Appointments

How many times have you thought of a question after you leave the doctor’s office? This happens to most of us. At HMG, we understand how frustrating it is to forget to mention an important topic. A little advance planning can help you feel confident and in charge of your doctor’s appointment.

What you’ll need for your appointment

• Check in Information Gather important information the day before your appointment. You’ll need your driver’s license, insurance cards, and your co-pay.
• Forms Bring any completed questionnaires or daily journals requested by the front desk staff or your doctor. If you’d like to fill out forms before your appointment, please download forms here.
• Clothing Wear clothing that can be removed easily.
• Questions Write down questions to help you remember issues you want to cover. Prioritize your questions since time is usually limited to around 20 minutes.
• Medications Bring all your medications, supplements and vitamins. An updated list is ok too if it includes dose, strength, and reasons for taking the medications.
• Symptoms List any symptoms you experience regularly or intermittently. For example, if you are having pain: pinpoint exactly where it hurts, what causes have you noticed and remedies that work to reduce the pain.
• Doctor’s Recommendations Remembering everything your doctor says can be challenging if you have several issues to discuss. Bring paper and pen to take notes. Or, bring a family member or friend.

Honesty Helps Us Help You

When we ask questions about your lifestyle, we aren’t judging you. Your answers influence treatment plans for your health issues, so we need that information. Little fibs can cause big problems. Be honest about alcohol, drugs, nicotine, exercise, and eating habits. When you fail to share the complete picture with us, you may be limiting your quality of care. Your honesty helps us develop the best treatment plans for your health.

An annual physical exam is your pathway to a healthier you. Routine procedures differ based on age, gender and health. So, there’s no one size fits all. Here are some screenings you can expect and why they are important.

Vitals snapshot by nurse

• Blood Pressure Uncontrolled high blood pressure (hypertension) can lead to heart and kidney disease as well as stroke. Because many people have no symptoms, annual screenings are vital.
• Oxygen and Heart Rate A pulse oximetry placed on your fingertip measures oxygen level in your blood and your heart rate. It’s a check to ensure your vitals are within normal range.
• Temperature Is your temperature in the normal range? While it can vary slightly from person to person, a temperature can signal an infection.
• Weight Excessive weight fluctuations without may be an early disease indicator.
• Immunizations Are you current in your injections? There are booster and additional immunizations over time.
• Updated Medicines It is important to know all medications, vitamins and supplements. You can find a list of these on FollowMyHealth® so that you can update it before you go.

Physical exam by doctor

Your doctor will probably talk to you for a few minutes at the beginning of the exam. This is an important time for the doctor to assess your memory and skin appearance. The doctor also may evaluate how easily you move.

• Heart and Lung Function When you doctor listens to you breathe with a stethoscope, he/she is checking for potential disease. Do you wheeze or crackle when you breathe? Is your heart beating normally?
• Open Wide and Say “ah” The condition of your teeth, tongue and throat say a lot about your overall health.
• Tapping/Feeling Parts of Body Your doctor taps or feels places on your neck and abdomen to detect any abnormalities.
• Check Strength and Reflexes A simple tap to test your reflexes shows how your central nervous system is working to quickly move away from danger.

Laboratory tests

Your annual checkup will probably include a few diagnostic tests. The type of tests depends on your gender, risk factors and overall health. Below are a few common tests.

• Blood Labs A complete lipid and metabolic panel shows your cholesterol, liver and kidney functions, diabetes screening.
• Colorectal Cancer If you are age 50 or older, your doctor will recommend a colonoscopy. If you are at low risk, this test is done every 10 years. Your screening may be more frequently if you have risk factors.
• Mammogram/Pap Smear A gynecologist or your primary care physician may schedule an annual mammogram and pap smear for females.
• Prostate Cancer Men are screened annually for prostate cancer.

• No Show Policy

  We understand that scheduling conflicts occur from time to time. However, we request at least two hours advance notice if youare unable to keep your scheduled appointment(s). Two or more missed appointments may result in your family being dismissedfrom Holston Medical Group. Patients that fail to show up for a scheduled appointment may be charged a fee for not providingthe office with prior notice of cancellation.

  Holston Medical Group physicians have developed our No Show policy in an effort to better serve our patients by providingsame day appointments to those who are sick and need to be seen. If someone schedules an appointment and does not showfor the visit, we have lost an available time that could have been used for a sick patient.

