Patient FAQ
• Arrive 15-20 minutes early for your first appointment.
• Bring a current copy of you medical insurance card
• Bring a list of all medications that you are currently taking, including strength and dosage.
• For children, bring their current record of immunizations.
Q. How do I find out about Insurance, Co-Pays and Benefits?
Q. How do I find out if Group Health Associates accepts my insurance plan?
Group Health Associates serves patients with many types of insurance including HMO's, PPO's, Medicare and other insurance plans. If you are not sure if Group Health Associates is on your plan, check with your insurance carrier.
Click here for a current list of participating plans.
Any co-pays required by your insurance are due at the time of your visit. A co-payment is the amount a patient is required to pay at the time certain services are rendered. Refer to your insurance benefit summary for the co-payments that apply to you.
Patients are asked to bring their insurance card to each visit so that insurance coverage can be confirmed. Patients who are not covered by insurance will be asked to pay at the time medical services are rendered. Insurance benefits vary from plan to plan, please contact your insurance carrier or employer regarding your policy's benefits.
Q. Do I need to choose a Primary Care Physician (PCP)?
Group Health Associates recommends that you choose a primary care physician. We believe that a primary care physician is essential for the most effective and efficient delivery of care. This physician plays a key role in coordinating your care with specialty physicians and other members of your care team. With Group Health's electronic medical record system, doctors can share information about your care to help prevent duplicate and unnecessary tests and treatments.
Some insurance plans require that you designate a primary care physician. Please check with your insurance carrier. Their customer service number can usually be found on the back of your insurance card. If you are looking for a primary care physician, you can use our searchable provider directory to learn more about our doctors.
Q. What about retrieval or transfer of my medical records?
A. If you have not already made arrangements to have your medical records forwarded to Group Health Associates, we will request that your records be sent to us. We will need a signed Medical Records Release form.
To protect patient confidentiality, Group Health Associates is required to obtain a Medical Records Release form-signed and dated by the patient - for the release of medical records including X-rays and immunization records.
If you should move, we will transfer your records to your new physician. Please allow 7-10 business days for this transfer to occur.
There is no charge for medical records sent directly to another physician. However, there is a fee (based on the number of pages and accessibility) for records requested for personal use, by an attorney, or by an insurance company.
Q. Do I need an appointment to see a Group Health Associates physician or provider?
A. All appointments are scheduled in advance by calling one of our convenient locations. Our front desk associates will be happy to assist you. They will provide you with the earliest available time that is convienent for you. If your physician is not available, they will offer you an alternate choice. When you are unable to keep an appointment, 24-hour notice is required. Failure to keep appointments may compromise your medical care and prevent other patients from being seen.
Q. I need to see a primary care doctor, but I'm confused-what's the difference between Pediatrics, Family Practice and Internal Medicine?
Pediatricians provide and coordinate healthcare for infants, adolescents and teens through the age of 18.
Family Practice physicians provide continuing and comprehensive healthcare for the entire family, including children and adults.
Internal Medicine physicians (internists) provide healthcare for adults 18 and older, and they coordinate all aspects of patient healthcare.
Q.What are Physician Assistants (PAs) and Nurse Practitioners (NPs)?
At Group Health Associates the patient, physician, the nurse practitioner and the physician assistant collaborate as a team in meeting a patient's medical needs.
Physician assistants (PAs) are medical professionals who have trained at accredited colleges and completed clinical rotations in several healthcare areas and specialties. Advanced practice nurses, or nurse practitioners (NPs), are licensed registered nurses who have earned masters degrees in science or have earned advanced education, training and skills in a healthcare speciality such as family practice, pediatrics and women's health. Both PAs and NPs perform patient medical interviews and physical exams to identify, evaluate and treat problems and prescribe medications. They advise patients on health-risk behaviors and facilitate access to appropriate medical resources. At times they can perform minor procedures in the office and they collaborate with physicians on a daily basis in all aspects of a patient's care.
Group Health Associates' NPs practice in internal medicine, pediatrics and specialize in obstretrics and gynecology. These medical professionals help provide a patient's gynecological care, prenatal care and offer family planning (contraceptive counseling), as well as episodic problem evaluation and treatment. Group Health Associates' PAs specialize in internal medicine, dermatology, and rehabilitative medicine.
