Privacy Notice
We adhere to strict privacy practices in accordance with HIPAA. Due to these standards, it is important that you provide us with the preferred communication method where we can leave confidential information on your patient registration form. We need permission from you before we can leave a detailed message on your voicemail or send results or answer questions via email. It is also important that you provide us with the names of those who may call on your behalf. We are unable to discuss your account (including scheduling of appointments) with your spouse or children, for example, unless you give us written permission to do so.
Appointments
We can be reached at 650-988-7488 between 9 am and 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. Please describe the nature of your problem to the person making your appointment. New patients should fill out registration and medical history forms ahead of time and provide a copy of their insurance card and driver’s license or identification card for the initial visit. Whenever possible, medical records should be faxed to our office (650) 988-7486 at least 48 hours prior to your visit. Please bring a list of current medications with you along with any recent labs or radiology results. When you arrive for the appointment, please notify the receptionist if you have had any tests done recently so we can ensure the results will be available for review during your appointment.
Cancellations
Office Visits: Our office policy is to require at least 24 hours’ notice of cancellation of a booked appointment. Failure to provide adequate notice may result in a missed appointment fee from your physician. (Missed new patient appointment: $75. All other visits: $50)
Procedures: We would like you to be aware that the scheduling process for an endoscopy/colonoscopy procedure involves coordinating the schedules of your physician, the procedure room, and the necessary staff. Due to the high demand for endoscopy procedures, the procedure room is typically booked one month in advance.
In the absence of adequate notice, cancellations result in a waste of key resources as it is often not possible to schedule another case in the same time slot without adequate notice. For this reason, you will be asked to sign a statement acknowledging your understanding and acceptance of our cancellation policy. This policy stipulates (apart from exceptional circumstances) that if you cancel/reschedule your procedure with less than a five business day notice or fail to keep your appointment, you will be charged a $200.00 fee. If you cancel your procedure with more than five business days notice no charge will be made.
Copayments
Insurance regulations require payment of these encounter fees at the time of service.
Prescription Refills
Please contact the pharmacy for all prescription refills. If authorization from a provider is necessary for the refill, the pharmacy will contact us. Please allow a minimum of 3 business days for a turn around on all prescription requests.
E-Mails and Telephone Calls
Over the years the reductions in our fee schedule by your insurance plan, combined with rising overhead, has now deteriorated to the point that, sadly, our practice is no longer able to absorb this cost and provide this service free of charge. Going forward, our office will require you to make an appointment to speak to a provider and will be billing insurance for these services.
For more information or to review our complete Office Policies, please see “Annual Office Policy and Financial Agreement” on our forms page.