Patient Responsibility
It is your responsibility as a patient to ensure that you are compliant with the following policies:
- Regularly attending appointments at the intervals determined by your provider.
- Keeping track of your medication refill status and knowing if you will run out prior to your next appointment.
- Please allow 3 business days for processing. It is your responsibility to notify our clinic at least 72 hours prior to running out of medicine.
No-Show Policy
Please cancel any appointments that you cannot make with minimum 24-hour advance notice to avoid being counted as a "no-show" or incur the following fees:
- < 24 hours before an intake appointment will incur a $100 fee
- < 24 hours before a follow-up appointment will incur a $50 fee
Termination
Repeated instances of no-shows which are not made in accordance with our company policies, you will be issued a written warning the 2nd time, then it will be considered just cause for termination and your chart will be closed with our practice.
Controlled Substance Policy
We have specific guidelines regarding the prescription and management of controlled substances:
- Benzodiazepines are not prescribed as first-line treatment for anxiety due to their potential for dependence.
- Benzodiazepines are not prescribed to patients concurrently using opioid medications or methadone, and this combination is not continued for new clients transferring their care.
- Controlled substances are not refilled earlier than prescribed or altered in dose/frequency for early refills.
- Lost, damaged, or stolen controlled substances will not be replaced.
- Initial drug screen is mandatory. Random drug screens and pill counts will be requested at our discretion.
- Pharmacy refill requests for controlled substances are not accepted.
Medication Refill Policy
We are committed to providing you with the best possible care, however we are not a 24-hour facility. Timely request for medication refills is the patient’s responsibility. To ensure appropriate care and respect for both patients and providers, it is advisable to follow these guidelines:
- Please allow 3 business days for processing. It is your responsibility to notify our clinic at least 72 hours prior to running out of medicine.
- Medication refills will be made only at the time of an office visit or during regular office hours. If you do not have a future appointment scheduled when a refill request is made, then your request will not be processed until you have done so.
- Refills generally will not be given after office hours, during the weekends, and on holidays, so please schedule your appointments accordingly.
- Plan Ahead: Anticipate your prescription refill needs and make sure you have an adequate supply of medication to last through weekends and holidays. Take into account any upcoming vacations or holidays when healthcare providers may have limited availability.
- Respect Emergency Procedures: If you have a genuine emergency or urgent medical need, follow the appropriate emergency procedures in your area. If you run out of medication at a time when our office is closed, please head to the nearest emergency room if your health is a risk.
- Please do not contact providers directly after business hours, on weekends and holidays for requesting prescription refills. Contacting providers directly after business hours, on weekends, or during holidays for non-urgent matters, such as requesting emergency prescription refills, may disrupt their personal time and prevent them from fully recharging and being available for emergencies and critical patient needs.
- Any messages left on our answering machine will not be checked until the next business day and cannot be used for rapid communication after business hours.