Tel: (954) 412-9441
SOUTH FLORIDA'S PREMIERE
MOBILE MEDICAL PRACTICE
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
I already have a primary care physician, but I'm too sick to leave my house. Do I have to switch doctors?
No, you do not have to "switch" doctors. You can keep your primary care physician and resume visits when you are physically able to. We work in tandem with any other doctor or specialist you see. In fact, we will communicate with your other health care providers to coordinate the best care for you.
I have Medicare and a Supplement, will I have to pay additional fees for a home visit from the doctor?
Medicare realizes that not all patients can be seen by a medical professional when they need to. If you have Medicare as your primary insurance and a valid supplemental insurance, there would be no additional out-of-pocket expenses for our services. You are still obligated to pay your annual deductible or standard co-pays according to your individual insurance plan, just as you would in a traditional office setting, but our service is no different than being seen by any other doctor in any other office.
I am homebound and getting to my doctor's appointments is very difficult. I need a primary care physician that can see me regularly at home. Do you provide primary care services or do you only make one-time special visits?
We absolutely can provide home-based primary care for patient's with extenuating circumstances, in fact, that's our specialty! Keeping your routine medical appointments and preventative health assessments is the key to being able to live as safely and independently at home as possible.
Most of our homebound patients request to be seen on a routine basis, as often as is needed, for management of their chronic conditions or rehabilitative care. The doctor that visits you at your home can become your primary care physician and provide all the services of a traditional office visit.
Our service is very convenient for those with limited access to transportation or physical mobility limitations. You do not need to leave your home to receive great health care. Call us and we will send the doctor directly to you. There is no need for you to travel, or wait for hours in an uncomfortable waiting room. You simply wait for the doctor to arrive in the comfort of your own home.
I fell at home and now I can't walk and am having trouble doing simple home tasks, like bathing. Can the doctor order home health care services for me that will be covered by my Medicare insurance?
If you have fallen and the injury is impacting your daily life, it is essential that you are seen by a physician right away. You may have something as complex as a broken bone, to something as simple as a deep skin abrasion or open wound. While we will always recommend a hospital visit after a fall that impairs your ability to walk, there are other injury scenarios that can be properly and adequately cared for at home, under proper medical supervision.
Keep in mind that while we do our best to send a doctor to you as soon as possible, it may take 24-48 hours to get one to you and you will most certainly always receive faster care by going to directly to the hospital. However, we also realize that not all patients opt to go to the emergency room and prefer to remain at home. We will try our best to assess the situation and treat your injuries at home, if safely possible.
The first step is sending the doctor out to assess your condition and do a comprehensive physical examination. Depending on the severity of the issue the doctor may order in home imaging services, like an x-ray or ultrasound. If your labs indicate a complex fracture, or an injury that requires surgery, we will still send need to send you to the hospital for treatment.
However, if the injury can be safely treated at home and requires skilled nursing for wound care, or physical therapy to help you return to your baseline status, the doctor will order those services for you.
Medicare patients with true medical necessity for home services will be covered provided that there is a certifying physician ordering this care for you, and that the physician is overseeing your treatment plan for the duration of your in home care while you are receiving it. All of our doctors are certified to order Medicare covered home health care services through any Medicare approved Home Health Agency.
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If you need an urgent home medical visit by one of our physicians, please call us right away.
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I am already receiving home health care services from an agency I like, but I am not happy with my current doctor. Can you work with my current home health agency, or will I have to switch agencies?
Both physician and home health agency are the patient's choice. We will never force you to switch to another agency just to see one of our doctors, and an agency should never force you to see a specific physician in order to continue receiving their services. We will gladly coordinate care with any Medicare-approved home health agency for you while you are under our care. In order to transition care from your current doctor to ours, you will first have to notify your home health agency that you would like to switch doctors so that we may coordinate your services through them.
After reviewing your current plan of care, and discussing your treatment plan with your home health agency, we can provide ancillary care services until your current certification period with your previous physician ends, and recertify you for necessary services with your same home health agency for the next service period.
I have Medicare, but I do not have a supplement. How much will I have to pay?
If you do not have a supplement, you can still have a doctor make a house call. The home visit costs you no difference than if you went into a traditional office to receive care. The out-of-pocket cost is the exactly the same.
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As with all physicians who take assignment, Medicare reimburses 80% of our professional fees (which are set by Medicare) after patients have met their annual deductible. Some supplemental insurance plans pay the 20% of a physician's fee not covered by Medicare (the co-pay). However, many supplemental plans cover only a portion of the co-pay and most do not cover the deductible.
