Q. Why do I have to fill out papers and come to your office one-half hour early for my first appointment?

A. There are several forms that need to be completed, some related to insurance and some related to your medical history. Completion of the medical history form helps your doctor to better diagnose and manage your problem. To save you time you can download the forms from our website and fill them in at home prior to your appointment. (Provide LINK to paperwork)

Q. Why can't you get records from my other doctors?

A. The records that come from other doctors' offices are the property of that physician's office and only you can give authority to have those records transferred. You must first sign a release form (available at your referring physicians' office or ours (Provide Link to Release form on our site)) and ask that those records be sent to us. The best way to ensure that your office visit is the most productive is to bring your old records with you to your first visit with us.

Q. What is a Deductible?

A. deductible is the amount of money you have to pay towards your health care costs BEFORE your health insurance starts to pay.

Q. To what services does my deductible apply?

A. Your deductible may not apply to all services. Frequently, the deductible does not apply to preventive services. We will assist you in determining which services apply to your deductible.

Q. What is a "co-pay"?

A. Most health insurance companies use a co-pay to place some restraint on the utilization of health care services. A co-pay may be a specific dollar amount (for example, a $25 co-pay) or a percentage of the charge (for example, a 20% co-pay). Different health insurance companies have different co-pays. The co-pay will be listed on you insurance card.

Q. Do I need a referral?

A. Some health insurance plans have a panel of physicians who will provide care for the patients within a particular health plan. If you want to see a physician outside of this panel, you will probably be required to get a referral. Dr. Meehan's staff will assist you in this process.

Q. What is a Prior authorization and pre-certification?

A. Many health insurance plans require pre-approval for certain procedures (for example, CAT scan and MRIs) and/or pre-certification if you need to be admitted to the hospital. Please tell your physician or his/her nurse if your health insurance plan has these requirements.

Q. Who files my insurance?

A. As a courtesy, Meehan Medical files your insurance claims.

Q. What is covered by my health insurance?

A. The business office at Meehan Medical deals with several different health insurance plans. We will assist you in determining how your plan will cover a particular service. We always recommend that the patient contact the customer service department with your health insurance if you need specific information regarding your benefits.

Q. Will I feel pain during the procedure?

A. The majority of patients who undergo procedures, especially colonoscopy, feel little to no discomfort. Moreover, the medications used create a temporary amnesia so most patients do not even remember the procedure. Still, Dr. Meehan when administering the medication has to balance patient comfort with safety during conscious sedation and, on occasion, there may be recollection of the procedure.

Q. Why can't I drive myself home if I'm awake when the procedure is over?

A. The medication that is administered during the procedure can have lingering effects for several hours after the procedure. For your safety, our policy is to ask our patients to arrange for someone to drive them home after they have been released.

Q. Can I stay a few extra hours after my procedure and then drive myself home?

A. You cannot drive any vehicle until the day after the procedure since the medication can linger in the system and can affect your driving abilities. Someone must drive the patient home.

Q. When will I get the results of the test?

A. Dr. Meehan will be able to give you preliminary results immediately following the procedure. If biopsies were taken, it may take up to two weeks for the results. It is recommended that if you do not get biopsy results within two weeks of the test that you call the office for the results. If, however, biopsy results arrive sooner, you will receive a phone call or a letter in the mail with the biopsy results and subsequent recommendations.

Q. What is the difference between having a flexible sigmoidoscopy and having a colonoscopy?

A. A sigmoidoscopy is a shorter test that requires less preparation, but is less thorough. A colonoscopy requires greater preparation the day before and sedation for the procedure, but provides a more extensive examination of the colon. It has been shown that up to 50% of polyps and other findings can be missed with a sigmoidoscopy; hence there has been a trend towards performing a coIonoscopy rather than sigmoidoscopy. Please discuss this further with Dr. Meehan if you have any additional questions.

Q. Will my health insurance pay for Preventive exams ("Annual" physical):

A. Some health insurance plans pay only if you have a medical problem. Other health insurance plans pay a certain way if you go to the doctor for medical problems and a different way if you see the doctor for preventive services. It is not always easy to define a visit to the doctor as purely "preventive" or purely due to an ongoing medical condition. If your health insurance plan pays for preventive services (for example, an annual physical exam, screening cholesterol, mammogram, flexible sigmoidoscopy for screening for colon cancer, etc.), please tell your physician or his/her nurse. If you do not know whether your health insurance plan covers these services, please inquire directly with your health insurance company prior to receiving these services. You will be billed for preventive services if your insurance does not cover preventive services.

Q. Why did my doctor choose one colonoscopy preparation over another?

A. There are several commonly used preparations. The choice of a preparation is based on a number of factors including the physician's experience with previous patients, patient preference, and the potential side-effects of some of the preparations. The PEG (Polyethylene Glycol) is the most frequently-prescribed preparation, however, some physicians prefer the VISACOL preparation. It is important to note that some medical conditions might warrant one type of preparation instead of another. Please ask your doctor if you have any further questions about this.

Q. Why can I have cranberry juice but not red Jell-o or Kool Aid during a preparation?

A. Jell-0 and Kool Aid have artificial colors that may discolor the fluid in the colon and give the appearance of blood in the colon. Cranberry juice doesn't have artificial coloring so it won't discolor the preparation. Other fruit juices that are not red or other types of Jello are acceptable to take on the day of the preparation.

Q. Should I take my Metamucil or Citrucel prior to the colonoscopy?

A. It is recommended that you hold Metamucil, Citrucel and other fiber products for one week prior to the procedure. This will allow for a better result from the preparation.