Appointment Scheduling
Member appointments should be scheduled according to necessity of member needs (e.g.emergent, urgent, or routine/well care visits).
As a general rule, for routine and preventive care, members should receive an appointment within thirty (30) days of the scheduling date for (a) new patient visits, (b) routine physical exams, (c) health screenings, (d) lab tests (available through LabCorp only), and (e) x-rays. For urgent care, members should be scheduled to receive care from their Primary Care Physician within two (2) days.
Our members receive notice that they should anticipate waiting about fifteen (15) to forty-five (45) minutes for their appointment once they enter the provider’s waiting room. Members should be given advance notice if appointment dates/times need to be changed.
After-Hours Services
All Polk HealthCare Plan contracted physicians are to provide twenty-four (24) hour telephone access for the handling of after-hours inquiries, emergencies, and referral services to ensure continuity and/or coordination of care to Polk HealthCare Plan members.
Providers are required to provide telephone access twenty-four (24) hours a day seven (7) days a week, three hundred sixty-five (365) days a year to a licensed medical professional who is qualified to make any of the following recommendations:
• Treat pain or symptoms at home and come in to see the Primary Care Physician on the next day.
• Go to an urgent care center.
• Go to an emergency room.
Member appointments should be scheduled according to necessity of member needs (e.g.emergent, urgent, or routine/well care visits).
As a general rule, for routine and preventive care, members should receive an appointment within thirty (30) days of the scheduling date for (a) new patient visits, (b) routine physical exams, (c) health screenings, (d) lab tests (available through LabCorp only), and (e) x-rays. For urgent care, members should be scheduled to receive care from their Primary Care Physician within two (2) days.
Our members receive notice that they should anticipate waiting about fifteen (15) to forty-five (45) minutes for their appointment once they enter the provider’s waiting room. Members should be given advance notice if appointment dates/times need to be changed.
After-Hours Services
All Polk HealthCare Plan contracted physicians are to provide twenty-four (24) hour telephone access for the handling of after-hours inquiries, emergencies, and referral services to ensure continuity and/or coordination of care to Polk HealthCare Plan members.
Providers are required to provide telephone access twenty-four (24) hours a day seven (7) days a week, three hundred sixty-five (365) days a year to a licensed medical professional who is qualified to make any of the following recommendations:
• Treat pain or symptoms at home and come in to see the Primary Care Physician on the next day.
• Go to an urgent care center.
• Go to an emergency room.