New Patient Info
Overview
Welcome to Wellness Brain & Spine, the neurosurgery practice of Dr. Stanley H. Kim.
Here are some guidelines to help you make your first appointment with Dr. Kim:
If you would like to make an appointment with Dr. Kim, please have your current treating provider fax us a referral. New patients are accepted only when referred by a current treating provider. Our fax number is 866-563-6244.
If your provider has already referred you to Dr. Kim, we will call you to schedule an appointment once we have received all of the relevant information from the referring provider’s office.
Due to the complex nature of the conditions that he treats, Dr. Kim sets aside one hour of his time to meet with new patients. Because of this time commitment, we ask for a credit card to be placed on file at the time the appointment is made. If you do not show up to your first appointment, a no-show fee of $175 will be charged to the credit card. You will not be charged if you cancel your appointment at least two business days before your appointment. Your credit card information will be shredded after you arrive for your first appointment.
Once your appointment is scheduled, we will ask you to complete our New Patient Paperwork. If you download the PDF file, you can fill it out online and print it out. You can also print out the document and complete it by hand. Once the forms are completed, please return to us prior to your appointment.
Forms
If so, please complete the New Patient Forms and return them to us prior to your appointment. If you download the PDF file, you can fill it out online and print it out. You can also print out the document and complete it by hand.
To save the file, right click on the link below and select “Save link as…” or “Save file as…” (depending on your device).
Insurance Accepted
Wellness Brain & Spine accepts the following insurance plans:
Aetna
Blue Cross BlueShield of Texas
Humana
Medicare Part B
United Healthcare
Seton Physician Hospital Network (SPHN) – most plans
Tricare for Life
Tricare Prime – requires a referral from your primary care physician
Tricare Standard
Wellness Brain & Spine does not accept Worker’s Comp Plans, Medicaid, TriWest, Health Exchange Plans/Obamacare, MAP or Self-Pay patients.
Wellness Brain & Spine is in network with many plans under these carriers and we make every effort to maintain current and accurate insurance data; however, a Provider’s status can change at any time. Please contact our office or the Customer Service telephone number on the back of your ID card prior to receiving treatment to confirm the provider’s participation and to verify your benefits and eligibility information.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is necessary for a referral?
For the referral, your current treating provider should fax (866-563-6244) to us the following:
Demographic sheet which contains your contact information and current insurance plan information.
Recent exam notes related to the condition for which you are being referred to Dr. Kim.
Recent imaging reports related to the condition for which you are being referred. If your imaging was performed at a small local facility or outside the Austin area, the imaging facility should mail us a disc of the imaging.
My insurance plan does not require a referral? Why are you making me get one?
We ask for the referral so that we can confirm that the condition requires neurosurgical care. In some cases, patients should actually be seeing a neurologist, orthopedic surgeon, a pain specialist, or another type of provider. By reviewing referral information, we are able to prepare for your appointment and also make sure that you are being seen by the right type of physician.
Dr. Kim is not in network with my insurance plan. Can I still make an appointment with him?
No, our office appointments are limited to patients who are insured by the networks in which we participate. We recommend that you contact your insurance company and ask for a list of in-network neurological surgeons.
Why do you make us get the referrals from our current doctors? Why can’t you call them and get the documents for us?
We are happy to assist in getting the necessary documents when we can. However, due to the volume of referrals that we receive, we have found that patients are able to get the referring provider offices to fax the documents more quickly. If you are not an established patient with Dr. Kim, it could also be considered a violation of your privacy for our office to call and ask for your records.
Why do I have to wait so long for my appointment?
Because Dr. Kim is a surgeon, he spends a significant amount of time performing surgery at the hospital. We can only schedule new patient appointments for days when Dr. Kim will be in the office. This means that he is not able to see patients in the office every day, and the number of available appointments is limited.
What if I have a condition that requires urgent attention?
More urgent conditions are noted by referring providers, and we do our best to honor requests according to our availability. In some cases, we may suggest seeking a referral to another provider who can see you more quickly. For truly urgent conditions, we advise you to go to your nearest emergency room.
Why do you require a credit card on file before my first appointment?
In practices in which dozens of patients are seen daily, one no-show may not be a big deal. However, Dr. Kim sets aside one full hour of his time for your first appointment with him. If you do not come to your appointment, it is a big loss for our practice and for the many patients who are waiting for appointments with Dr. Kim. The no-show fee is only meant to insure that you come to your first appointment. We shred your credit card information after your initial appointment. If you give us at least 2 business days’ notice that you will not be coming to your appointment, we will then have time to schedule another patient who has been waiting to see Dr. Kim.
What if I don’t have a credit card or I don’t want to give you my credit card information?
You are welcome to mail in a check or money order written to “Stanley H. Kim MD PA” for $175. Our address is 8333 Cross Park Drive Austin, TX 78754. Please write “New Patient Appointment Deposit” on the memo line. It will not be deposited as long as you come to your appointment. After your first appointment, it will be shredded or returned to you upon checking in. Please note that we cannot schedule your appointment until we have received your check deposit.
I have been a patient of Dr. Kim, but I haven’t seen him in 3 or more years. Do I need a referral?
Yes. If you have not been treated by Dr. Kim in the last 3 years, you are no longer an active patient of Wellness Brain & Spine. You would be considered a new patient to our practice and would need to have your referring provider fax us the referral documents (demographic sheet, recent exam notes, and recent imaging reports). Your insurance company may also require that you obtain a referral to Dr. Kim from your current treating provider. Please check with your insurance company for your plan requirements. Referral documents can be faxed to 866-563-6244.
Thank you for your understanding. Our patients will attest that Dr. Kim treats each of his patients with the utmost care and skill. We look forward to seeing you in our office. Please call us at 512-494-6024 or email admin@wellnessbrainspine.com with further questions.