Diabetes & Endocrinology Associates

What kind of information will I be asked on my initial visit? Is it important to keep this information updated?

On your initial visit, we will ask you for standard medical information, contact information, as well as information about your insurance coverage. On subsequent visits, we will ask you if there have been any changes. Please remember to inform us of these changes so that we have an accurate record of your status and so that can also bill the correct insurance company.

Do I need to bring my insurance card to appointments?
You will be asked to present your insurance card and a valid drivers license or some other form of identification at every visit. Please remember to have it with you, since we cannot file claims for you without it.

Do I need a referral from a primary care physician?
If your insurance requires a primary care physician referral, a referral must be obtained prior to your visit. If we do not have a referral, we will not be able to see you that day and will reappoint you for a future time, only with a referral.

When should I request refill prescriptions?
Please remember to request refill prescriptions from your doctor at the time of the visit. If your medications are not requested at the time of the visit, it may require 48 hours to get your medication refills processed.

How do I contact the office?
If your call is not an emergency, we encourage you to reach us by either leaving a voice mail message (with convenient telephone numbers and times for call back), a fax message (at 751-6179) or an e-mail message at diabendo@aol.com. When you call the office, please be patient. We receive hundreds of calls daily from our patients. If you have to leave a voice mail message, please leave it just once. The doctors’ secretary will return your message as quickly as possible, most times within 24 hours of your phone call.

Should I contact the office for lab results?
Lab results are reviewed by the doctor and patients are contacted with their results via phone or mail. If, however, you have not heard anything from us for two weeks, please call and we will report the findings to you immediately.

What do I do when I have an emergency?
If you have a medical emergency and need to reach us, please dial our main number (401-351-7100 ), press 9 for the emergency line and you will receive assistance immediately. If you call this number after office hours, our answering service will page our doctor on call. Please note that after hour emergency prescription refills can be given, but only for a three day supply.

How often will a doctor see me if I am hospitalized?
If you are hospitalized while under our doctors’ care, one of our doctors will see you in the hospital on a daily basis.

What must I do if another doctor wants copies of my medical records?
If you require your medical records to be copied to another doctor, you will be required to sign a release form. Once in receipt of the release form, we will copy your records in an acceptable amount of time by law, and will send your medical records to the doctor you have indicated.

When do I need to make the payments not covered by insurance?
All patients are required to pay their co-pays or deductibles at the time of their visit. No exceptions are made. If you are a Classic Blue patient, you are required to pay for the visit, and then you will be required to submit the claim to Blue Cross for reimbursement.

What if I need to cancel my appointment?
If you need to cancel your appointment, kindly give us 24 hours notice. We thank you in advance for your cooperation and look forward to improving your health care. We appreciate your trust and confidence and thank you for your continued support.