Frequently Asked Questions

What do I do if I am sick or have a problem?
As a new patient what do I need to bring with me to my appointment?
My physician requested that I have a return office visit. What is that for and what do I need to bring with me to that appointment?
Why do I need to bring my medicines with me to my appointments?
How do I go about getting refills for my medicines?
What can I do if I can’t afford my medications?
Which insurance companies does your practice participate with?
My doctor has suggested a complete physical exam. What's included and will my insurance cover it?

What do I do if I am sick or have a problem?

In the case of an emergency, please call 911 and go to the closest emergency room for treatment.

Some examples of emergency conditions are chest pain, loss of consciousness, uncontrollable bleeding, severe abdominal pain, fractures, difficulty breathing, severe allergic reactions, and signs of a stroke.

If you need to see the physician for non-emergency problems, during normal business hours, we ask that you first call the office. Based on your symptoms, our staff will arrange for an appointment. Urgent care appointments are available daily and are reserved for urgent care patients.

After hours or on the weekends, if you are sick or have a problem, please call the office 252-946-9562. An answering service will take your name, telephone number, and refer your message to the physician on call. The physicians at Chocowinity Family Care share after hour and weekend call with two other local Family Practice groups.

As a new patient what do I need to bring with me to my appointment?

New patients are asked to arrive at the office 30 minutes prior to their appointment. Our staff will mail you a New Patient Packet. Please complete all the forms and have them with you for you appointment. If you need additional copies, click on Health History, Authorization Form, Patient Registration, or Privacy Notice.

Bring your current Insurance identification cards as well as any actual medications that you are taking both prescription and non-prescription drugs. Please also bring a picture I.D.

The physician may ask that we obtain your previous medical records. Having your previous physicians correct name, address, telephone and fax numbers will help expedite the process.

My physician requested that I have a return office visit. What is that for and what do I need to bring with me to that appointment?

During your visit, your physician will advise you if they would like you to return to follow up regarding your problem or condition. During checkout our staff will schedule your return office visit. Your physician may also request that you have lab work prior to your return visit. You will receive a reminder letter approximately one week prior to your appointment.

Important reminders for your office visits:

Bring your current prescription-medications and non-prescription medications.
Make a list of prescription refills you need.
Advise the front office staff of any changes in your address, telephone number, or insurance. If you would like complete the Patient Information Update in advance of your visit, click here.
Bring any new insurance cards with you.
Write down any important questions you wish to discuss with your doctor.
Please feel free to ask for clarification on any instructions given during your visit.
For elderly patients, it is sometimes helpful to have a family member accompany them to the visit, in case there are questions.

Why do I need to bring my medicines with me to my appointments?

We ask that you always bring your current prescription and non-prescription medications with you to each visit. Other specialists, that you may have seen, may have prescribed medications for you that your family physician is not aware of. In order to properly treat you, your physician needs to be made aware of any changes to your medication regimen. Our staff will review your medications with you during your visit.

Please inform our staff if you need any refills during your visit.

How do I go about getting refills for my medicines?

If you have your medications filled at a local pharmacy, we ask that you contact your pharmacy and have them fax a refill request to our office. Our fax number is 252-946-9071.

If you use a Mail-Order Prescription Company, please contact the office to request written prescriptions for your refills. Make sure that you give our staff the correct name and spelling of your medications and the dosage frequency, such as “one tablet once a day in the morning”. Due to the number of requests our physicians receive, we ask that you give us 48 hour notice.

Delays in prescription refills may be due to your insurance plan’s request for prior authorization. Some insurance companies will require that you use another medication on their formulary as a substitution for what your physician has ordered. If any changes are made to your prescription, our staff will discuss these changes with you.

Depending on the medication refill request, a limited amount may be authorized or the refill postponed, until you are seen by one of our physicians.

If you have requested refills, we ask that you first check with your pharmacy to make sure they have been filled. Our staff makes every attempt to handle refills in a timely fashion. If the pharmacy does not have your refill, then contact our office to inquire as to the delay.

For your safety, if at any time you receive a medication that does not look familiar or has a different name or frequency, please check with the ordering physician.

Prescription refills are handled during our normal business hours. Refills for controlled substances will not be phoned in after hours or on weekends.

What can I do if I can’t afford my medications?

Please let your physician or our staff know if cost is preventing you from having prescribed medications filled. Certain pharmaceutical companies have Patient Assistance Programs that you may qualify for based on your financial situation. If you have internet access, you can go to NeedyMeds.com, which lists medications and any patient assistance program for a particular drug.

If you have Medicare, there is Medicare Part D which is a prescription program.

Talk to your physician, a generic or alternative medication may be more cost effective for you and still be a treatment option.

Which insurance companies does your practice participate with?

Currently, the practice participates with Aetna, Blue Cross/Blue Shield products, Cigna, State of North Carolina Health Plans, Tricare, Medicare, and Medicaid. If your plan is not listed, you can check with our office or, contact your insurance company to obtain a list of participating providers.

Contracts with Managed Care Plans change, as does our participating status, please keep abreast of your participating providers by calling your Member/Customer Service number or check their website.

Who do I call if I have a question regarding my bill?

Chocowinity Family Care's billing staff is availabe by calling the office with the number on your statement.

My doctor has suggested a complete physical exam. What's included and will my insurance cover it?

This visit is a time for you to have a general check up and for your physician to review your overall health. Based on your age, family history, and other risk factors, the physician will order screening tests. We allow a thirty minute appointment for a routine physical and generally perform lab work 1-2 weeks prior to the exam.

Insurance plans are different and we ask that you contact your insurance company and inquire if you have a benefit for preventative care or a routine physical. Your insurance will be billed with a preventative care code and the claim may be denied if you do not have these benefits, thereby end up being your financial responsibility.

If you have Medicare, a routine physical is not covered. The only exception to that is the Welcome to Medicare Physical, which Part B participants are entitled to within the first twelve months of being new to Medicare. Please advise our appointment staff if you are booking a “Welcome to Medicare” physical. Even though Medicare does not cover a routine exam, there are certain screening tests that Medicare will cover. Medicare will be billed for the allowable screening tests if ordered by your physician.