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Appointment FAQs

Where Are You Located?

Our main office is located in the Desloge Outpatient Center, Building A, Suite 406 on the west side of 141 across from the St. Luke’s Hospital main campus. Upper endoscopies and colonoscopies are performed at Gateway Endoscopy Center, St. Louis Multi-Specialty Surgery Center, and St. Luke’s Hospital GI Lab. (Please refer to the Contact section for addresses and exact locations).

If I need to change or cancel my appointment, what do I do?

Please call 314-529-4900 (option 2) during office hours (8:00am-4:00pm M-F) to cancel your appointment. After hours or weekends, please call our exchange at 855-224-7875 and leave a non-urgent message. If you are calling to cancel or reschedule your appointment within 24 hours, we may assess a $50 service charge for an office visit and $100 for a procedure visit to your account. This is not reimbursable by your insurance company. You will be billed directly for it.

How Much Will An Office Visit or a Procedure Cost?

That depends. The specific amount will depend on your insurance plan and the type of visit. If you have health insurance, you may be subject to deductible, co-insurance and/or co-payment requirements set by your plan. If you have any questions regarding our policy for collecting payment at time of service or setting up a payment plan, please call our office and press option 6 for billing questions. In addition, the customer service department of your insurance company will be able to provide information regarding your out-of-pocket expenses. Your insurance company knows the specifics of your coverage. Our office does not. We do not have the resources to verify everyone’s benefits and coverage and ask that the patient work with their insurance regarding specific coverage questions. We are happy to provide procedure and diagnosis code information to assist you in this process.

Due to the existence of the Affordable Healthcare Act and the opportunity for people to acquire insurance coverage through the Marketplace, our office generally does not see uninsured patients. However, we do make exceptions to this policy in extenuating circumstances. If an appointment is scheduled and the patient is uninsured, information will be provided at the time of scheduling regarding cost and payment expectations.

Why do I need an appointment for medication refills?

It is important for us to stay up to date on any changes in your condition and to verify that all medications we are prescribing are still appropriate. This once a year visit ensures that your medication continues to be the most effective treatment for your needs. However, some of the medications prescribed by a gastroenterologist can also be prescribed and monitored by your primary care physician. If you prefer not to have a visit with our office, you may ask your primary care physician if they can prescribe the prescription for you.

Do I Need A Referral To Schedule An Appointment?

You do not need a referral to schedule an appointment, however, some insurance plans require patients to have a referral prior to seeing a specialist. IF your insurance requires a referral, you will need to contact your primary physician and let them know you have an appointment with our office and they will contact the insurance and obtain the referral authorization and send it to us. We cannot see you if we have not received this referral prior to your appointment.

What Do I Need To Bring To My Appointment?

Bring your completed forms, if you have not completed the paperwork electronically. We will also need any pertinent medical records, these can be faxed by your referring doctor, a list of medications (including dose), insurance card, and a form of identification (driver’s license). You should also bring cash, check, or credit/debit card to cover any visit co-payments or outstanding balances with our office.

Why do I have to arrive 15-30 minutes before my appointment time?

It allows you time to complete the check in process and be ready for your visit. You will be able to fully utilize your appointment to consult with your provider. It is entirely to your advantage to arrive early for your appointment. It’s also a courtesy to other patients. If you arrive late and we see you, the next patient will be inconvenienced because the provider will be running behind. If you have NOT completed your paperwork electronically or sent it in prior to your appointment, please arrive 30 minutes early.

If I am late for my office appointment, will I need to reschedule?

If you are going to be late for your appointment, we ask that you call the office and let us know so we can determine if we can accommodate your late arrival. We will do our best to still see you but the providers schedules are full and we cannot always make adjustments to accommodate a late arrival. We also have to take into account other patients that have arrived as scheduled. It’s not fair to ask them to wait when they have arrived on time. If you do not call and arrive late, you may be asked to reschedule.

It’s not an emergency but I’d like an earlier appointment, how can I move up?

Send us your past medical records and have your health provider call us about your condition. Be flexible about the dates and time of when you can be seen. "We want to provide timely access for our patients."