General Policies & Information
Information regarding scheduling of appointments, after hours care, referrals, prescription refill requests, etc.
Appointments - Our providers see patients by appointments only. We encourage you to see your primary care provider each time. If this is possible, we do function as a group, and you have the option of seeing any of our other providers with open appointments. If you need to cancel your appointment, please give our office 24 hours notice, as this will leave us enough time to fill the open appointment time. If you are late for your appointment, we will evaluate the schedule and your medical needs and decide either to proceed with the appointment or ask that you reschedule it for another time.
Last minute cancellations and missed appointments ("no-shows") will be charged $40 to $50 fee. If a brand new patient fails to show up for his/her first visit with us, we will no longer accept that person or his/her family members into the practice. For established patients, the limit for no-shows is 3. After three no-shows for a patient or family, that patient/family may be discharged from the practice.
You are considered a new patient if it has been over 3 years since you were seen in an appointment with a provider at our clinic.
After Hours Care - We provide 24-hour on-call care for our patients, which can be accessed by calling our main office number. You will be put in contact with our answering service, which can notify our on-call provider for you.
Phone Calls - All calls to our clinic go through the automated call routing system. That system will instruct you on how to be connected with the appropriate Tumwater Family Practice staff member. If you are trying to reach a provider, your call will be routed to that provider via their medical staff. If you get their voicemail, please leave a detailed message, and your call will be returned. Non-urgent patient calls may take 1-2 working days to return. If you are trying to reach a medical assistant, you will be connected to the help desk. If you get a voicemail, please leave a detailed message.
Referrals - Most patients need to be seen by a provider prior to receiving a referral. Since most referrals have to be approved by your insurance company first, each referral may take at least 7-10 business days to complete. If you have not heard from us after 14 days, please call us to check on the status of your referral. As always, emergent referrals will be expedited.
Prescription Requests and Refills - If you are requesting a medication that has not previously been prescribed by our clinic, you will need an appointment with your provider to ensure it is safe and appropriate for you. If you are requesting a refill of a medication that we have prescribed for you, please contact your pharmacy to request the refill. They will then fax us the medication refill request. This written process helps to ensure that there is no miscommunication regarding your medications. We recommend that you call at least one week ahead of time to ensure that you don't run out of your medications.
If you need to change your pharmacy or request a written prescription, please contact your provider's medical assistant. These requests are typically processed within 2–3 business days, excluding weekends and holidays.
Paperwork Request (asking your provider to complete special paperwork/forms for you) - The turnaround time for completing requested paperwork is generally 3-5 business days. We now charge a fee for completion of certain types of paperwork. The provider completing the paperwork will determine if a charge is warranted and the amount to charge, which will generally range from $15 to $50. For paperwork with an associated charge, payment in full will be collected when you pick up the completed paperwork.
Retention of New Patient Medical Records - We recommend that all new patients arrange to have copies of their previous medical records transferred to our clinic. If we receive those records before you come in for an appointment to establish care with one of our providers, we will store the records for you up to six months.
Lab Results - Lab results will be made available through the patient portal. Communication regarding your results will be provided by phone or through the patient portal, depending on the type of result, patient communication preference, and whether follow-up is needed. This process may take 1–2 weeks, depending on the type of test performed and its urgency.
Please note: Results may appear in the patient portal before they have been reviewed by your provider. If follow-up is needed, our office will contact you.
Privacy - Our "Notice of Privacy Practices" describes our policies and responsibilities regarding patient privacy. If you would like another copy, the notice is available upon request and is also located in the lobby of our clinic.
Information regarding scheduling of appointments, after hours care, referrals, prescription refill requests, etc.
Appointments - Our providers see patients by appointments only. We encourage you to see your primary care provider each time. If this is possible, we do function as a group, and you have the option of seeing any of our other providers with open appointments. If you need to cancel your appointment, please give our office 24 hours notice, as this will leave us enough time to fill the open appointment time. If you are late for your appointment, we will evaluate the schedule and your medical needs and decide either to proceed with the appointment or ask that you reschedule it for another time.
Last minute cancellations and missed appointments ("no-shows") will be charged $40 to $50 fee. If a brand new patient fails to show up for his/her first visit with us, we will no longer accept that person or his/her family members into the practice. For established patients, the limit for no-shows is 3. After three no-shows for a patient or family, that patient/family may be discharged from the practice.
You are considered a new patient if it has been over 3 years since you were seen in an appointment with a provider at our clinic.
After Hours Care - We provide 24-hour on-call care for our patients, which can be accessed by calling our main office number. You will be put in contact with our answering service, which can notify our on-call provider for you.
Phone Calls - All calls to our clinic go through the automated call routing system. That system will instruct you on how to be connected with the appropriate Tumwater Family Practice staff member. If you are trying to reach a provider, your call will be routed to that provider via their medical staff. If you get their voicemail, please leave a detailed message, and your call will be returned. Non-urgent patient calls may take 1-2 working days to return. If you are trying to reach a medical assistant, you will be connected to the help desk. If you get a voicemail, please leave a detailed message.
Referrals - Most patients need to be seen by a provider prior to receiving a referral. Since most referrals have to be approved by your insurance company first, each referral may take at least 7-10 business days to complete. If you have not heard from us after 14 days, please call us to check on the status of your referral. As always, emergent referrals will be expedited.
Prescription Requests and Refills - If you are requesting a medication that has not previously been prescribed by our clinic, you will need an appointment with your provider to ensure it is safe and appropriate for you. If you are requesting a refill of a medication that we have prescribed for you, please contact your pharmacy to request the refill. They will then fax us the medication refill request. This written process helps to ensure that there is no miscommunication regarding your medications. We recommend that you call at least one week ahead of time to ensure that you don't run out of your medications.
