Office Policies
We require office visits on a regular basis for all of our patients taking prescription medication. The interval will vary depending on your unique situation and the type of medication prescribed, but is at least every 6 months. Please be sure you have enough medication to last until your next scheduled appointment.
You have the option to communicate with us by email to provide information or for non urgent requests. The office email is info@joshuagearmd.com. Emails are not checked every day so for issues that require more immediate attention, please call the office.
Controlled medications
We require these additional safety measures for tranquilizers (e.g., benzodiazapines and some sleep aides) and stimulants (e.g., for ADD):
If you are on a tranquilizer or stimulant, as an ongoing treatment, you must be seen for more frequent appointments. By law, stimulants can be written for a limited amount and “refills” cannot be prescribed.
If you are taking controlled medications (tranquilizers or stimulants), we may ask you to sign a “Controlled medication contract” at your next visit which provides more ways to keep your treatment safe and legal.
Making the Policy work smoothly for you
Our policy will be to respond to appropriate requests for prescription refills within 2 business days.
If you call to request a refill but are overdue for a follow up visit, we may agree to renew only enough to last until you schedule an appointment. It is your responsibility to schedule an appointment before you run out of medication. Please schedule your next visit before you leave our office.
Payment and Appointments
Payment in full (cash, check, MasterCard or VISA) is appreciated at the time of the appointment. For billing convenience, I am willing to keep your credit or debit card information securely on file. After payment, if you wish to, you may receive an invoice stamped “Paid in Full” with all pertinent information needed to submit to your health insurance company for reimbursement.
Some commercial insurers may reimburse you for a portion of the fee if you submit the appropriate form. I am not a Medicare or Medicaid provider and those insurers may not provide reimbursement for my services.
If reimbursement is important or essential, it is recommended that you contact your insurer to find out if they will provide reimbursement for my services before scheduling an appointment with my office.
I reserve the right to bill the full or partial fee for missed appointments or appointments that are cancelled with less than 24 hours notice. I typically will not bill if the appointment is missed for a good reason.
A $50 service fee may be applied to any balances that are 90 days overdue unless other arrangements have been discussed and made. Balances that are 6 months overdue may be forwarded to a collection agency and treatment will be terminated.
I do not typically charge for brief or uncomplicated phone calls.
I prefer to do all appointments in my office and face to face. I understand, however, that it is not always possible for this to occur and will do phone or video sessions that are scheduled and billed at my regular rates.
I do not typically charge for writing brief reports or summaries. These, however, are done most efficiently and expeditiously during a scheduled appointment.
I do bill at an hourly rate for more extensive written reports or written evaluations. I also bill at an hourly rate for more complicated phone conversations or meetings with non medical personnel (e.g., attorneys). I bill at a higher hourly rate to provide depositions or testimony in legal proceedings.
