Frequently Asked Questions

 

What is an internal medicine doctor?

A doctor that has spent a full three-year residency learning the complexities of adult medical care is called an "internal medicine doctor". This includes appropriate preventative guidelines as well as management of complex medical problems with many medications. Think of it as an adult care specialist.

 

What are Nurse Practitioners and Physician's Assistants?

These clinicians are independent practitioners who are employed by and work under the supervision of a physician. They are able to order tests, prescribe treatment, and much more. Dr. Meyer and our other physicians are available to them at any time for consultation.

 

How long will it take to get my results?

If your clinician orders a test or lab work, expect to hear your results within 14 days. If results are normal, you will get an email or portal message with specifics. If you would like to see your actual test result, you must accept our invitation to join the patient portal. If anything is out of range, expect a phone call (usually from our labs and results manager) with results that were abnormal and further instructions. If you don’t get a letter or call, please do call us. We are also more than happy to clarify any questions. Simply leave a message with the office that you would like to speak to your clinician, or send us a patient portal message.

 

How can I reach someone after hours?

Please call our office FIRST – before going to urgent care, or the ER. A recording will give you the on-call clinician's cell number. Feel free to call or text that person directly. 

 

What happens when my doctor is on vacation?

Our clinician's try to coordinate their schedules so that only one of us is ever away at any given time. The office is fully staffed and functional even if one of the clinicians is away. Using our care team approach, someone working closely with your clinician may fill in to handle results or refills in your clinician's absence.

 

Should I fast for my physical?

If your physical is in the morning, we can generally do your blood work the same day. In this case, a 10-hour fast is helpful. For late day physicals, don’t fast; we will simply order your blood work separately. 

 

Is there an extra charge for having blood drawn at the office?

If you are having a visit and getting blood drawn, there is not an additional fee. 

 

Which insurance plans do you accept?

We accept most major insurances. We do not accept Medicaid, nor do we enroll private/cash-pay patients (paying entirely out of pocket). We are not in-network with many EPO (Exclusive Provider Organization) and multi-plan insurances. We accept patients for whom we are out-of-network, but your copays may be higher. Before completing your New Patient paperwork to enroll as a patient, please call your insurance company to be sure we are in-network or affordable to you out-of-network.

What is the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit?
The Medicare Annual Wellness Visit is a covered well-exam. At Christine Meyer, MD & Associates, we will perform a complete screening and review all of the necessary surveys as required by Medicare. This visit is a great screening tool and we encourage all of our patients to schedule it annually.

 

Do you take cash paying/uninsured Patients?

Unfortunately, we cannot accept cash-paying patients. The reason for this has nothing to do with payment for the office visit but has everything to do with quality of care. It is a policy best explained by a true story. 

 

A few years ago, Dr. Meyer was seeing a cash-paying patient who came in dutifully for his visits. On one occasion, Dr. Meyer felt it necessary to order a Chest X-ray, which the patient did get. When it showed a suspicious area, the patient was advised to get a CAT Scan of the chest. He chose not to, stating that he could not afford the study. Ultimately, this patient died of lung cancer. We feel strongly that had he been established in a clinic or setting for uninsured patients, he would have had the resources necessary to get ALL of the studies recommended.

 

If I leave the practice, can I return? 

Patients who decide to leave the practice for reasons other than moving out of the area or an insurance change, may not re-enroll as a patient in the future. This policy applies whether you withdrew just a few weeks ago or have not been under our care for many years. It is critically important that patients trust and value the medical guidance of their primary clinician. In our professional experience, a decision to withdraw from a practice signals a lack of trust, severs the medical relationship, and creates tension between patient and clinician. This tension diminishes our ability to provide high-quality care and the patient's ability to value and benefit from our guidance, which can lead to poor outcomes.

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The decision to change clinicians should not be made in haste. If you are feeling a disconnect with your clinician or are not "on the same page," in lieu of withdrawal from the practice we encourage patients to schedule an appointment with another clinician on our CMMD team. Sometimes the right fit comes down to personality – we understand this, and we want you to be completely comfortable at every appointment! Should a frustration arise from scheduling, billing, or other administrative areas, we welcome you to contact our owner and founder Dr. Christine Meyer directly at christine@christinemeyermd.com to express your concerns and give us an opportunity to address them, before deciding to leave the practice.

 

If you decide our practice is not right for you, we wish you the very best health as you move forward to find another primary care practice.

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