General Policies
Appointments and Arrival Times
Please schedule appointments by calling our office at (850) 233-3376. You can also use the contact form to request an appointment, and one of our staff will call you to confirm available times.
We ask that you arrive 15-minutes prior to your scheduled appointment time so that all paperwork can be filled out and we can get you checked in on time. If you have downloaded the forms and filled them out ahead of time, you may arrive at your appointment time instead.
Please give 24-hour notice for cancellations. A $25 cancellation fee ($50 for surgical appointments) will be charged if a 24-hour notice is not given. We have many patients who need that appointment and can be scheduled in your place if you provide the appropriate notice.
Late Arrivals
Late arrivals may require rescheduling. There will not be a cancellation fee for late arrivals unless you arrive more than 30 minutes after your scheduled appointment.
What You Should Bring
Please bring a photo ID and an insurance card to your appointment. We also need the social security number of the guarantor so we can file the insurance claim. Failure to provide this information will require payment for the full cost of the appointment and any procedures performed at the time of service.
Insurance
After patients arrive in our office, we verify insurance coverage through a system called "Availity." If the benefits cannot be verified, the full charge of the visit must be paid before receiving care.
We accept all major insurance carriers, with the exception of First Health. We are preferred providers of Blue Cross/ Blue Shield (including Health Options), Cigna, Aetna, United, Tricare Prime, Tricare Standard, Medicare, all medicare supplements, SouthCare, Great West, and PHCS. If your insurance is not on this list, please contact your insurance company and ask them to add Gulf Coast Dermatology to their plan.
All patients must bring their current insurance card and photo ID to each visit, unless it is for a cosmetic procedure only.
Co-pays are taken at the time of service, and any outstanding balances must be paid prior to follow-up visits unless it is a medical emergency.
Minors
Minors must be accompanied by their legal guardian during their first visit. After the first visit, a parental waiver must be signed if their guardian will not be present during future appointments.
Transfers From Other Doctors
If you are transferring your care from another physician to our practice, please have your medical records faxed to our office prior to your visit. This will prevent any confusion regarding previous treatments.
Biopsy Call Backs
All patients who have biopsy results performed are called back within one week of the biopsy. If a patient has not heard from us within one week, please call the office and request your results. Lab results do not normally require a call back, unless a result is abnormal.
Prescriptions
Prescriptions will be filled during business hours. Please leave a message for our medical assistants and they will return your call by the end of the following business day.
Availability
Our providers are only available during normal business hours. If you have a medical emergency, please go the the ER at Gulf Coast Medical Center or Bay Medical Center. If it is a skin problem, Dr. Ward is on staff and can be called if the ER staff is not able to handle the problem.