Frequently Asked Questions

The centralized Patient Services department, based in Phoenix, handles outgoing referrals from IMS primary care providers to IMS specialists. This convenient service makes the process of seeking care from specialists as simple as possible for our patients. It also facilitates the flow of information and coordination of care to improve patient care.

When the Patient Services department deals with internal IMS referrals, it routes the request immediately to the appropriate specialty within our network. Since all IMS providers have secure electronic access to IMS patient records through our leading-edge Electronic Health Record system, it’s even simpler to share accurate, up-to-date information within IMS and ensure that our providers coordinate your patient care as effectively as possible.

The centralized Patient Services department, based in Phoenix, handles outgoing referrals from IMS primary care providers to specialists outside the IMS network. This convenient service makes the process of seeking care from specialists as simple as possible for our patients, as well as facilitating flow of information and coordination of care to improve patient care.

When the department processes a referral from an IMS primary care provider to an outside specialist, it passes on the request along with the pertinent health records for coordinating your patient care.  As a service to our patients, the department is happy to handle any follow-up communications or requests for information from outside specialists, to ensure that you receive the care you need.

If a primary care provider outside of the IMS network wants to refer a patient to one of our IMS specialists, the provider should fax the referral and any pertinent medical records directly to the specialist’s office. For contact information, please refer to the IMS Provider Directory.

Afterward, the referral patient may contact the specialist for an appointment, or vice versa. Since patient health is our primary concern, we are happy to work with outside providers, communicating regularly with the non-IMS primary care provider and sharing the records from visits to our IMS specialists, to ensure coordination of care and an excellent patient experience.

IMS utilizes “Allscripts ePrescribing” to save patients’ time and reduce their effort. This service allows you to skip the wait at the pharmacy by sending prescriptions electronically. You can also initiate refill requests at the pharmacy for authorization at your IMS provider’s office. 

The Patient Portal helps you access your personal medical records, communicate with your doctors via secure online messaging, and make more informed decisions about your health. 

To sign up for a portal account today, please contact your provider’s office requesting them to send you an invite.

If you are in significant pain or feel your situation is critical, go directly to the Emergency Room at your nearest hospital. Our physicians are affiliated with all major hospitals in the Phoenix metropolitan region. Once you check in, please ask the hospital staff to contact your physician’s office. The physician on call will respond to the request.

If you have urgent medical needs that require immediate attention yet are not life-threatening, please call your provider’s office to check appointment availability. We will make our best effort to arrange an office visit for you promptly. Visit the IMS Provider Directory to search for a provider.

If you are calling outside of ordinary business hours, the phone will be answered by the answering service, which will forward your message immediately to the physician on call.

Contact your IMS provider’s office directly for appointments.

If you plan to visit a specialist for the first time, please check with your insurance company to find out if you need a referral from your primary care provider.

When calling for an appointment, please be ready to provide the following information: 

•  Patient's name

•  Patient's date of birth 

•  Mailing address

•  Daytime telephone number

•  Insurance information

•  Name of the referring physician (if applicable)

•  Reason for the appointment or a brief description of any symptoms

You can search the IMS Provider Directory to find a primary care provider near you and contact the office to arrange for an appointment. If you are seeking specialist care, consult with your insurance company first to find out if you need a referral. If your insurance does not require a referral, you are welcome to contact our specialists directly to set up your appointment. If your insurance does require a referral please contact your primary care provider or our specialist office, and we will help you coordinate.

Please fill out the New Patient Registration Form prior to your appointment.

Please see our IMS Location Directory for all clinic locations. Our clinic office hours vary during the week by office location. To view office hours and location by provider, visit the IMS Provider Directory.

•  Personal identification

•  Insurance card

•  Physician referral forms, if required by insurance

•  Completed Patient Forms

•  List of prescriptions and/or over-the-counter medication, including dose and frequency

•  Information about the patient’s medical and surgical history, including any recent X-rays, test results and/or other relevant records

Yes, you are entitled to access your own protected health information under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).

Follow these steps to request hard copies of your records:

•  Fill out a Medical Records Release Form

•  Specify the records that you require (i.e. within a certain date range)

•  Sign the form

•  Bring the form to your provider’s office

•  Provide personal photo identification for security purposes when presenting your request

To contact your provider’s office, check the IMS Provider Directory.

There will be a fee to process your request. The amount may vary according to the number of records requested. Please ask your provider’s office for details.

Please allow 2-3 weeks for IMS to process your request. We try to respond to records requests as quickly as possible.

Once your request has been processed, you can pick up the records from your provider’s office or have them mailed to you directly.

Yes, you may use the Patient Portal to receive summaries of your most recent visits and build an online Personal Health Record (PHR). Your health information is made available to you electronically in accordance with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). Once you set up a User ID and password on the Patient Portal, you can use this secure service to consolidate your basic health records for easy reference.

