Prior approval and eligibility

If you have insurance,  our staff will verify your eligibility prior to the office visit. Certain services recommended by our providers may require prior approval by your insurance company. This includes MRIs, CT scans, bone scans, DXA scans, certain injections, nerve conduction tests, certain prescriptions, and almost all surgeries. This process may take a day or two or sometimes even longer to complete. We understand this process can be very frustrating particularly when the patient and the provider are ready to proceed with diagnostic and treatment measures for your condition.

Workers compensation

The Bone & Joint Institute of South Georgia treats many workers compensation injuries. All patients with work-related injuries must provide proof of coverage by their employers insurance company or the employer directly. This verification must be received in our office prior to the appointment. Our providers insist that the workers compensation patient be 100% compliant with all instructions. This includes office appointments, physical therapy appointments, diagnostic study appointments and return to work status. The patient's failure to comply with the provider's instructions in these cases may result in the provider discharging the patient from care. At the completion of each visit the patient will be provided with a "work status certificate" which outlines the patient's ability to perform certain functions. The employer will then use this information to determine whether or not the employee can actually return to the workplace.

Disability Insurance

If your condition results in your inability to work and you have disability insurance you must bring this issue up to the doctor during the office visit. The office staff will complete your disability insurance for a charge of $10-$40 per form payable prior to the form being completed. Once payment is received, please allow ten days for form completion. Individual policies define “disability” and “benefits” and these vary greatly from policy to policy. We will honestly state on the forms what you physically can and cannot do. Your insurance company will then determine if that level of function qualifies you for disability benefits.

Medications

Medications will be refilled during office hours only (and on Fridays by noon!). It is advisable to request prescription refills before the current prescription runs out. This will allow time for your prescription to be refilled properly.  Narcotic pain medicines are prescribed with great caution.  These medicines have significant dependance and abuse potential and can cause great harm. They are to be taken only as prescribed and must last the length of time noted on the prescription label.  If we learn you are receiving narcotic prescription pain medicines from other doctors we will no longer prescribe or refill prescription pain medicines for you.