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Appointments
Appointments are scheduled at your physician's direction for office
visits, injection, chemotherapy and lab tests. Every effort will be
made to meet your scheduling needs. Be sure to schedule your appointments
with the receptionist. A reminder card will be given to you for your
convenience.
We will always accommodate emergencies when they occur. For this
reason, it is very important to always schedule your visits so that
time can be set aside for your care. If you cannot keep a scheduled
appointment please let us know so that we can release that time
for another patient.
We respect the value of your time. Unscheduled appointments are
an inconvenience to you as well as other patients. Efficient scheduling
helps us to better serve you at your appointed time.
Billing
You will be asked to provide us with your insurance coverage information
the first time you come for an office visit and we will ask for regular
updates throughout your care. With this information we will be able
to do all billing and follow up for you. If you have an insurance
that requires a referral from your primary care physician, please
be sure to contact them before your visit with us. Prior authorizations
for office visits and treatments are necessary in some cases and our
office staff will work with you to be sure that everything is in place
before you see the doctor.
Copayments are a contract between you and your insurance company
and must be paid at the time of service.
If you should encounter financial difficulty, there is a patient
account representative available to assist you. Please feel free
to contact your representative at any time with questions or concerns.
For your convenience we accept Mastercard, Visa, and Discover.
About Your Nurses
Each office of New Mexico Cancer Care is staffed with specially trained
registered nurses. Our nurses are experienced in caring for oncology
patients and their families, and have oncology certifications. Your
questions and concerns are welcome.
When you call the office with a question or problem during normal
business hours, your call will be returned by a nurse. Every effort
will be made to return your call as soon as possible, and you can
expect your call to be returned the same day. If it is important
that your call be returned within a certain amount of time (example:
need call back within 2 hours) you must make the person answering
the phone aware of this. If it is a situation that requires immediate
attention, make sure to tell the receptionist when you call.
Patient confidentiality is a priority. In the interest of protecting
your privacy, your condition and test results will not be discussed
with family members, and messages will not be left on an answering
machine unless you request that this is done. Please leave this
in mind when leaving messages at the office.
Prior to receiving any treatment or chemotherapy in our offices,
you will have time with a nurse in which to review the treatment
and expected side effects. Feel free to ask any questions and express
your concerns at any time during the course of your treatment.
We are partners together in your treatment and want you to be fully
informed. Please remember that the nurses are here to help and support
you during this challenging time.
Your Medical Records
By law, all records are owned by the facility or physician that is
providing medical care. You have a legal right to copies of the records
upon your written request. Original records are never released.
Release of Records
It is our desire to protect the confidentiality of your medical information.
We require written authorization from all patients before records
will be copied and provided to anyone. Telephone requests are not
accepted as it is impossible to determine who is calling. You are
the only one with the authority to release your records, unless you
have given the power of attorney to another individual. A copy of
the legal power of attorney must be provided.
When you become a patient at New Mexico Cancer Care you are asked
to sign a release stating that we may provide copies of your records
to your insurance carriers for processing of claims, and to other
health care providers that your physician refers you to for continued
care.
Requesting Copies of Records
Due to the numerous requests received and the time required to prepare
copies of records, please provide at least 48 hours notice when copies
are needed.
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