Patient Information

Scheduling Appointments

We realize that for our patients' time is valuable, and we make every effort to see patients at their scheduled time. We ask that patients provide as much advanced notice as possible when running late for an appointment or when needing to cancel. With this advanced notice, the time can be scheduled for another patient.

What to Bring to Your Appointment

If you are a first-time patient, please plan on arriving early in order to complete a patient registration form and please bring the following items to your appointment:

• Insurance card(s)
• Referral forms (if required)
• List of all prescription and/or over-the-counter medications that you are currently taking
• Any required co-payment
• Pertinent medical and surgical history information
• X-ray films

Patient Education Handouts

Please click on the links below to access important patient education handouts. Handouts will open up in a separate window. You may print out any of the individual handouts by clicking on the printer icon at the top of the handout page. To return to this page, simply close the handout window.

• Foot Care Information for the Patient with Diabetes
• General Postop Instructions
• Low Purine Diet
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Postoperative Care for Bunion Surgery
• What to Expect After Cryosurgery

Insurance and Payment Information

We are a provider for Medicare and most major insurance plans. Since we provide insurance billing, we encourage all patients to confirm their coverage prior to making an appointment. Co-payments are due at the time of the appointment. If the insurance company does not pay the full balance, or denies the claim, then any unpaid balance is due within 30 days following the appointment.

Please call us with any questions regarding which insurance plans we accept or other billing concerns. Insurance coverage and benefit questions should be directed to your insurance company.

Medicare Coverage for Toenail Debridement

According to the most recent written guidelines given to us from Medicare, the debridement of toenails is covered only for the treatment of either fungal infection of the toenails, enlargement with increased thickening and curvature of the toenails, or marked overgrowth of the toenails. They further stipulate that the treatment of this type of toenail condition is only a covered service when the toenail causes pain and, as an end result, causes limited ambulation or limited walking secondary to the painful nail condition. The treatment of toenail conditions in a non-ambulatory or wheelchair bound patient is covered only when the patient suffers either from pain or secondary infection resulting from the thickening and abnormality of the toenail.

The physicians and staff here at Valley Podiatry Associates are committed to providing the highest quality care for our patients' feet to enhance their quality of life. We do, however, feel that some of the issues that are raised with the Medicare guidelines are issues that patients themselves need to look at subjectively and evaluate whether or not, truly, their nail condition is causing pain to the extent of limiting their ambulation or walking activity. Therefore, we are now requiring that all our patients who present for nail care sign a form which would acknowledge that on that date of service they are presenting with a painful nail condition which causes restricted ambulation for them for which they are seeking treatment. The other option is they are presenting for nail care that is not causing pain or restricted ambulation and, therefore, is not a covered service. When it is not a covered service, then the patient will be paying out of their own pocket on the date of service for the treatment rendered.

If you have any further questions, we will be very happy to discuss this with you personally. We appreciate your cooperation in this matter.