What to Expect on Your First Visit

Initial Consultation

There is a charge for the initial consultation to check for venous abnormalities. This consists of a thorough venous history, physical, and screening ultrasound examination, all accomplished by the doctor. This fee will be billed to your insurance if applicable. At the end of this evaluation, you should have an excellent understanding of the scope of your venous disorder, any further workup required, whether your venous disorder is “medical” (likely covered by insurance) or “cosmetic” (not covered by insurance) and the potential treatments. To do this in a meaningful way, it takes the physician’s time, requires a thorough understanding of venous disorders and their treatment, and therefore is not complimentary or free.

Insurance Coverage

If your symptoms and clinical indications meet the specific medical criteria for your insurance we will create a treatment plan that ensures all guidelines are met for insurance coverage and our office will obtain coverage criteria and secure approval from your insurance for all proposed treatments.

We are contracted with Aetna, Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Cigna, Coastal, CHP, Medicare, United Healthcare as well as several others. Our office will handle all insurance billing.

We can review your insurance benefits and provide you with an estimate of your anticipated patient balance after insurance reimbursement and deductible costs.

Patient Paperwork:

Patient Information (Click Here to Download)

Medically Indicated Treatment:

Dispense Compression Stockings:

Most insurance companies require a specific period of conservative treatment which includes a trial of compression stockings. You will be measured, fitted and dispensed prescription-strength compression stockings to wear. These stockings may relieve symptoms.

Duplex Ultrasound Testing:

This is a noninvasive, painless procedure which uses harmless ultrasound waves (the same as used in pregnancy studies) to investigate and outline the venous system of your legs. This study will not only locate and demonstrate the pathology causing your superficial systems (visible) venous disease, but it will also scan the deep system for old or current disease which may have relevance to the proposed treatment.

The scan will take place in our office, will be accomplished by an experienced Registered Vascular Technician, and will take approximately one hour. It requires no premedication, and will not have any effect on your ability to drive home, or to work immediately afterwards.

Discussion:

The doctor will review your ultrasound study and will then determine and outline a treatment plan for you a treatment plan designed to address your specific venous abnormalities.

Cosmetic Treatment:

In the absence of the clinical indications or symptoms required to meet insurance criteria for coverage, treatment is deemed Cosmetic and therefore not covered by insurance.