> FAQs
What is primary care?
Why was ProHealth Physicians created?
Is ProHealth Physicians an HMO or managed care operation?
Who owns ProHealth Physicians?
What benefits does ProHealth Physicians offer patients?
When calling my doctor’s office what information should I have?
Who can I call when I have a question about my bill?
What health insurance do you accept?
What services does ProHealth Physicians provide?
What is the difference between a brand and generic drug?
What are “maintenance medications?"
What is HIPAA?
What is the purpose of HIPAA?
Who is covered by HIPAA?
Q: What is primary care?
A: Primary care is the care of the whole person. Primary care physicians include general internists, family practitioners and general pediatricians. They provide treatment for a wide range of problems and may see patients in their practice sites, the hospital, or in patients' homes. When specialty care is needed, primary care practitioners coordinate that care. Helping you stay well is one of your primary care physician’s most important objectives.
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Q: Why was ProHealth Physicians created?
A: During the past decade, the healthcare industry has experienced major changes. Many physicians feel that large companies have too much influence over important decisions about health. ProHealth Physicians puts healthcare decisions back into the hands of doctors and patients. By merging our individual practices into a group, we have more power to both influence legislators and negotiate the type of agreements with health plans that reflect our high standards of medical care. Ultimately, we believe our solution makes us better prepared to put the physician-patient relationship back where it belongs: at the center of health care.
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Q: Is ProHealth Physicians an HMO or managed care operation?
A: No. ProHealth physicians continue to see their patients the way they always have, and patients maintain their relationships with their internists, family practitioners and/or pediatricians. Specialty care is by referral, as it has always been. ProHealth physicians--like physicians who are not part of a group--work with a variety of private insurance providers and participate in most of the HMO programs offered in Connecticut.
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Q: Who owns ProHealth Physicians?
A: ProHealth Physicians is owned and managed by its shareholder physicians. As practicing physicians, the owners of ProHealth feel a deep responsibility to deliver the highest quality care.
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Q: What benefits does ProHealth Physicians offer patients?
A: If you are a patient of a ProHealth Physician practice, you can continue to expect to receive the first rate, individualized medical care you have always received from your personal physician. In addition, ProHealth Physicians:
- Has developed quality standards and processes for healthcare delivery
Has developed new and improved services including our own laboratory, bone density testing sites, and sleep center.
- Is making long-term investments in record-keeping and information systems so we can communicate better with colleagues, hospitals and labs, and improve the care we give to our patients.
- Works with the UConn Medical School Department of Community Medicine division of Primary Care. ProHealth is responsible for the preceptor program, which allows medical students to more closely watch the physician-patient interaction in the office.
- Conducts clinical research trials and outcomes projects to test effectiveness of new treatments, measure safety and cost, and to improve the overall health of our patients. Through their ProHealth physician, patients may be able to participate in clinical studies to test state-of-the-art medications for conditions such as sinusitis, bronchitis, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, Lyme disease, diabetes and arthritis.
- Has a streamlined billing and administration process, freeing physicians from paperwork and administrative functions and enabling them to spend more time where they should be – with you, the patient.
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Q: When calling my doctor’s office what information should I have?
A: a. For Appointments: Insurance information
b. For Prescription: Name of drug; dosage; instructions; pharmacy phone numbers
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Q: Who can I contact when I have a question about my bill?
A: You can email your billing question(s) online at submit a billing question. For more complex questions and/or responses needing immediate attention, please call us directly at (860) 284–5200 and press “1” at the prompt or call toll free at 1-800-268-2055.
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Q: What health insurance do you accept?
A: We accept most major health insurance plans.
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Q: What services does ProHealth Physicians provide?
A: Our services include:
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Q: What is the difference between a brand and generic drug?
A: Each new medication is given a brand (trade) name and a generic (chemical) name. A brand name, protected by a patent, is the name under which the product is advertised and sold for 17 years. Once the patent has expired, a generic equivalent may be manufactured by any complying with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s stringent regulations for safety. Generic medications are known only by their chemical names.
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Q: What are “maintenance medications?”
A: Maintenance medications are used to treat chronic conditions such as
arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, and ulcers. They are taken on a long
term basis and are available in economic quantities through mail service programs.
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Q: What is HIPAA?
A:
- Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996
- Federal legislation governing privacy and security of individually identifiable health information (IIHI)
- Applies to healthcare providers, health plans and healthcare clearinghouses (“covered entities”)
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Q: What is the purpose of HIPAA?
A:
- To protect and enhance consumer rights
- To improve the efficiency and effectiveness of health care delivery
- To improve the quality of health care
- To protect the privacy of individually identifiable health information
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Q: Who is covered by HIPAA?
A:
- Health care providers
- Health plans
- Health care clearinghouses
- Indirectly, business associates
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