Q: What health insurance plans do you accept?

A:  Amicus accepts Medicare as well as most of the national PPO plans and many HMOs and local plans.  And we're adding new options all the time!

While we work on creating a comprehensive list of plans, the best way to determine if we accept your insurance is to call our office for an appointment.  Our scheduling team will contact your carrier to confirm that we are able to accept your plan.

Q: Will I need a referral or pre-authorization to see an Amicus rheumatologist?

A:  A referral from a primary care physician is not usually required for a rheumatology visit if you are insured by Medicare or a national PPO, but HMOs and some smaller, local plans will likely require one.  Your PCP will need to authorize your initial care by referring you to our practice, but after your first visit, our staff will work with your health plan to secure additional authorizations as needed.

If you are new to our practice, your physician will also need to provide us with information about your history and test results so that we can give you the best possible service. We have a referral coordinator available to help your PCP's team determine what's needed. If you have access to your records and recent test results, please bring those with you to your visit, along with your history information and list of current medications.

Q:  How should I prepare for my appointment?

A:  Before your visit, be sure to make a list of questions for your doctor. It's easy to forget something important "in the moment," and we want to be sure that any issues or concerns about your health are covered during your visit.

You will also need to bring your insurance card and ID for every visit.

If you're coming for your first visit, remember to bring any recent test results and health history information, plus your list of current medications.

Please plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early for your first visit, to allow time for parking and to complete your history and insurance forms.

Q:  Do I need to pay for my visit at the time of service?

A:  If your service will be paid for by your health plan, we are happy to bill your insurance company directly. If your benefits carry a copay, co-insurance, or deductible (and almost every plan does -- including Medicare), we ask that you pay those amounts at the time of service.  We accept all major credit cards as well as personal checks.

Q:  What if I need to cancel or change my appointment?

A:  Since we often have patients who would like to be seen sooner than their scheduled appointment, we ask that you provide at least 48 business hours advance notice if you need to cancel or change your appointment to avoid last minute cancellation fee. 

Please call our office to make appointment changes (do not use email) to be sure they are received as soon as possible.

Q:  I'm newly diagnosed with a rheumatic disease and would like to learn more. Are there reliable resources online?

A:  Amicus physicians recommend that patients use the American College of Rheumatology website for reliable information about rheumatic diseases and conditions.