In an effort to help our patients understand preventive medicine, we are providing you with an explanation of what your Annual Physical Exams are about.
Complete Physical Examination
The Complete Physical Examination defines the Preventive Visit as an exam specifically focused on promoting health and illness. The exam includes counseling, anticipatory guidance and risk factor reduction. A preventive service exam is for a healthy individual who presents with NO ACUTE PROBLEMS (asymptomatic). Your lab work for an annual exam will not be done in advance of your exam.
Although a discussion of different problems sometimes arise during your visit, this discussion is usually considered counseling and is considered a component of the preventative medicine examination unless significant time is spent on the care of that particular problem.
If significant time is spent on an ACUTE PROBLEM, your provider may choose to bill a normal "Sick Visit" and a "Preventive Physical Exam" to you or your insurance company during that particular visit. This office will then bill for a Preventive Exam and a sick visit on the same day which may result in two co-pays for that visit. This is an acceptable insurance practice.
We hope this helps you understand the nature of routine physicals. If you are having a follow up on a CHRONIC CONDITION, then the exam will not be considered a routine physical. You will then be asked to set up a separate appointment for that condition (example: diabetes, hypertension, arthritis) so that we can focus and make ample time to discuss that particular problem or problems.
Please note that Southwest Orlando Family Medicine will not change diagnosis codes to get claims paid, regardless of what your insurance carrier might suggest. This is considered insurance fraud and is illegal.
Thank you.
Southwest Orlando Family Medicine, PL