FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a referral?
If you belong to an HMO, you are responsible for obtaining referrals from your primary care or other physicians as required by your insurance plan. Referrals must be received in advance of your appointment or brought in at the time of the appointment. Payment for services rendered without the proper referral in our records is the responsibility of the patient.
What is your cancellation policy?
We ask that patients provide at least a notice of two business days to cancel an appointment. Failure to provide sufficient cancellation notice may result in a no-show infraction and forfeiture of deposit. Three no-show infractions may result in dismissal from the practice.
What is your financial policy?
We wish to establish optimal relations with our patients and avoid misunderstanding regarding our payment and cancellation policies. Payment is required for all services at the time they are rendered unless you are in a plan in which we participate.
For those patients, applicable copayments and deductibles will be collected at the time of service. Any amount that your insurance company deems your personal responsibility is due from you.
For cosmetic procedures, a deposit is required at the time of scheduling and that balance is due at the time of service. We accept payment in the form of cash, check, or credit card. We enforce a returned check fee of $30.00.
Read our billing FAQs HERE.
Will I receive a reminder call/notice?
Yes, a courtesy automated reminder call will be made 3 business days prior to your scheduled appointment. Please be aware that if your appointment is scheduled within 4 business days of your appointment date that you may not receive a reminder call.
Do minors need to be accompanied by an adult when they see a doctor?
Yes, all minors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian at the first visit. Where appropriate, a consent form can be signed to allow children to be seen without a parent or legal guardian for follow-up visits.
How do I obtain test results?
Lab results are usually available within 5-10 business days. It is our office policy to contact you by phone or by mail with your test results. If you do not hear from our office, regarding your results, within three weeks of having the test performed, please contact our office.
Do you have same-day appointments?
It depends; there may be cancellations throughout the day. We keep a waiting list of patients that we call when we have an opening. If you would like to be added to the waiting list, please let us know.
What is your prescription policy?
Columbia Skin Clinic handles a large amount of prescription refill requests in the form of calls from patients, faxes from patients, and pharmacies. In order to continue providing the highest quality medical care and ensure your safety, we have implemented the following prescription policy.
If you need a prescription refilled, we ask that you inform us at the time of your visit. We encourage you not to wait until the last pill or drop of your topical ointment to let us know that you need refills.
The most efficient way to refill a prescription is to call your pharmacy and have them send a fax to our office requesting the refill. That form will contain the dosage and history. The physician approves the refill and faxes the request to the pharmacy. If there is a problem with the refill request, the physician or clinical staff will contact you.
If your prescription is over one year old, you will be asked to schedule an appointment with your physician.
Refills are not provided after business hours or on holidays.
If you request a refill via telephone the following information is needed to complete your request:
- Your full name and date of birth
- The name of the medicine and dosage (i.e. Keflex 20mg)
- How you take the medicine (once a day, twice a day, etc.)
- The number of pills or amount of the medication
- The number of refills
- The pharmacy and their phone number or fax number
Please note: Your physician must approve the request. If the request is approved, it will be called or faxed to the pharmacy within 24 hours. If there is a problem with the prescription request, the physician’s clinical staff will contact you within 24 hours. Please call your pharmacy to verify that they have received the prescription and it is ready for you to pick up.
What is your credit card on file policy?
We have implemented a convenient payment policy using a credit card to be held on file. Many insurance plans require deductibles, coinsurance, and copays in amounts that are unknown to you, or to us, at the time of your visit.
All non-Medicare patients will be required to give a credit card, debit card, or HSA/FSA card at the time of check out. Your card information will be held securely until your insurances have paid their portion and notify us of the amount you owe. Learn more about our credit card on file policy.
