Your First Visit

Make sure to bring the following items with you to your first visit.

1. Any diagnostic studies you have had pertaining to your spine. For example, X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans. Please be sure to bring the actual HARD-COPY FILMS and written reports for the doctor’s review.
2. Bring a complete list of all medications you are currently taking. Include any over-the-counter medications, vitamins, supplements or herbal remedies that are taken on a regular basis.
3. Bring any information needed to complete a medical history. Including information that would help you recount all your past medical history, injuries, and previous surgeries.
4. Bring a valid photo ID and current insurance card; as well as your co-pay.

To avoid a longer office visit, go to the Patient Forms section of our website and download, print, and complete the forms related to your symptoms or injury. Some of the forms only need you to read, and sign the bottom.

Note, these forms must be all completed prior to you seeing the doctor. And it may take up to 30 minutes to complete these forms. Hence if you did not complete the forms prior to your visit date, it is strongly recommended that you come 30 minutes prior to your scheduled visit as to have enough time to complete the form prior to seeing the doctor.

Follow-up Appointments

Bring the following items with you to each follow-up visit.

1. Any diagnostic studies you have had pertaining to your spine. For example, X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans. Please be sure to bring the actual HARDCOPY FILMS and written reports for the doctor’s review. Make sure to bring even films that has been seen by your doctor in prior visits, as your doctor will need to use them to refresh his memory and hence more appropriately provide the care that you need.
2. Be ready to update your doctor on any changes in medications, allergies, medical history, surgical history, hospital admissions, emergency room visits since your last visit.
3. Bring a valid photo ID and current insurance card, as well as your co-pay to every visit.

To avoid a longer office visit, go to the “Patient Forms” section of the Spine Institute of Central Florida’s website    and download, print, and complete the forms related to your follow-up visit type.

Hours of Operation and After-Hours Calls

Our normal office hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. If it is necessary to contact our office after normal office hours regarding a non-urgent matter, you may leave a message and a staff member will return your call during normal office hours.

Emergencies

If you have an emergency after normal office hours, you should go to the nearest hospital emergency room where you will be evaluated by the emergency room physician. They will be in direct contact with your doctor or the on-call doctor from our office.

Cancellation and No-Show Policy

Our office requires a 24-hour notice when canceling an appointment. Please be advised that there is a $40.00 charge for appointments not canceled 24 hours in advance.

Payment

We will assist you in filing your insurance claims after each visit. We accept most insurance plans, including PPOs, some HMOs, Worker’s Compensation, and Medicare. Please check your insurance to verify our participation in your plan prior to scheduling your appointment. You are responsible for paying any claims that are not covered by insurance. If your insurance plan requires a physician referral authorization number, bring that with you to your appointment. We also ask that you pay any co-payment required by your insurance carrier upon arrival at Spine Institute of Central Florida.

Medicare

Physicians at the Spine Institute of Central Florida are Medicare Participating Providers, implying that Medicare tells us what to charge for our services. Medicare then pays 80% of what it allows us to charge, and you (or your supplemental insurance) will pay the remaining 20%.
Additionally, Medicare requires you to meet an annual deductible before Medicare pays.

Your co-pay (which is 20% of Medicare’s allowed amount) is due at the time of your appointment unless you have a supplemental insurance policy. If you have a supplemental insurance policy, we will file with that secondary insurer after we receive a response from Medicare. You will receive a bill from us the month following Medicare’s response.

We allow 60 days from the date Medicare responds for your supplemental policy to pay. After 60 days, the balance becomes your responsibility.
Bring your Medicare card with you so that we can copy it for our records. If you have other insurances, please bring all the insurance cards you may have with you. If your spouse is employed and has insurance covering you, please also bring that insurance cards with you.

Forms

There will be a fee due prior to the completion of any form (e.g. Disability). Please be advised that most fees are $20 per form requesting the Physician’s Signature. Some fees may vary due to the type of form being submitted. For further information, call (863) 688-3030.

The claimants/insured’s portion of the form must be completed before the form can be accepted. Forms are processed within 5-10 business days’ minimum after payment has been received.

Attorney Referrals/Letter of Protection

We accept Attorney Referrals for patients in litigation due to accidents and injuries. Due to future authorization purposes, we will need you to provide your health insurance as well as your automobile information.
We will only accept a Letter of Protection (an attorney’s written promise to protect our interest and fees) when no other insurance is available. This letter must be presented at the time of the first visit or the patient will be responsible for the full fee until received. This letter must be signed by the patient upon presentation.

Please note that although our office does accept Letter of Protections, the hospitals will not accept them. Hence the patient has to work out a financial plan prior to admissions or surgical procedures. If surgery is recommended, you will need to work out a financial plan with the hospital prior to undergoing the procedure.