If Medicare is your primary insurance and you do not have a supplement, assuming you've already met your annual deductible, Medicare will pay the standard 80% of your medical bill and you will be required to pay the remaining 20%. We work with many patients who do not have a supplement and provide convenient payment options. For more information, please call our office so we can explain the process to you.
I need a medical device, like a hospital bed, oxygen tanks, nebulizer machine, wheelchair, walker or scooter, but I need a doctor's order for it in order for it to be covered by my insurance. Will the doctor be able to order one for me?
Our doctors are able to write for durable medical equipment for patients that have a medical necessity for that device. Your insurance may have time limits for replacements of certain types of devices. During your visit the doctor will assess your functional ability and safety of your surroundings to select the appropriate medical device for your specific disability. Once the order is written, our office will work with a DME supplier that is covered by your insurance and the device or equipment will be delivered to your home.
I have an HMO plan. Will my visit be covered?
If you have an HMO, you may still be eligible for home health care services, but they must be ordered through your primary care physician (PCP).
I have a Commercial Insurance PPO, or HSA plan, will I have to pay for a visit out of pocket?
Your insurance provider should cover the cost of our services as it would other primary care service. However, if we are not contracted with your particular insurance plan, you will have to pay for your home visit up front and out of pocket.
We accept Medicare assignment and bill Medicare directly. This is why a majority of the patients we see have Medicare with a supplement, as there is typically no additional out of pocket expense for our services. We are also contracted with a few commercial insurance plans, and in those instances your visit may be covered, but your regular copayment or deductible will still be due the day of your visit, just as it would in a traditional office setting.
In the event we are not contracted with your insurance plan, we will provide you with a detailed visit summary, clinical visit notes and detailed invoice that you may be able to submit to your insurance or HSA for reimbursement, however we cannot guarantee that your health plan will cover your visit without a prior authorization. Please check with your individual insurance plan to find out if home health care services are covered.
What should I do to prepare for my doctor's visit?
The first three things you will need prior to your appointment is your:
1. Medicare card
2. Your Supplemental Insurance card (if you have one)
3. Your non-expired state issued ID card with your date of birth and correct address on it.
Before the doctor arrives it is a good idea to gather all of your medication bottles so that he can review each medication you are taking and to see which medications may be in need of refill.
It is also recommended to make a list of questions you may have for the doctor so that he may discuss them with you.
If you regularly monitor your blood pressure, or blood glucose, please have those logs available.
If you have any recent medical records from a hospital, physician or nurse, please have those documents handy.
If you have any legal directives, such as a living will, designated health care surrogate, DNR or power of attorney, it is always a good idea to make sure your doctor has a copy of these documents.
When the doctor arrives, you will have to fill out some basic health history information and sign consent forms in order to be treated. We always recommend that you have a caregiver, spouse or relative available during your first appointment while the doctor is there. Often times patient’s can be forgetful during doctor visits and may have difficulties providing detailed information. If no one is available to be at the house with you when the doctor and his medical assistant arrives, it is a good idea to have a phone number of a trusted person that we may call (with your consent) if we have any specific questions.
I live in an Assisted Living Facility, can I still get a doctor to visit me?
Absolutely! We provide home health care services in both private residences and assisted living facilities. We provide doctor visits to patients all over South Florida. Whether you live in Miami, Fort Lauderdale or West Palm Beach, we will send the doctor directly to you.
What kind of medical services can you coordinate for me?
We provide a full range of comprehensive home care which are coordinated carefully by our team of medical doctors through medicare-approved mobile laboratories, durable medical equipment suppliers, home delivery pharmacies, and home health agencies. Whether you need a doctor's visit at home, a visiting home nurse to administer medications, a wound care specialist to treat a wound, or need skilled home therapy services, such as: Physician Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, or even a home health aide, we coordinate all of these services for you through our trusted providers.
What conditions can you treat at home?
We can treat virtually any condition that you would normally receive care for in an office setting. We are experts in chronic care management and treat a variety of medical conditions at home. From diabetes, congestive heart failure, chronic kidney disease, Alzheimer's dementia care, Parkinson's, endocrine disorders, nutritional deficiencies, asthma, COPD, emphysema, decubitus ulcers, high blood pressure, back pain, hip fractures, stroke care, diabetic foot care, coughs, to common colds, pneumonia and the the flu. We have experience caring for patients with all kinds of conditions. We provide a whole range of home based primary care services and coordinate all aspects of your care to ensure you are at your optimal baseline health care status at all times.