Going to see a new doctor, let alone a specialist, can be challenging and confusing! There are many new forms and policies that can be hard to understand. We have compiled a list of our most frequently asked questions. If you have any other questions, please contact us!

Appointment Questions

Do I need a referral?

Yes, you will need a referral from your eye doctor or your medical doctor that is familiar with why you are being evaluated by us.

How long will my appointment last?

Every appointment is different and is based on the condition you have, what previous records we have already reviewed, and what testing you need in the clinic before you see the doctor. You could be here anywhere from 1 hour to 4 hours.

What will the appointment entail?

What will happen during your appointment depends on the records we have and what your condition is. Some people will need special tests performed in the clinic before seeing the doctor, others may have many records to review.

Visit our What To Expect page for more information!

If I need additional testing, what would it be and where would I go?

Not everyone will need additional testing. Additional tests could include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic resonance angiography/venography (MRA/MRV), computed tomography (CT), CT angiogram (CTA), or lumbar puncture (spinal tap), or blood tests. We will help you obtain insurance pre-authorization for any testing we order and try to find a convenient location for you, if possible.

Do I need a driver?

Your eyes may be dilated as part of a complete eye exam. Pupil dilation can sometimes affect your vision and can cause you to have difficulty focusing, reading, and have light sensitivity. While some people are able to drive safely while their pupils are dilated, others have significant problems with dilation for up to several hours. If you have any concerns about your vision while dilated, please bring a driver.

Do I need to arrive early?

Yes.

New patients:  Arrive 20-30 minutes prior to your appointment time to verify your insurance information and to register.

Established patients:  Arrive 10-15 minutes prior to your appointment time to update any information.

What do I need to bring?

• You should bring copies of your most recent medical records from your referring doctor. This may include lab tests, visual field tests, optic nerve scans, retinal scans, and brain scan reports.
• You should bring (if possible) CDs of your most recent brain scans. You may be able to get this from the doctor who referred you, or from the hospital where you got the scan.
• To speed up your appointment, please complete your registration form before your appointment. You can bring it with you to your appointment or fax it to 317.527.4708.
• You should bring an updated copy of your medical insurance card. Please double check the card to make sure that your insurance is up to date – if you do not provide the correct insurance information you will be responsible for the full amount.

What if I am late to my appointment?

We understand that delays can happen. Many of our patients travel from several hours away, and we understand that weather conditions and unexpected traffic may prevent you from arriving on time. If you think that you are going to be late, please let us know right away!

However, as a courtesy to our other patients who also have scheduled appointments, we cannot see you as scheduled if you are running extremely late. If you notify us ahead of time of any delays, we are happy to work you into the clinic schedule as an add-on, or to reschedule you to another day at your convenience.

Our no-show/reschedule policy is:

• For patients who live ≤ 30 miles of the office:  if you have not checked in within 15 minutes after your scheduled appointment and you have not notified our office, you will be marked as a no-show.
• For patients who live > 30 miles of the office:  if you have not checked in within 30 minutes after your scheduled appointment and you have not notified our office, you will be marked as a no-show.
• If you are marked as a no-show, your appointment will be rescheduled and you will be charged a $75 no-show fee.
• Patients who have no-showed or rescheduled 3 consecutive appointments (without good reason) will not be rescheduled and will need a new referral from their doctor.

We will work with you if there are extenuating circumstances.  Things happen!  However, we cannot help you if you do not communicate with us – so call or e-mail us if you are running late or cannot make it to your appointment!

Fee and Payment Questions

What will my copay be?

Your copay will be the specialist copay that is listed on your card.  If it is not listed on your card, please contact your insurance company to find out that fee.  The copay will be collected at every appointment.

Why is there a cancellation/no-show fee? How much is the fee?

There is a $75 fee for all canceled appointments within 24 hours and for no-shows that is not covered by your insurance company. Neuro-ophthalmologists are very specialized, and because there are not very many available in the area, our schedule fills up very quickly. We want to make sure that all of our patients are seen in a reasonable time frame, and will do everything we can to work you in earlier than the next-available appointment if we are able. We spend many hours working on reviewing your records and learning about you even before you arrive for the first time in order to make sure that you are treated with detail and care!

If you are unable to keep an appointment, please give us as much advance notice as possible. This allows us enough time to schedule another patient in that slot, and so that we can offer the same level of care to someone else.

We may ask you to provide credit card information at the time of scheduling. The $75 fee will only be applied to your credit card should you cancel within less than 24 hours or fail to show up for your appointment.

Will the doctor fill out forms for me? Is there a fee?

Some patients need specific forms filled out for different reasons (work, disability, Family and Medical Leave Act [FMLA], etc.). The doctor is happy to help fill out any forms related to your referred condition, but there will be a $30 fee to cover the administrative work that has to be done. We will do our best to complete the forms within 1 week of receipt. If you wish to have the form expedited (i.e., within 1-2 business days), it will be an additional $30 charge (total of $60).

We will provide notes for work and school as needed at check-out (just ask!), as well as basic letters stating your medical condition or regarding your visit free of charge.

However, any detailed review and/or summary of your medical condition or letters for legal, disability, or insurance purposes take much longer to prepare (sometimes these can take several hours!) and are not within the scope of routine medical practice. If you are personally requesting this, we charge a substantial fee for the amount of work that is required to create this document. Law offices and insurance companies will sometimes request us to write these summaries, and will sometimes pay the fee on your behalf.

Are there any tests that are not covered by my insurance?

Your exam and most of the tests with your exam will be charged to your medical insurance. Depending on your medical insurance, some services may not be covered, and you will be expected to pay the difference.

The doctor will be assessing your best vision, which requires a test called a refraction. The refraction checks your need for glasses and is not covered by your medical insurance. This test is $50 and will be in addition to your copay. You have the option to decline this test, especially if your vision is good or recently had a routine eye exam. However, if your vision is poor and you are referred to us for decreased vision, not performing this test may prevent the doctor from being able to accurately diagnose your problem.