Your Rights, Our Policies

Policies, Patient's Rights and Responsibilities

Pain and Controlled Substance Policy

Narcotics are prescribed only when absolutely necessary and only when trust has been established between provider and patient. We reserve the right to drug test a patient at any time.
We will refer patients to a pain management specialist, physical therapy, or other alternatives before any narcotics are prescribed.
New patients will not receive a prescription of a controlled substance without a thorough review of past medical records

Antibiotic Use and Prescribing

Antibiotics are only prescribed when appropriate and only after being seen by their healthcare provider. To read more about antibiotics, when they should be prescribed, and the dangers of over-prescribing antibiotics here.

Missed Appointment Policy

Missed appointments without a good excuse will incur a charge of $25. Three or more missed appointments could result in being discharged from the practice.

Payment Policy

Be sure we are in your insurer’s network. Call the number on the back of your card and ask if River Bend Family Medicine is in network before your appointment.
You are obligated by your insurer to pay your co-pay ON THE DAY OF SERVICE. Not paying your co-pay on the day you see your provider is like going to the grocery store without any money. We will bill you a $10 late fee for co-pays that we must send a billing statement to collect.
Deductibles are also obligated to be paid by your insurer. We reserve the right to contact your insurer if you regularly refuse to pay your co-pays and deductibles.
Not all services will be covered by your insurer. We will bill you for any of these services.
If your account is over 90 days old without any attempt by you to set up a payment plan, we reserve the right to discharge you from the practice.
We offer automatic credit card/checking account withdrawals to pay down your balance. Your payments can be small but your commitment must be great!
A sliding fee schedule is available to those uninsured who complete our application and furnish proof of income. This application must be re-completed every 6 months.

You have rights and responsibilities as a patient.
Patient's Rights

You have a right to respectful and compassionate care.
You have a right to participate in, and receive information about, your plan of care.
You will not be denied care due to race, creed, color, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, disability, or source of payment.
You have a right to refuse treatment, and to be informed of the possible consequences of refusal of treatment.
You are entitled to be free from all forms of abuse and harassment.
You have the right to have an appropriate representative make informed decisions about your care.
You have the right to determine advanced directives, and to have them followed.
You have a right to privacy and a safe environment.
You have the right to a prompt response to any reasonable request.
You have the right to see your medical records.
You have a right to an explanation of all items relating to your bill.

Patient Responsibilities

You are responsible to provide accurate and complete information regarding all medical issues and medication use.
You are responsible for following your plan of care. If you refuse treatment, or do not follow your plan of care, then you must accept the consequences.
It is your responsibility to notify a member of our staff if you have trouble understanding or following any aspect of your care.
You are responsible to notify our staff of any new problems or changes in your condition.
You are expected to act in a considerate and respectful manner during any interaction with our staff.
You are responsible to keep your scheduled appointments or to notify our office in advance if you cannot keep an appointment. (We charge $25 for “no shows”).
You are expected to pay your bills, or to make an arrangement with our office to meet your obligations.

Use and Disclosure of Protected Health Information

The educational pamphlet entitled “Notice of Privacy Practices” provides information about how River Bend Family Medicine may use and disclose protected health information about you, and is compliant with the requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).
Our Notice of Privacy Practices states that we reserve the right to change the terms described. Should this happen, you will receive a revised copy either by mail, or in person.

You have the right to request restrictions on how your protected health information may be used or disclosed for treatment, payment, or health care operations. We are not required to agree to your restrictions, but if we do, we are bound by our agreement with you.

Health Maintenance: Cancer Screening and Immunizations
River Bend Family Medicine believes that the best way to be healthy is to participate in regular physical activity, eat a healthy diet, and to keep up-to-date with recommended immunizations and the following cancer screenings:

Cervical Cancer: all women aged 21 to 65 should have a Pap smear every 2-3 years
Breast Cancer: all women over age 40 should have a mammogram each year
Colon Cancer: all men and women over age 50 should have colonoscopy every 10 years or stool cards each year
Prostate Cancer: men over the age of 50 should discuss prostate cancer screening