General Info — Florida Musculoskeletal Institute

WELCOME TO THE PATIENT INFORMATION CENTER

General Information

The following information answers our patients' most common questions, but we always have time to deal with your personal concerns. If you don't find your answer here, please ask.

Accepted Insurance

Florida Musculoskeletal Institute accepts most major insurance plans, including:

Medicare

Blue Cross/Blue Shield

United Health

Workers' Compensation

Freedom

Health Advantage

Humana

Universal Healthcare

What Kind of Care Does the Center Offer?

Our doctors specialize in orthopaedic care and rehabilitation. Orthopaedic medicine treats diseases, disorders and injuries of muscles, bones and joints. We deal daily with broken bones, general bone or joint diseases, hand and foot problems, sports injuries, bone cancer, and many other bone/ muscle/joint ailments.

Surgery is but one option for many orthopaedic conditions, and in this office it is usually the last option. Depending on your diagnosis, we may be able to use braces, casts, physical therapy or medication to treat your condition.

Just as no two people are exactly the same, no two ailments or injuries are alike either. For this reason we may conduct a series of tests or x-rays before we begin treatment. Your unique condition and personal needs always guide us in choosing methods of treatment that are right for you.

You, too, are a key player on the team that is working to make you well. Often we find clues to peoples' ailments just by listening, so we need to hear your questions and concerns. Ask us anything; there ARE no frivolous questions. Experience has shown us when you take an active part in your own diagnosis and treatment you get well faster.

About Appointments

Our appointment system is designed to shorten the amount of time you wait to see a doctor. However, emergencies do happen. If you ever find yourself having to wait, we hope you'll remember that some day the person needing our immediate attention could be you. Appointments can be made during our regular office hours, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or by logging into our Patient Portal. For after-hours emergencies, just call our regular telephone number and our 24-hour answering service will help you reach the doctor on call. If you have to cancel your appointment for any reason, please let us know as far in advance as you can. Your courtesy may free up that time and help another patient.

Personal History

Our patient interviewer will ask questions about your ailment, your general health, etc. Some questions will be personal but every question is important and helps our doctor help you. Anything you tell us is strictly confidential and will be released only with your approval.

Hospitals/Emergency Care

If you have a life-threatening emergency, always dial 911 first. One of our doctors is always available for urgent orthopaedic problems. When the office is closed, call the office number, 352-753-4366, and our answering service will reach the doctor on call. Our doctors respond to emergencies at the following area hospitals.

Central Florida Health Alliance:

Leesburg Regional Medical Center

600 East Dixie Ave.

Leesburg, FL 34748

The Villages Regional Hospital

1451 El Camino Real

The Villages, FL 32159

Prescription Refills

Please don't wait until you run out of medicine to call for a refill. In fact, it is best to call or request a refill through our Patient Portal at least two days ahead. In order to protect you, your doctor must review your medical file before renewing a prescription. Our doctors rotate between several locations - the local hospitals and our two offices. It could be 24 hours after you call before your doctor can review your file. The files are reviewed and prescriptions are called to pharmacies at the end of office hours, after all patients have been seen.

About Narcotics

By law, doctors cannot order refills for narcotics over the phone. A written prescription is required. You must obtain your refill prescription in person or by mail, and take it to your pharmacist to have it filled.

Fees

We work hard to make sure you receive the best orthopaedic care available, and we also work to keep our fees as low as possible. Our fees are comparable to other orthopaedic groups in and around Central Florida. We charge a flat fee for your office visit; then each item or service (x-rays, laboratory tests, casts, splints, etc.) is billed separately. Estimates can be provided for surgeries, and deposits are sometimes required. We are always willing to discuss charges with our patients.

Payment

It is customary to pay for medical care the day it is received. Unless you make prior arrangements or are covered by an HMO, PPO or Medicare plan, you should arrange to pay at the time of each visit to our office. For your convenience we accept Visa, MasterCard, cash, or personal check. We also accept online bill payments through our secure Patient Portal.

Note: There is a $30.00 charge for any returned check.

Finance

We mail statements monthly. Payments are due in our office 15 days after you receive your statement. If you have a hardship and need more time to pay, please speak with a financial secretary right away. We can always work out something if you talk with us, but failure to call us could leave us no choice but to ask for full payment of your account.

Insurance

Private Companies. Insurance coverage is an agreement between you and your insurance company. You expect your insurance to pay, and we expect you to make sure we are paid. To help you collect from your insurance, we will complete all your medical insurance claim forms and send them in on your behalf so that your insurance company can pay us directly. Any remaining balance that is not covered by your insurance is your responsibility.

Medicare. We participate in Medicare. When you receive treatment you are responsible for your annual deductible, any items not covered, and the 20% not paid by Medicare. We will mail you a statement each month showing any payment activity on your account.

HMOs and PPOs. If you are covered by an HMO or PPO, each one has different insurance arrangements and claim procedures. Some require deductibles and co-payments which you must pay. Our staff will work with you to see that you receive your full benefits.

Your Medical Records & X-rays

Your records and x-rays are kept in strict confidence as part of our permanent file. We will release copies only if we have your written permission. For copies of patient records or x-rays we must charge, in advance, to cover our material costs. We prefer to mail copies of records and x-rays, but we will give them to you in person to hand-carry if time is critical. Please give us at least 24 hours notice prior to coming in and picking up records or x-rays as it does take some time to get things together for you.