Yes, you may authorize specific relatives to access your account information by calling IMS at 602-633-3838 or visiting your provider’s office in person.

Yes, other providers outside the IMS network can request your medical records by faxing us a request from their offices, with a signed release from you. Providers within the IMS network already have access to your records through our secure Electronic Health Records (EHR) system.

All IMS providers have ready access to patient records through our secure Allscripts Electronic Health Records (EHR). With better information about your health history, we’re able to coordinate treatment across our network and provide you with the best patient care possible.

Yes, but you are responsible for paying any deductible, co-pay, or co-insurance in accordance with your insurance plan.

Coverage varies with each insurance plan. Contact your insurance company for coverage information specific to your policy.

If your insurance company does not process payment, you are responsible for the outstanding balance on your account. It is your responsibility to know your insurance information and present the correct information to us upon check-in for your exam. If you do not present us with the correct information, we will consider your account private pay. If your insurance has changed, please call us with your new insurance information.

You will not receive a bill from us until your insurance has paid. If you did not provide us with the correct insurance information upon check-in you will be billed privately. We will re-bill your claim to the appropriate insurance plan(s) if you supply us with the correct information within 60 days of your appointment.

A type of insurance where the patient is responsible for paying a percentage of the covered costs after the deductible has been paid.

As per your insurance contract, the deductible is the annual amount that must be paid out-of-pocket before an insurer will cover any expenses.

An adjustment is a contractual agreement that has been made between your provider and your insurance company reducing the charges of the type of service rendered.

Co-Pay is a type of insurance where the patient is responsible for paying a fixed dollar amount at the time of service.

IMS is a provider for Medicare, AHCCCS, and most major insurance plans. Please verify the participation status with your individual insurance plan or provider. You will still be responsible for your deductible, co-pay, or any amount your insurance plan deems as “patient responsibility”.

• AARP Medicare Complete and Supplements (most plans)
• Aetna (most plans)
• Ameriben
• Arizona Foundation for Medical Care
• Arizona Priority Care
• Assurant
• Beech Street
• Blue Cross Blue Shield (most plans)
• BCBSAZ Third Party Administrators
• Bridgeway Health Solutions
• Care 1st
• CHAMPVA
• CIGNA (most plans)
• Coventry Health
• Galaxy Health Network
• Great-West Healthcare / Cigna
• Health Choice
• Health Choice Generations
• Healthnet (most plans)
• HMN / RAN / AMN
• Humana (most plans)
• Optum Medical Network (Lifeprint)
• Maricopa Care Advantage
• Maricopa Health Plan
• Medicare Part B
• Mercy Care
• Mercy Care Advantage
• Mercy Maricopa Advantage
• Mercy Maricopa Integrated Care
• Meritain
• Meritus (most plans)
• MultiPlan / PHCS
• Mutual of Omaha
• One Care
• Phoenix Health Plan
• Phoenix Advantage
• Railroad Medicare
• SCAN (Optum Medical Network)
• Tricare
• UMR
• United Healthcare
• United Healthcare Military West
• United Healthcare Community Plan
• University of Arizona Health Plans (University Physicians)
• USA MCO
• Workers Compensation*
• Zenith

If you have questions regarding which insurance plans we accept, please call our billing office at 602-633-3838.

Medicare pays 80% of medical claims AFTER your deductible has been met. You are responsible for your co-insurance in accordance with your plan. Medicare does not cover refractions.

You are responsible for the amount listed in the PAY THIS AMOUNT box. If you disagree with how much your insurance has paid on your account, please contact your insurance company before contacting our billing office.

Yes, you may pay your bill online here.

Please call our billing department at (602) 633-3838 to discuss the possibility of a payment plan. If the account still remains unpaid, it may be processed by an outside collection agency. If your bill is not paid in a timely manner you may receive collections notices and phone calls. 

In order to make it simpler for you to understand your statements, you may view this sample bill with added notes which highlights the most important information. Please use it as a handy reference. You can also call at (602) 633-3838 and our account representatives will be happy to assist you in clarifying your statements. 

This is a statement for services rendered by our office and charges for these services will not be shown on any other bill. You may receive a separate bill from the lab, the outpatient surgery center, or the hospital for services provided there.

Payments made prior to the statement date for previous balances are not reflected on the current statement. Only remaining balances which are due are shown. Any payments made after the statement date will be reflected on your next statement.

If you did not provide us with the correct insurance information upon check-in, we will consider your account as private pay. We will re-bill your claim to the appropriate insurance plan(s) if you supply us with the correct information within 60 days of your appointment.

Call (602) 633-3838 and our account representatives will be happy to answer your questions.