How Do I Request a Prescription Refill?
For non-urgent prescription refill requests, please use the MyChart Patient Portal. MyChart is the fastest and most secure way to communicate with your Digestive Healthcare of Georgia care team regarding medication refills.
Before requesting a refill, we recommend contacting your pharmacy to confirm whether refills remain on your prescription. If additional authorization is needed, you may submit your request through MyChart.
Please allow adequate time for prescription refill processing and do not wait until you have only a few days of medication remaining before requesting a refill.
In some cases, your provider may require an office visit, laboratory testing, or follow-up evaluation before a medication can be refilled. If additional information is needed, a member of our team will contact you through MyChart or by phone.
Prescription refill requests should not be submitted for urgent or emergency medical concerns. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or seek immediate medical attention.
What Should I Do If I Have an Urgent Medical Concern or Emergency?
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department immediately.
Examples of symptoms that may require urgent medical attention include:
- Severe abdominal pain
- Significant abdominal swelling or distention
- High fever
- Severe dehydration
- Vomiting blood
- Black, maroon, or bloody stools
- Food stuck in the esophagus
- Severe allergic reactions, including difficulty breathing
- Severe pain or concerning symptoms following a procedure
Digestive Healthcare of Georgia has an on-call provider available for urgent gastrointestinal concerns. If you are experiencing an urgent issue that cannot wait until the next business day, please call your Digestive Healthcare of Georgia office and follow the prompts to reach the on-call provider.
Depending on your symptoms, the on-call provider may recommend evaluation in an emergency department, where diagnostic testing and treatment can often be provided more quickly.
For routine questions, medication refills, appointment scheduling, and non-urgent medical concerns, please use the MyChart Patient Portal to communicate with your care team
How Do I Contact My Provider or Care Team?
For non-urgent questions, medication refill requests, test result inquiries, and general follow-up care, please use the MyChart Patient Portal. This is the fastest and most secure way to communicate with your Digestive Healthcare of Georgia care team.
For urgent medical concerns, please contact our office directly. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department immediately.
How Long Will It Take to Receive My Test Results?
Many test results are automatically released to the MyChart Patient Portal as soon as they become available. In some cases, results may appear in MyChart before your physician or advanced practice provider has had an opportunity to review them.
Result timing varies depending on the type of test performed. Some specialized testing and pathology results may take longer to become available.
If follow-up care is needed or your provider would like to discuss your results, a member of your care team will contact you. If you have questions about your results, please send a message through MyChart.
What Is an Advanced Practice Provider (APP)?
Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) are highly trained healthcare professionals who work closely with our physicians to provide comprehensive digestive healthcare. At Digestive Healthcare of Georgia, APPs include Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and Physician Assistants/Associates (PAs).
APPs are qualified to evaluate patients, diagnose and treat medical conditions, order and interpret diagnostic tests, prescribe medications, provide patient education, and coordinate ongoing care. They work collaboratively with our physicians to ensure patients receive high-quality, personalized care.
How Will I Know If My Insurance Will Cover My Procedure or Medication?
Many insurance plans require prior authorization for certain procedures, medications, tests, or treatments. While Digestive Healthcare of Georgia will assist with obtaining any required authorizations, insurance approval and payment decisions are ultimately determined by your insurance carrier.
Please note that an authorization or approval from your insurance company does not guarantee payment. Coverage, deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket expenses are determined by your specific insurance plan.
Because benefits vary by plan, we encourage patients to contact their insurance carrier before a procedure or treatment to verify coverage and understand their financial responsibility.
If you have questions about insurance requirements for an upcoming procedure or treatment, please contact our office for assistance.
Do I Need to See a Provider Before My Procedure?
Not always. Many patients referred for a routine screening colonoscopy may be able to proceed directly to their procedure without an office visit.
Before scheduling, a member of our team will review your health history, medications, and other relevant information to determine whether a pre-procedure appointment is recommended.
Some patients, including those with certain medical conditions, digestive symptoms, or a more complex medical history, may be asked to schedule an office visit before their procedure.
If you have been referred for a screening colonoscopy or have received a positive Cologuard® test result, our team will guide you through the appropriate next steps and determine whether an office visit is needed prior to your procedure.
What If I Need to Cancel or Reschedule My Procedure?
If you need to cancel or reschedule your procedure, please contact our office as soon as possible. Providing advance notice allows us to offer your appointment time to another patient who may be waiting for care.
Please note that missed appointments and late cancellations may be subject to cancellation or no-show fees.
What If I Have Trouble Completing My Colonoscopy Prep?
A successful colonoscopy depends on a thorough bowel preparation. Please follow your preparation instructions carefully and complete the entire preparation as directed whenever possible.
Even if your bowel movements appear clear, your colon may not be fully cleansed. Incomplete preparation can affect the quality of the examination and may result in the need to repeat the procedure.
If you are experiencing difficulty completing your preparation or are concerned that you may not be adequately prepared, please contact our office or the on-call provider for guidance before your procedure.
How Do I Know If I Need a Referral for My Appointment?
Some insurance plans require a referral from your primary care provider before seeing a specialist. Whether a referral is required depends on your specific insurance plan.
We encourage patients to contact their insurance carrier prior to their appointment to verify coverage requirements and determine whether a referral is needed.
Please note that patients are responsible for obtaining any required referrals before their scheduled appointment.
Why Am I Asked to Pay at the Time of My Visit or Procedure?
Copayments, deductibles, coinsurance, and other patient responsibility amounts are determined by your insurance plan and may be due at the time of service.
For patients without insurance coverage, self-pay options are available. If you have questions about your financial responsibility, please contact our billing team prior to your appointment.
When Will I Receive a Bill?
After your insurance company has processed your claim, you may receive a statement for any remaining patient responsibility, including copayments, deductibles, coinsurance, or non-covered services.
Statements are typically sent after we have received a response from your insurance carrier. If you have questions about your bill or account balance, please contact our billing team for assistance.
Why Did I Receive Multiple Bills for My Procedure?
Depending on the services provided, you may receive separate bills related to your procedure.
These charges may include:
- The physician’s professional fee for performing and interpreting the procedure
- The facility fee for the endoscopy center or hospital where the procedure was performed
- Anesthesia services, if anesthesia was provided during your procedure
- Pathology services, if tissue samples or biopsies were obtained and examined
Because these services are often billed separately, it is not uncommon to receive more than one statement related to the same procedure.
If you have questions about a bill you received, please contact the billing office listed on your statement for assistance.
