Get acquainted with your rights and responsibilities as a patient. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask a Mental Health–Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center staff member.
Confidentiality
Confidentiality is a is a cornerstone of mental healthcare, ensuring that what you share with your provider remains private and protected. This is a priority at all of our clinics. During your first visit, you may be asked to sign a release that allows the provider to share your evaluation with your referring provider. The information you give to the health system will be protected according to state and federal law.
Please understand that we may request your signed authorization to release information. This allows us to coordinate your care with other providers or facilitate payment from your third-party payer. Great River Health will only release your information according to the terms outlined in our Privacy Practices. A copy of our Privacy Practices can be viewed here.
Insurance & payments
Insurance Filing: We will file all insurance claims on your behalf. Please note that insurance coverage and payments vary based on your specific policy and the testing or treatment procedures provided. Some services and charges may not be covered by your health insurance policy. It is your responsibility to:
- Verify your coverage with your insurance provider before your appointment.
- Check if pre-authorization is required for services.
- Confirm if the provider you are seeing is in your network. While our insurance specialist does everything possible to assist with pre-checks, ultimately, verifying coverage remains your responsibility.
Payment policy: Payment, including all co-payments and deductibles, is expected at the time of service. Although we bill your insurance, you, as the client, are responsible for the full payment of fees.
Billing questions: For any billing questions, please contact Patient Financial Services – Patient Billing by calling 319.768.3625, option 2.
Accounts that are 120 days past due may be sent to collections. Seriously delinquent accounts or substantial deviations from this policy without prior agreement from Patient Financial Services – Patient Billing may result in the termination of services. If services are terminated, you will receive a 30-day advance notification to allow time to secure alternative care, during which only emergency services will be approved.
Appointment cancellations & no-shows
Keeping your scheduled appointments is important for your treatment progress and impacts the availability for other patients needing care. When appointments are canceled late or missed, it prevents us from scheduling another patient.
Cancellation: If you must cancel an appointment, please notify our office immediately. If our office is closed and your appointment is the next day, please leave a message with our answering service.
No-Show: Cancelling an appointment less than 24 hours before the scheduled time is considered a no-show. A $25 fee will be charged for each no-show.
Additional policies:
- Missed intake: If you have a late cancellation or miss your initial intake appointment with a provider, services will be denied.
- Multiple missed appointments: If you miss three appointments within a six-month period due to late cancellations or no-shows, your services will be terminated.
- Consecutive missed appointments: If you have two consecutive no-show appointments with any provider, your services will be terminated.
Termination of services: Clients whose services are terminated will be provided with recommendations to other agencies. Great River Health will continue to provide 30-day emergency care while you secure alternate services.
How to request a medication refill
There are two options for requesting a prescription refill:
- Call your clinic
- Contact your pharmacy
Please note that early refills for controlled substances/narcotics are not permitted. Refer to your narcotics contract for details.
Your responsibilities as a patient
To ensure the most effective treatment, you have the responsibility to:
- Accept responsibility for your own behavior.
- Complete assignments given by your provider, including reading, rehabilitation exercises, record keeping, participation in support activities, or other prescribed tasks.
- Discuss problems openly and directly with your provider.
- Establish and actively work towards treatment goals with your provider.
- Attend all scheduled appointments regularly.
- Fully participate in your prescribed therapy and/or medication program.
- Pay your fees and keep your account current.
- Accurately report any circumstances in your life that may be affecting your mental health or treatment.