Q. Who can I call if I am ill after hours?
If you are a patient who experiences illness or injury of an urgent nature after hours or on weekends, contact our After Hours Answering Service at 513.246.7023 for medical advice or to make a next-day appointment with your physician.
Q. What do I do in case of an emergency?
A. In a life-threatening situation, call 911, and the medics will take you to the nearest hospital emergency room.
For urgent medical needs other than emergencies, call your regular Group Health Associates physician. If after office hours, call our After Hours Answering Service at 513.246.7023.
Q. How do I get a referral to a specialist?
A. In general, your Primary Care Physician will coordinate your care and make appropriate referrals to specialists. Please note that specialist referral procedures vary greatly by insurance plan. Please check with your insurance company to verify their specific specialty referral process.
Q. Can I use a Group Health Associates pharmacy to get my prescriptions?
A. Group Health Associates's pharmacies accept most major insurance. If you are not sure if Group Health Associates's pharmacy accepts your plan, check with your insurance carrier. In most cases if you tell your physician you would like your prescription filled at the Group Health Associates pharmacy, it will be ready for pick up when you are ready to leave.
Q. How do I get my prescription refilled?
A. There are three ways you can get your prescription refilled:
- By using the automated pharmacy refill number at each Group Health Associates center.
- By using the online Group Health Associates prescription refill request.
- By contacting the Group Health Associates pharmacy directly.
To refill your prescription you will need the Rx number from the container.
Helpful Tips:
Make sure you have the Rx number - it is located on the container.
Try to avoid waiting until your supply runs out. Not all requests can be processed in the same day.
If your prescription has no more refills, allow 48 hours for processing.
Q. I have a question about a GHA bill I received. Where do I call?
A. If you have a question regarding a bill you received from the Group Health Associates Billing department, contact our Patient Accounts representatives at 513.841.5240.
If you have a question regarding a statement you have received from your insurance company, contact your insurance company's customer service department. Generally, the phone number is located on the back of your insurance card.
Q. I have a hearing impairment. What do I do if I have to talk with a provider?
A. You can contact the Ohio Relay Service via TTY or voice. Call 800.750.0750 to communicate with your Group Health Associates physician's office. In Kentucky, the number for voice callers is 800.648.6057, and the number for TTY callers is 800.648.6056.
Anderson (513) 246-7000
Clifton (513) 246-7000
Finneytown (513) 246-7000
Good Samaritan Medical Office Building
Cincinnati Sinus (513) 246-7002
Women's Center (513) 246-7000
Weight Management (513) 862-9957
Kenwood (513) 246-7000
Mason (513) 246-7000
Spingdale (513) 246-7000
Westbourne (513) 451-1930
Western Hills (513) 246-7000
Q. Does Group Health provide any support to deaf patients when they arrive for an appointment?
A. Group Health Associates provides all of our deaf and hard-of-hearing patients with live interpretation services each time you meet with one of our health care providers. To provide this service as efficiently as possible, patient are asked to cancel or reschedule an appointment at least 48 hours in advance. This will enable us to release the interpreters we have reserved for you, making it possible for them to help other patients and helping us avoid unnecessary costs.
(Note: You can cancel an appointment by calling your preferred Group Health department directly or by calling the main number of your provider's office location (list below). When calling the office numebr, you will need to choose option 2 from the main menu, then choose the appropriate medical department and remember to tell the scheduler the interpreter also needs to be cancelled.)
Anderson (513) 246-7000
Clifton (513) 246-7000
Finneytown (513) 246-7000
Good Samaritan Medical Office Building
Cincinnati Sinus (513) 246-7002
Women's Center (513) 246-7000
Weight Management (513) 862-9957
Kenwood (513) 246-7000
Mason (513) 246-7000
Spingdale (513) 246-7000
Westbourne (513) 451-1930
Western Hills (513) 246-7000
Q. Does Group Health Associates have rules about bringing a pet to a doctor's appointment?
A. Other than seeing-eye dogs and service pets, we ask that you leave your animals at home.
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