When making an appointment at University Hospitals (UH), keep these things in mind:

Your primary care physician or provider (PCP) is the doctor who takes care of you.

The specialist is a doctor who works in a certain part of medicine, like a surgeon or heart doctor.  Your insurance may need a referral from your doctor, so that you can see the special doctor.  To see if the special doctor is on your plan, call your insurance.  This number is on the back of your card.

This is a procedure or test that is special and costly.  Surgery, MRI's, CT's, sleep tests, heart tests are some kinds of tests that your doctor might want.  You will need a prior authorization number (PA) from your insurance before you can have your test done.

Insurance Companies always need to know before you visit a special doctor or before any tests are done and give you a PA number.  This number MUST be in place before your visit.  The Patient Care Coordinator (PCC) can help you with this.

Your doctor may want you to see a special doctor for more work-up and care.  Insurance plans will need paperwork from your doctor to see the special doctor.  A PA will be needed for you to see a special doctor.  We will look before your visit to see if your referral has been sent to us.  Your referral MUST be here before your visit with the special doctor.  Call your insurance to check on the referral.

Your doctor may start the referral for special care.  At UH, a PCC will start your referral or request and talk with your insurance.  To check on a referral, call your insurance or PCC.

All patients seen at UH will be registered for billing information.  Make sure you ALWAYS bring your insurance card with you to any visit.  Co-pays are due at the time of your visit.  If you bring a referral from your doctor to a specialty visit, give the front desk your referral when you check-in.  If you do not have your referral, your visit may be rescheduled.

You or your insurance will get two bills for care.  One of these will be from UH and one from University Physician's Associates (UPA).  UPA is for the doctor and UH is for the clinic fees, x-rays or lab work.  If you are admitted to the hospital you will get an itemized bill for all of the services you had during your stay.  If you have any questions, call the Business Office at 272-2131.

If you are not insured you may be able to get financial aid if you:

• Live in Bernalillo County for 90 days or more, and
• Meet certain income guidelines.

Please call 272-2521 to set up a visit.  Some help may be given to patients from outside of Bernalillo County if you cannot get the care in your home county.  Call 272-2521 to set up a visit to see if you qualify for out-of-county financial aid.

You are seen as self-pay if you have no insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, and do not meet the guidelines for financial aid. You MUST make a down payment before a visit or treatment, except in cases of emergency.  You will be billed for the rest of what is due on your bill by either UH or UPA. You may call 272-2521 to arrange for payment.