Frequently Asked Questions
1. How long do I have to wait for an appointment?
2. If I am receiving controlled substances, how often do I have to be seen?
3. If you aren't contracted with my insurance, what are my options.
4. I have already had pain management procedures, will you just maintain my medications?
5. My prior pain management physician discharged me from his practice, will you accept me?
7. What do I need to bring with me to my initial evaluation?
8. Do you accept patients without any insurance?
9. What can you offer that others do not?
__________________________________________________________________
The Answers
1. Wait times for appointments usually are less than one month for new patients. We like to take our time during the initial evaluation and thus only a couple of new patients are seen per day.
2. All patients receiving controlled medications are required to be seen on a regular basis. Controlled medication prescriptions will only be dispensed in the clinic and not on procedure days at the surgery center or hospital. Lost or stolen medications will not be replaced. ALL patients are required to sign a narcotic contract and are regularly drug screened. The physicians reserve the right to discharge any patient that is considered to be misusing their medications.
3. We try to contract with all insurance companies and if we are not contracted with your insurance company we will usually work with you to keep your costs reasonable.
4. Patients that are prior patients of other pain management doctors will have their charts reviewed by our staff before consultations are scheduled. When we initially evaluate you, we will determine what options there are for your condition. If we feel that a certain procedure or study is warranted then we will prescribe it.
5. It depends why you were discharged. If your physician closed his practice or no longer accepted your insurance, then we will gladly accept you. If you had issues with your controlled medication, then we'll evaluate that situation. If you were discharged due to illegal reasons then No, we wouldn't accept you.
6. Referrals are not needed unless your insurance requires it.
7. We suggest that you bring copies of your recent MRI's or CT's, or their reports. Also, bring any recent reports from your primary care provider, psychiratrist, or prior pain physicians.
8. We do work with patients who do not have insurance but we will review your situation before scheduling an initial evaluation. We do expect you to progress along with the prescribed treatments, although we do understand that costs may delay how quickly you progress.
9. We offer everything from conventional pain management procedures to minimally invasive spinal surgeries. From vertebroplasty, endoscopic discetomies, sacroiliac joint procedures and even facet surgery that can permanently cure arthritic pain you'll find that we have an arsenal of options for your problems.