New Patients Information for Central Florida Health Care

F.A.Q.
Frequently Asked Questions

1. What types of doctors do you have? Internal Medicine, Family Practice, General Practice, OB/Gyn, Pediatrics, ARNPs and Dentists.

2. What days and hours are you open? Monday through Thursday:
7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Saturday: 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon (all centers except Wauchula Just For Her)

3. Do I need to have an appointment? Appointments are preferred, but are not necessary for urgent medical needs. If you would like to be seen without an appointment, please call or stop by the center. Often, we are able to work you in between scheduled appointments. You will be able to see the first provider available. Patients with appointments will be seen first, except in situations of medical urgency. To better serve all of our patients, we ask that you please notify the Center if you are unable to keep an appointment.

4. Do you have a pharmacy?
Yes. There is a full service pharmacy in the Avon Park Center Monday-Friday. The pharmacy closes for lunch from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

5. Do you have dentists?
Dental services are open in the Avon Park Center. Dental Services will be provided in Frostproof early 2006. Plans are underway to construct a dental wing in the Wauchula Center during 2006.

6. What insurance do you accept?
Other Third Party Private insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, Workers Comp, county-specific plans, and select managed care plans.

7. What is the cost for a visit?
The minimum fee is $15. Our health centers serve all who seek our care regardless of ability to pay. Our centers rely on subsidies from federal, state and local governments to help cover the cost of services furnished to the uninsured. No individual or family is turned away or denied medical care because of income.

8. What do you mean by the Sliding Fee Scale?
The patients not covered by public or private insurance are charged based on their verified ability to pay using a sliding fee scale based on income. This scale is developed using the federal poverty guidelines released annually.

9. Do you have bilingual staff (Spanish)?
Yes, CFHC employs a culturally-diverse workforce. There is also a translation line available for other languages.

10. What services do you provide?
CFHC’s health centers provide comprehensive primary and preventive health services including:? physicians, mid-levels, dental, nurse, lab, X-ray, pharmacy (in Avon Park), obstetrics, child and adult medicine, as well as specialty and inpatient referrals and follow up.
Importantly, our health centers integrate the delivery of primary care with aggressive outreach, education and counseling, translation and other social services.
CFHC’s programs are designed to ensure that patients have access not only to medical treatment, but a continuum of coordinated care and vital support services that can lead to positive health outcome and healthier behaviors and lifestyles.

11. Specialty services not immediately available at CFHC are leveraged through a referral network.
Access to primary health care services begins with the patients entering into a comprehensive primary health care system addressing all life cycles with credentialed providers (physicians and nurse practitioners). Such care includes access to enabling services that encourage patients to seek primary and preventive care on a regular basis. The delivery of primary care integrates with extensive outreach, education and counseling, and translation.

12.I am from out of-state; can I use your pharmacy or lab?
To use CFHC’s services you will need to register as a patient.

13.Which hospitals are your doctors affiliated?
Sebring
- Florida Hospital Heartland Division
- Highlands Regional Medical Center
Lake Wales
- Lake Wales Medical Center

CFHC
New Patients

Quick-jump List:
F.A.Q (Frequently Asked Questions)
Items to bring to your first visit
Appointments vs. Walk-ins
Appointment Cancellation
After Hours
Emergencies
Fees and Insurance Accepted
Patient Rights & Responsibilities

Items to bring to your first visit:
- Photo Identification
- Health insurance card(s)
- Social Security card
- Proof of income for sliding fee schedule discount
- Medical or dental history
- Medical records (especially) if recent hospital admission or
  Emergency Room visit
- List of medications currently taking and/or bottles of medication
- Foster parent or grandparent: Guardian or custody papers
  showing custody of child required
- Adult guardian: Power of Attorney required

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Appointments vs. Walk-ins
Appointments are preferred but are not necessary for urgent medical needs. If you would like to be seen without an appointment, please call or stop by the center. Often, you can be worked in between scheduled appointments with the first provider available. Patients with appointments will be seen first, except in situations of medical urgency.

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Appointment Cancellation
To better serve all of our patients, we ask that you please notify the Center if you are unable to keep an appointment.

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After Hours
A physician is on call when the Centers are closed. You can reach a doctor by calling the Center’s phone number and the answering service will contact the doctor for you.

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Emergencies
If you have an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.

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Fees and Insurance Accepted
Uninsured patients are offered discounted services through an income verification process. CFHC accepts Medicare assignment, Medicaid and MediPass, Florida Kid Care, and Healthy Kids, Workers Compensation, and other private insurance. CFHC also participates in a list of PPOs and a select list of HMOs. Such include, but are not limited to: WellCare, United Healthcare, Tricare, Three Rivers Network, Rockport Healthcare, Polk Healthcare, Office of Disability, Netpass, Medicare Railroad, Medicare, Focus Healthcare w/c, First Health Network, HealthEase Ma/HKids, Citrus HealthCare, Blue Cross/ Blue Shield W/C, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Beech Street, Amerigroup Ma/ HKids. Your questions will be gladly answered regarding our participation with your insurance carrier. Payment of your medical/ dental visit is expected at the time of service.

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Patient's Rights and Responsibilities

To download a printable PDF file of this form, click here.
(1.5 mb file size)

You have a right to . . .

To know what your rights and responsibilities are in receiving care.
To be treated with courtesy and respect, with appreciation of your individual dignity, and with protection ot your need for privacy.
To a prompt and reasonable response to questions and requests.
To retain and use personal possessions unless such use infringes on personal or other's safety.
To know who is providing services and who is responsible for your care.
To know what rules and regulations apply to your conduct.
To refuse any treatment.
To know what patient support services are available, including whether an interpreter is available, if you do not speak English.
To be given information from the provider relating to diagnosis, planned course of treatment, alternatives, risks and prognosis.
To express grievances regarding any violation of your rights, as stated in Florida law, through the grievance procedure of CFHC and to appropriate state licensing agencies.
To be given, upon request, full information and necessary counseling on the availability of known financial resources for your care.
To know whether a health care provider accepts Medicare assignment.
To receive, upon request and prior to treatment, a reasonable estimate of the charges for care. To receive a copy of a reasonably clear and understandable, itemized bill, and upon request, to have the charges explained. You can expect information about pain and relief. Expect staff to listen to your complaint of pain.
To impartial access to treatment regardless of race, national origin, religion, physical handicap, or source of payment.
To treatment for any emergency condition that will deteriorate from failure to provide treatment.
To know it medical treatment is for purposes of experimental research and to give your consent or refusal to participate in such research.

It is your responsibility . . .

To report unexpected changes in your condition to the provider.
To report whether you understand the contemplated course of action, and what is expected of you, to the provider.
To follow the treatment plan recommended by the provider.
To keep appointments and when unable to do so, to notify CFHC.
To accept responsibility for your actions if you refuse treatment or not follow the provider's instructions.
To ensure that the financial obligations of your care are fulfilled as promptly as possible.
To follow facility rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct.
Discuss pain and its relief with your provider.
Work with staff to develop a pain management plan.
Walk-in patients are welcome. Please call ahead so CFHC's staff can be better prepared to treat you.
Report any areas of concern to staff that you may have regarding patient safety. To call your pharmacy 48 hours in advance for refills

12/30/05.

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©2006 - Central Florida Health Care, Inc. - All Rights Reserved. Privacy Statement. Headquarters: 950 County Road 17A West, Avon Park, FL 33825 (863)452-3003