty services without prior authorization from their provider or fails to notify Oasis Rheumatology Medical Center – Lee, PLLC that their insurance plan requires specific outside vendors, such as laboratories, to perform referred services, the patient may be financially responsible for the services rendered if their insurance does not cover these costs. Patients understand it is their responsibility to ensure eligibility coverage and pay costs associated with referrals, authorizations, and diagnostics.
MESSAGES: By signing this document, patient consents that Oasis Rheumatology Medical Center – Lee, PLLC is authorized to leave messages on their voicemails and SMS/MMS text messages with detailed information about them and of their care. Patient understands that text messaging travels across the public internet, is not confidential or private, will not necessarily reach Oasis Rheumatology Medical Center – Lee, PLLC and staff, is never to be used for urgent or emergency problems, should not be used to communicate sensitive medical information or to have conversations about medical care, and is not a substitute for seeking care with a physician. Patients agree to respond to voicemails and text messages in a timely manner. Message and data rates may apply.
ANCILLARY SERVICES & FOLLOW UP VISITS: It is patient’s responsibility to follow up and complete diagnostic requests (imaging, labs, etc) in the discussed time frame. Patient understands it is their responsibility to follow up and that they can get their imaging results and lab results at the location/company they performed the diagnostics and can bring it to any physician of their choosing to review their results if they choose not to follow up with Oasis Rheumatology Medical Center. Patient also understands that they can ask their preferred lab and imaging location to run eligibility to determine coverage of ordered diagnostics, they can change preferred ancillary services locations at any time, they are responsible for all costs, and that they do not necessarily have to complete everything to obtain care. Oasis Rheumatology Medical Center – Lee, PLLC will attempt to contact patient after no-show or cancellation of appointment by patient and will discharge patient from clinic if unable to reach patient for follow up visit.
SPECIAL LETTERS AND FORM COMPLETION: Oasis Rheumatology Medical Center – Lee, PLLC charges fees for any forms/letters describing any medical conditions and/or treatments for their patients. This fee is based on the length and complexity of the form or requested letter. Payment must be presented at the time of letter and form request. Please allow a minimum of 5-7 business days for our office to complete them. All forms must be submitted with patient portion of the document fully completed. Any forms related but not limited to disability, FMLA, or employment accommodations that may involve extensive chart review and/or examination, and may require an appointment.
MEDICATION REFILLS & DIAGNOSTICS: Medication refills may take up to 4 business days to be completed. For patient safety, patients are required to follow up on a regular basis to continue medication refills. Refill requests may be done in person at the appointment, via phone or voicemail, or via letter to the office. Prescription refill requests from pharmacy will not be filled or authorized. Prescription refill requests must come directly from the patient. Please be aware that Oasis Rheumatology Medical Center – Lee, PLLC does not call individual pharmacies. In addition, if a patient's prescription requires a prior authorization, the office may require up to 72 business hours to initiate this request. Furthermore, please note that some prescriptions and diagnostics will not be authorized by a patient's insurance company. It is the patient's responsibility to file any necessary appeals and know what medications are covered under their pharmacy benefits. Patient understands they can have their prescriptions filled at any pharmacy of their choosing and can change their preferred pharmacy at any time by calling our office or by writing.
PRIOR AUTHORIZATIONS: The office will work with insurance companies to file prior authorization as a courtesy to the patient. The authorization process can take up to 3 weeks and may be longer if the insurance denies and an appeal is needed. If multiple appeals are needed, charges may apply.
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE PRESCRIPTION: Oasis Rheumatology Medical Center – Lee, PLLC reserves the right to not prescribe controlled substance medications and will not prescribe continuous pain medication. If the patient is prescribed a controlled substance medication, the patient is responsible for the medication and prescription. Patients who require continuous controlled substance medications will be referred to their primary care physician or a certified pain management physician.
FEE FOR MEDICAL RECORDS: A signed medical release form will be required for any copies of patient medical records. Patient agrees to pay a fee for all print copies of medical records and mailing fee if applicable. This fee is based on the size of the chart, the amount of time it takes to be copied, and any additional forms or documents that are required to be filed out for the medical records. The fee must be paid in full before any records will be released. It may take up to 72 business hours to have a patient's medical records prepared. Records can be faxed to any other physicians or entities and patients free of charge with a signed medical records release form. Oasis Rheumatology Medical Center – Lee, PLLC does not email medical records.
DISCLAIMER: Oasis Rheumatology Medical Center – Lee, PLLC has the right to change their office policies at any time.