If you need to change your pharmacy or request a written prescription, please contact your provider's medical assistant. These requests are typically processed within 2–3 business days, excluding weekends and holidays.
Paperwork Request (asking your provider to complete special paperwork/forms for you) - The turnaround time for completing requested paperwork is generally 3-5 business days. We now charge a fee for completion of certain types of paperwork. The provider completing the paperwork will determine if a charge is warranted and the amount to charge, which will generally range from $15 to $50. For paperwork with an associated charge, payment in full will be collected when you pick up the completed paperwork.
Retention of New Patient Medical Records - We recommend that all new patients arrange to have copies of their previous medical records transferred to our clinic. If we receive those records before you come in for an appointment to establish care with one of our providers, we will store the records for you up to six months.
Lab Results - Lab results will be made available through the patient portal. Communication regarding your results will be provided by phone or through the patient portal, depending on the type of result, patient communication preference, and whether follow-up is needed. This process may take 1–2 weeks, depending on the type of test performed and its urgency.
Please note: Results may appear in the patient portal before they have been reviewed by your provider. If follow-up is needed, our office will contact you.
Privacy - Our "Notice of Privacy Practices" describes our policies and responsibilities regarding patient privacy. If you would like another copy, the notice is available upon request and is also located in the lobby of our clinic.
Problem & Concern Resolution
We encourage you to inform your provider if you have any concerns about your healthcare or about our polices/procedures. If you are uncomfortable discussing a problem with your provider, please feel free to discuss your issue with our Clinic Directors. We are all here to help and would appreciate the opportunity to resolve any issue that may arise.
We encourage you to inform your provider if you have any concerns about your healthcare or about our polices/procedures. If you are uncomfortable discussing a problem with your provider, please feel free to discuss your issue with our Clinic Directors. We are all here to help and would appreciate the opportunity to resolve any issue that may arise.
Billing Policies & Information
Contains important information regarding our billing policies and procedure.
Patient Accounts - All adult patients (18 years of age and older) are assigned their own individual account.
Minor patients are placed on the account of the parent or legal guardian who accepts financial responsibility and signs the required patient forms at the time of registration.
Bills & Statements - If we bill your insurance, we will submit your claim after your appointment. Once your insurance has processed the claim, they will notify us of any amount that is your responsibility. If there is a remaining balance after all insurance claims have been processed, we will send you a statement.
Statements are only sent if you have a balance due. Payment is due in full within 30 days of the statement date unless you have made other payment arrangements with our Billing Department.
Motor Vehicle Accidents ("MVA's") - We do not accept new patients for accident-related visits.
If your automobile insurance includes Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage, we will bill your insurance as a courtesy. We are unable to bill another party's automobile insurance. Your health insurance may have specific requirements for claims related to motor vehicle accidents. If you have questions about coverage or billing, please contact our Billing Department.
On-the-Job Injuries - Due to the complexities of providing care for patients who have sustained an on the job injury, we refer our patients to specialists who are trained in overall management of these claims.
Laboratory Billing - Our laboratory services are provided by Interpath Laboratory and they are located in Suite B here at Tumwater Family Practice Clinic.
All laboratory billing is handled directly by Interpath Laboratory. If you have questions about your laboratory bill, would like to make a payment, or need assistance with your account, please visit their website or contact their billing department at 1-866-289-4093.
X-Ray- Tumwater Family Practice Clinic no longer provides on-site radiology (X-ray) services. If imaging is needed, your provider will provide you with the appropriate order and information about local imaging facilities where your exam can be completed. Once your imaging has been performed and the results have been received and reviewed by your provider, we will contact you.
Contains important information regarding our billing policies and procedure.
Patient Accounts - All adult patients (18 years of age and older) are assigned their own individual account.
Minor patients are placed on the account of the parent or legal guardian who accepts financial responsibility and signs the required patient forms at the time of registration.
Bills & Statements - If we bill your insurance, we will submit your claim after your appointment. Once your insurance has processed the claim, they will notify us of any amount that is your responsibility. If there is a remaining balance after all insurance claims have been processed, we will send you a statement.
Statements are only sent if you have a balance due. Payment is due in full within 30 days of the statement date unless you have made other payment arrangements with our Billing Department.
Motor Vehicle Accidents ("MVA's") - We do not accept new patients for accident-related visits.
If your automobile insurance includes Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage, we will bill your insurance as a courtesy. We are unable to bill another party's automobile insurance. Your health insurance may have specific requirements for claims related to motor vehicle accidents. If you have questions about coverage or billing, please contact our Billing Department.
On-the-Job Injuries - Due to the complexities of providing care for patients who have sustained an on the job injury, we refer our patients to specialists who are trained in overall management of these claims.
Laboratory Billing - Our laboratory services are provided by Interpath Laboratory and they are located in Suite B here at Tumwater Family Practice Clinic.
All laboratory billing is handled directly by Interpath Laboratory. If you have questions about your laboratory bill, would like to make a payment, or need assistance with your account, please visit their website or contact their billing department at 1-866-289-4093.
X-Ray- Tumwater Family Practice Clinic no longer provides on-site radiology (X-ray) services. If imaging is needed, your provider will provide you with the appropriate order and information about local imaging facilities where your exam can be completed. Once your imaging has been performed and the results have been received and reviewed by your provider, we will contact you.
Tumwater Family Practice Clinic
150 Dennis St SW Tumwater, WA 98501
Phone: 360-754-6367
Fax:360-754-6429
150 Dennis St SW Tumwater, WA 98501
Phone: 360-754-6367
Fax:360-754-6429