Dr. Ramona Mihu Relocating
Dr. Ramona Mihu will be leaving Advanced Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine on March 10th and opening her own practice in the Heights on May 1st. For more information, please click here to view her letter to patients.
Announcing New Physicians at Advanced Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine
We’re excited to announce the onboarding of three new physicians, Dr. Jason Hale, Dr. Daniel O'Brien and Dr. Lydia Lee.
Dr. Jason Hale, Interventional Pain Management Specialist, joins us August 1, 2022. Dr. Daniel O'Brien , Orthopedic Hip & Knee Surgeon, joins us September 1, 2022. Lastly, Dr. Lydia Lee, Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Surgeon, joins us October 1, 2022.
Some same or next day appointments may be available while their schedules are open and dependent on insurance coverage. These providers may be out of network in some insurances until the credentialing process is finalized. Please take advantage of their open schedules while they last and get scheduled today by calling . Call now for eligibility and availability.
COVID Testing Decision Tree
Still In Network With UnitedHealthcare :: Masks Are Optional At AOSM :: Availability Of Good-Faith Estimates :: Prescription Refills & Voicemails Announcement :: Pre-Appointment Precautions :: Guidelines for In-Office Appointments :: Telemedicine Now Available
Still In Network With UnitedHealthcare
Many of you may have received a letter recently from UnitedHealthcare detailing their non-renewal of Advanced Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine’s contract. Please be advised that we are still in network with UnitedHealthcare. The name on our contract is simply changing from AOSM to OrthoLoneStar. No further action is required from you the patient. You may continue seeing your physician, and this will not effect patients in any way. If you have any questions, please submit a "contact us" form on the website.
Masks Are Optional At AOSM
The CDC recently updated its face mask guidance for all Americans in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19, while also allowing people to enjoy their day to day lives. The CDC now classifies each county on a three level system: low, medium, or high risk. Only people in the high risk counties are recommended to wear masks when inside. People in medium risk counties like Harris County (Yellow) should only wear masks indoors if they are immunocompromised or are at a high risk for severe infection from COVID. In low risk counties, the CDC does not recommend mask use. Effective April 1st, 2022, masks will be optional for employees, patients and guests at Advanced Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine. We will have both surgical and N-95 masks available for any patients, staff or visitors who choose to wear a mask for personal risk or preference. Our providers and staff with patient interaction will wear a mask if requested by a patient. We still are still asking all staff, patients and guests with COVID symptoms to stay home. We appreciate your patience and cooperation with the masking changes as we continue to navigate this pandemic together.
AVAILABILITY OF GOOD-FAITH ESTIMATES
Beginning on January 1, 2022, Advanced Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine (AOSM) will make “Good Faith Estimates” of charges available to patients who are not covered by commercial health insurance or a federal health care program.
Under the No Surprises Act, you have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost.
Under the law, health care providers and health care facilities are required to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.
- You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.
- Advanced Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, as your health care provider, will provide you with a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask our team for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service. If you meet this criteria and you have not received a Good Faith Estimate of charges, please contact the billing department at 281-897-7400.
- If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.
Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.
For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprisesor call 1-800-633-4227.
Prescription Refills & Voicemails Announcement
For nearly 38 years, compassionate, quality patient care has been our number one priority. With you in mind, we work as quickly as possible to get prescription medication called into your select pharmacy and return voicemails in a timely fashion. Recent changes in Texas Health and Safety Code, has added several time consuming steps for prescribing certain medications including checking the Texas Prescription Monitoring database and two step authentication which can at times delay turnaround times. Please allow up to 24 hours for your prescriptions to be called in. Voicemails left for clinicians regarding prescription refill after 3PM will be addressed the following day. With this in mind, please contact your physician’s clinicians prior to running out of medication, preferably when you have a week or more of prescription medication remaining.
Pre-Appointment Precautions
When making an appointment, all patients will be asked questions regarding symptoms of COVID-19, such as if you have any of the following, including fever over 100.4 degrees F, cough, or difficulty breathing. PLEASE NOT COME TO THE OFFICE IF YOU HAVE ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS. Instead, you should call your PCP for further treatment recommendations. If you do not have a PCP, contact an urgent care or emergency room. Patients will also be asked if they have had contact with anyone known to have, or suspected of having infection with COVID-19. Those patients will not be allowed to schedule for at least 2 weeks.
Guidelines for In-Office Appointments
Patients with ANY symptoms of COVID-19 including fever over 100.4 degrees F, cough, or difficulty breathing, or recent exposure to other infected persons, SHOULD NOT ENTER THE CLINIC, and should call from home or their cell phone for further instructions. (281) 949-8509
Patients over the age of 18 should come alone, or will be allowed a maximum of one person to accompany them if absolutely necessary. Patients under the age of 18 should be accompanied by only one parent or guardian.
Telemedicine Now Available
If you would like to opt for a telemedicine appointment, please let the schedulers know when booking the appointment. For more information about our telemedicine appointment options, please visit telemed .