frequently asked questions

Appointments

What can I expect at the first appointment?

Our front desk staff will ask you to sign in at one of our registration kiosks and they are available to assist if needed. We will ask that you provide us with essential information about you and your medical history. Your address, e-mail and phone number are very important in case we need to get in touch with you. Information concerning your occupation, age, etc., is also important as it may have a bearing on your current health status. Additionally, this information is required by insurance networks to ensure payment reimbursement. We also ask about language, hearing or vision barriers to allow us to appropriately communicate with you. All information given to us is confidential.

What do I need to have with me for my first office visit?

We want to ensure you are seen quickly once you arrive and that your time with the physician is used effectively. Please bring to every visit your current insurance card, drivers license or photo ID, and any medications you are taking. Also, any medical information or documents that you have been provided, such as any recent test results or x-rays.

You will be able to take advantage of our Mobile Pre-Check process to complete the majority of your registration information prior to your visit. Two days prior to your appointment, you will receive an email or text message to confirm your appointment and also have the option to complete your registration information. We encourage you to choose to do this prior to your appointment to reduce the time you may spend in the waiting room. We will need to scan your drivers license and insurance information when you arrive to the office and also ask that if your insurance has an office visit co-pay that this is paid at your visit.

What is your appointment policy?

Our physicians must work by appointment. A sincere attempt is made to adhere to the clinic schedule as much as possible. Unfortunately, on occasion patient appointments may require longer time frames than scheduled should this happen, the registration staff will advise you if the physician is significantly behind schedule.  If a follow up appointment is needed, we ask that you schedule this prior to leaving the office.

What should I do if I need to reschedule or cancel my appointment?

Your appointment time is reserved for you, If you find you are unable to keep your appointment, please notify us 24 hours in advance to cancel or reschedule. Patients not providing adequate notice will be subject to a $30 cancellation fee.

What if I do not prepare properly for an upcoming diagnostic test?

Please notify our office at least 24 hours in advance if you need to cancel or reschedule your diagnostic test. For many of the diagnostic testing performed at our office, a special dose will be ordered specifically for your test. We ask that you pay close attention to the test preparation instructions and call our office with any questions. Patients who do not prepare properly or who do not provide adequate notice will be subject to a $50 cancellation fee.

What should I do if I miss my appointment?

Your appointment time is reserved for you. We ask that you provide 24 hours notice to avoid being subject to a cancellation fee, however, should you miss an appointment please contact our office to reschedule at your earliest convenient during office hours at Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. CST at 251-607-9797.

Prescription Refills

How do I get a refill on my prescription?

We ask that prescription refills be completed during regular office visits whenever possible. Prescription refills requests may be made 24 hours a day through the Cardiology Associates patient portal www.cardassoc.followmyhealth.com or by calling our offices:

Mobile: 251-607-9797
Fairhope: 251-990-9500
Foley: 251-434-9100
Choose option 3 to provide your refill request information.  

We ask that you allow 72 hours notice when requesting a refill, our physicians must have the benefit of reviewing your medical record before refilling medications so it is best to calculate in advance when you may need a refill on medicines that were prescribed by Cardiology Associates.  Please have the medication name and dose, pharmacy name and number available, and leave your name and date of birth and attending physician, so we may expedite your request. Certain prescriptions must be picked up and signed for during regular office hours.

After Hours

Can I contact Cardiology Associates after office hours?

Yes, but if your condition is an emergency, call 9-1-1.

Cardiology Associates provides our patients with 24 hour / 7 day a week coverage.  There is always a physician on-call who can be reached through our main clinic numbers.   After office hours and on weekends, our telephone is answered by our answering service, which in turn relays the message promptly to the provider on call for emergencies.  This may not be your usual provider, so be prepared to answer some health history questions if needed.   It is important that you keep your line free so that the provider can reach you easily.   If you have not been contacted within a 20 minute time frame, please feel free to call back.

Referrals

Why do I need a referral from my primary care physician to see a specialist?

If you are insured by an HMO or in some cases a PPO, your health plan may require a referral for specialist care. Your primary care physician is your central contact for all medical concerns as this allows for continuity of care for members and allows a central location for medical records. Please call your primary care physician prior to the appointment and request a referral.  

Insurance

Will you file my insurance?  

As a courtesy, Cardiology Associates will file your insurance based on the insurance and demographic information you provide to us. 

What if my insurance denies for no referral or no prior authorization?

It is the patient’s responsibility to ensure that the proper authorizations were obtained prior to the services being performed. However, Cardiology Associates will attempt or assist in obtaining required referrals and/or prior authorizations that your insurance coverage requires for visits, tests, and procedures.

Am I required to pay my copay at each visit?

If your insurance coverage requires you to pay a copay for your specialist doctor visits, these are due at time of service.

If I have a question about a bill received who can I contact?

Once your insurance coverage has processed and paid, any remaining deductible, coinsurance, or copay not collected on the date of service will be billed to you.  If you have questions, our billing department is ready to help you. For your convenience, please contact our our billing department by telephone at 251-633-0914.

Can Cardiology Associates call my insurance company to resolve an issue?

We attempt to resolve all claim issues with the insurance companies without having to involve the patient.  But, sometimes the insurance companies will not process a claim because they are waiting on information from the patient.  They may need to update your contact information, or verify which coverage is primary if you have dual coverage.  This is called coordination of benefits (COB) and insurance companies require patients to call them directly for these types of issues.  You can find your insurance company contact information on the back of your insurance card or you can look at our insurance listing and link to some of the most common insurance websites.

Language Assistance

Do you offer language assistance if needed?

Yes, Cardiology Associates provides free aids and services to people with disabilities to communicate effectively and to those whose primary language is not English. Should you require these services please contact our offices prior to your appointment at 251.607.9797 so proper arrangements can be made. Language Assistance Information