  If you fail to cancel a previously scheduled appointment at least 24 hours In advance, you may be charged a fee as outlined below:

  • Established office visit: $20
  • Allergy Testing: $75
  • New patient visit or consultation: $100
  • Gl Procedure: $250

  This charge cannot be billed to the insurance company. Failure to pay a no show fee will be treated according to our policy on unpaid balances, with the exception of collection accounts. This charge is not applicable to patients with Medicaid/TennCare insurance coverage.

  After 2 no-show appointments in a rolling calendar year, you may be discharged from the practice, at the discretion of the responsible provider and management. Medical care will not be withheld for a medical emergency for thirty days from date of dismissal.

  We look forward to providing your health care needs. Your understanding and cooperation helps us to provide availableappointments for patients who urgently need them.

• Financial Policy

  Payment

  Payment is expected at the time of your visit. Just as we make every effort to accommodate you when you are in need of medical care, we expect that you will make every effort to pay your bill promptly. Payment is due at the time services areprovided or upon receipt of a statement from our billing office. We will accept cash, check, debit, credit or health savings accounts. You may also make a payment online through our patient portal, FollowMyHealth®.

  Payment will include any unmet deductible, co-insurance, co-payment amount or non-covered charges from your insurance company. If you do not carry insurance, or if your coverage is currently under a pre-existing condition clause payment In full is expected at the time of your visit. For visits under a “global” or a follow up trauma visit (from a procedure performed by an HMG physician) or for ongoing rehabilitation treatment plans, you will only be responsible for your co-payment if applicable based on your insurance. We do ask for a copy of your current insurance card at the time of your visit to ensure we properly file your claim.

  Surgery Patients

  You may be responsible or required to pay a percentage of surgery charges prior to any surgeries or procedures. This will be determined by information given to us by your insurance company in regard to patient percent responsibility.

  Insurance

  We participate with several insurance plans and will file your claims on your behalf. It is your responsibility to ensure coverage for services prior to your visit. You will be responsible for the complete charges for any non-covered services provided. In addition, all co-payments, deductibles or non-covered charges will be due at the time of service.You must provide proof of insurance at each visit so we can ensure proper billing to your benefit plan. If there is an overpayment on your account, we will refund any overpayment to you after overpayment credit is applied to any outstanding account balance(s). We do not bill third party payors, but will be happy to provide a copy of the original claim if requested.

  High deductible plans

  Under these plans, your insurance company will provide you a discount off our billed charges, but you are responsible for the entire amount due until you meet your deductible. We will accept cash, check, debit, credit or you may use your health savings account.

  Returned checks

  Returned checks will incur a service charge which may vary from time to time as determined by our financial institution.

  Accounting principles

  If there is an overpayment on your account, we will refund any overpayment to you after overpayment credit is applied to any outstanding account balance (s). Payment and credits are applied to the oldest charges first, except for insurance payments which are applied to the corresponding date of service.

  Forms fees

  Medical records, except those involving worker’s compensation cases, will be billed at the rates listed below:

  Simple forms (completed within 2 business days)

  • DURING an office visit: No Charge
  • AFTER an office visit: $5/form
  • Examples of simple forms: Handicap tag/sticker, work re-entry forms, immunization, medication, sports, concussion clearance, WIC, Home bound status short form, disability short form, bank loan form, foster parent health form, college & camp forms

  Complex forms: $25 (completed within 10 business days)

  • Examples of complex forms: FMLA (per illness per year), disability long form, home bound status long form.

  Unpaid balances

  All outstanding balances shall be due within 30 days of the date of service. At that time, all past due balances in their entirety must be paid prior to the time of your next visit. Balances that remain outstanding for a period of 90 days or more may be referred to a collection agency and could affect your credit.

  Financial dismissal

  Patients who do not make payment arrangements risk being dismissed from the practice. Holston Medical Group reserves the right to dismiss patients for delinquent financial accounts on personal balances. If dismissed, medical care will not be withheld for a medical emergency for thirty days from date of dismissal.

  Billing questions

  We will be happy to help you resolve your balance and can be reached at 423-578-1802, Monday- Friday 8:00AM- 5:00PM.