OA

©2008 OA • 33 Sewall Street • Portland, ME 04102 • (207) 828-2100

Patient Information

Quality Assurance at OA:
OA is committed to providing its patients with the highest level of orthopedic care possible. As part of that commitment, OA regularly monitors service delivery and welcomes your feedback about your experience with us. Some quality assurance activities include monitoring of calls with our staff, collecting patient suggestions, and distributing patient experience surveys.

Frequently Asked Questions - click on a topic area

General questions  [Back to top]

  • Where is OA located?
    Go to our Locations page.
  • What are OA's business hours?
    Our business hours are generally 8 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday at all locations. Any phone calls to our organization outside of those hours are typically processed by our answering service.
    • View our Holiday schedule
    • MRI Center: 7 AM to 7 PM; some Saturdays
    • Performance Center (Saco): 7 AM to 8 PM Mon-Fri; 9 AM to 1 PM Saturdays
    • Physical Therapy Center (Brunswick): 7 AM to 6 PM
    • Physical Therapy Center (Portland): 6:30 AM to 6 PM
    • Physical Therapy Center (Saco): 7 AM to 6 PM
    • Physical Therapy Center (Windham): 7 AM to 6 PM
    • Orthopaedic Surgery Center: 7:30 AM to 5 PM
    • Go to our Emergencies and Prescriptions page.

  • How do I get a copy of my records?
    While you do have the right to access your information, the medical chart is the property of OA, and all records are maintained in our Portland facility. If you have a primary care physician or were referred to OA by another provider, a copy of the office visit will be forwarded automatically. If you desire a copy of the office visit documentaiton for personal use, or if you would like your records forwarded to another physician, please call our office for further assistance. There may be a charge associated with the copying of your records. Please allow for 7 to 10 days for processing of these requests.

Insurance questions  [Back to top]

  • Will I need a referral to schedule an appointment at OA?
    We generally do not require a physician referral to our office for the purpose of scheduling an appointment with one of our physicians, unless this is a requirement of your insurance.
     
    Some insurances require you to have a referral from your primary care physician or an authorization from the insurance company before you are evaluated by a specialist. Most insurance cards have a description of requirements listed on the back of the insurance card along with a toll-free number to call with questions. Or, you may speak with someone in your human resources department if you have coverage through your employer. While OA staff will assist in the process of obtaining a referral, it is ultimately the responsibility of the patient or policy holder.
     
    Co-payments are expected at the time of services, and payment of these is part of your contractual obligation with your insurance carrier. Noncompliance with this obligation is considered fraudulent.      [Back to top]
  • Does OA participate with my insurance?
    OA Centers for Orthopaedics participates with most insurance carriers. If there is any doubt, call the customer service number listed on the back of your insurance card to confirm participation with our organization. Please note that the OA Physical Therapy Centers are not credentialed by government based insurance programs, to include Medicare, MaineCare, and Tricare for example.
  • What options do I have if I do not have insurance?
    If you do not have insurance, we will ask you for a payment at the time of your visit. OA's financial counselor will help you in making a payment arrangement and can be reached by calling 207.828.2100.
    • A prompt payment discount of 30% will be extended as a courtesy for full payment at the time of service
    • CareCredit *
  • Does OA accept credit cards or checks?
    OA Centers for Orthopaedics accepts cash or checks, as well as the following credit cards
    • Visa
    • MasterCard
    • Discover
    • American Express
    • CareCredit *

    * CareCredit is a health care credit card that offers special financing and low monthly payment options, no up front costs and no pre-payment penalties. For more information and an application, please contact OA’s financial counselor by calling 207.828.2100 or visit www.carecredit.com.

Initial Visit Information and Associated Forms  [Back to top]

Castroom Services: Questions Regarding Bracing and/or Orthotics  [Back to top]

  • What if I need a brace or special inserts for my shoes? Will my insurance cover this?
    With all the different insurance companies and group policies in existence, the only way to know with certainty whether or not your durable medical equipment (DME) (i.e., brace, orthotic, crutches, etc.) will be covered by your insurance is to call them directly. You may find their contact number on the back of your insurance card. Before placing a call to your insurance carrier we will provide you with a diagnosis and code for the particular product recommended for you. Some of the more expensive braces require preauthorization, so in these cases OA will contact your insurance carrier to determine coverage.

    OA has compiled a list of DME which is often not covered. So that you may make an informed decision, the OA employee who fits you for a brace/orthotic will let you know if you are being fitted for one of these potentially con-covered items.      [Back to top]
  • If the brace/orthotics is covered by my insurance, does that mean I will not incur any out-of-pocket expense for the item?
    Not necessarily. Depending on the terms of your insurance policy, you could still incur some out-of-pocket expenses. High deductible plans are set up so that most medical expenses (with the exception of routine check-ups/tests, etc.) are out-of-pocket until the deductible is met. Some plans may pay a percentage of the cost of the product, while the remaining amount will be for you to pay.  [Back to top]
  • May I return durable medical equipment?
    Please be aware that due to OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) regulations, OA is not able to accept returns of any durable medical product.  [Back to top]

Physical Therapy Center Services  [Back to top]

  • Does the OA Physical Therapy Center participate with my insurance?
    Please note that the OA Physical Therapy Center (all locations) is not credentialed by government based insurance programs, to include Medicare, MaineCare and TriCare for example.
  • Will physical therapy services be covered by my insurance?
    • With all the different insurance companies ad group policies in existence, the only way to know with certainty whether or not your physical therapy services will be covered by your insurance company is to call them directly. You may find their contact number on the back of your insurance card. As a new patient to the Physical Therapy Center, an OA staff member will verify your insurance benefits for physical therapy (PT) services, as long as you have provided her with this information. She will verify if a primary care physician referral is needed, what your co-pay or out of pocket expense will be, the maximum PT benefits allowed, and if precertification is required. This information will be reviewed with you at your first appointment.
    • Co-pays are collected at the time of service. If you have no insurance or you have exhausted your PT benefits, $90 will be due at the time of service. Please call OA's Physical Therapy Center at 207-828-2121 if you have any questions.  [Back to top]

MRI questions  [Back to top]