FAQs
What is Evidence Based Medicine?
What Insurance plans does Northeast Endocrinology Accept?
How do I request medication refills?
If you would like a refill on any of your medications, we recommend you first contact your pharmacy. For chronic medications, our doctors usually place 1 year of refills from your last visit. The pharmacy should check for available refills and if none are available, the pharmacy staff should contact your doctor for you. We have noticed pharmacies vary in their patient support, which can be frustrating for patients. Due to overwhelming increase in medications requiring Prior Authorizations we recommend that you contact your pharmacy to request medication refills no later than 30 days prior, to help avoid delay in treatment. You may also request non-urgent refills or transfer of refills to Alamo Pharmacy through your Patient Portal 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Why do I need to confirm my information (again), every time I see you. Isn’t it in the system?
Why are there so many forms?
Is Alamo Pharmacy part of Northeast Endocrinology?
How do I reschedule my appointment?
Please utilize the patient portal to reschedule here or email info@neendocrinology.com. We kindly remind you to please cancel your appointment within 48hrs to avoid a $75 no-show fee.
What happens if I miss an appointment?
Per our No Show Policy we do require 48 hour notice in order to avoid a $75.00 fee. We don’t like charging it, and you don’t like paying it. We provide a convenient option to cancel at your text message reminder. You may also utilize your patient portal for 24 hour access to communicate any schedule needs.
Who do I speak to if I have a billing question?
Understanding medical bills in the United States is notoriously difficult. According to a 2016 public opinion survey conducted by Copatient, around 72% of American consumers are confused by their medical bills, and 94% of consumers have received medical bills they considered to be “too expensive.” Unfortunately, until there is systemic change, there is little we can do to simplify this, but we do make sure that it is correct.
This article contains tips on how to read your medical bill and Explanation of Benefits (EOB) to make sure you’re paying what’s owed and not a penny more. https://www.insider.com/explanation-of-benefits.
If you find yourself further confused by your medical bill and EOB, call your insurance agent if you have health insurance. They are a free resource that can walk through the bill with you charge by charge.
If you still have questions, please feel free to reach out to our billing department at 210-650-3360 ext. 905.
Portal messages will be returned within 48 business hours.
I left a message, when should I expect a call back?
Due to the heavy volume of patient calls, portal messages and phone calls will be returned within 2 business days.
If your needs are more urgent, consider going to urgent care.
If you feel you are having a medical emergency, call 911.
I am a new patient and haven’t heard anything, when should I expect a call back?
What is a prior authorization?
We dislike them as much as you do. It’s an approval of coverage from your insurance company, not your doctor. Prior authorization is a restriction put in place by insurance companies, so they can decide whether or not they will pay for certain medicines. Even when they decide to pay, the medication may still wind up being very expensive. Because each insurance company determines which services and medications require prior authorization, you should contact your carrier directly to find out if a specific test or treatment option needs pre-approval. We also strongly recommend Alamo Pharmacy which provides the highest level of patient assistance that we have seen in streamlining this process.
https://www.goodrx.com/insurance/health-insurance/prior-authorization-what-you-need-to-know
How can I communicate with my doctor?
We recommend that you utilize your patient portal to communicate any non-urgent medical concerns, request refills and make appointments with your doctor.
Is the Quest Lab part of Northeast Endocrinology?
No. Although Quest is our neighbor, they are an independent entity that is not affiliated with Northeast Endocrinology. We do recommend Quest labs, as they have the correct selection of specialty labs we require and are well integrated into our Electronic Medical Record system.
Does Northeast Endocrinology provide inpatient hospital care?
No, we are an outpatient only facility.
Can Northeast Endocrinology be my primary care provider?
As we are a subspecialty clinic designed to focus on endocrine disorders, we are not qualified to serve as a primary care provider. We strongly recommend that you have a primary care physician, and we are happy to provide recommendations.
Can I bring my children to my appointment?
Patients visiting us for in-room exams, who have children under 12 with them, are not able to leave them unsupervised and should expect them to be present with them during their exam. We do have free wi-fi so they can keep up on their homework or YouTube during the visit.
Is Northeast Endocrinology ok with profanity directed towards their employees, or guns in the clinic?
For the health, safety and comfort of all of our patients, we ask that patients and visitors follow the guidelines in our Code of Conduct.
Who can I speak to regarding a complaint?
If you have an experience that exceeds or does not meet your expectation, feel free to ask to speak with the Practice Manager or call 210-650-3360 ext.901.
What Forms of payments are accepted?
We accept the following:
- Cash
- Check
- Mastercard, Visa, Discover
- Debit card
- We currently do not accept cryptocurrency
Can I record video or take pictures during my visit?
To ensure that the privacy of our patients and staff is protected and to ensure that the physician-patient relationship remains confidential and private, Northeast Endocrinology does not permit anyone to record, video tape or photograph our facilities in any way during any visit or appointment with us.