​​Frequently Asked Questions

New Patients

1.)  Are you currently accepting new patients?

We are currently accepting new patients.

2.)  Do I need an appointment to be seen in your office?

We do request you call us to schedule an appointment.  If your medical issue is urgent, we can often schedule you for an appointment on the same day you call.  We do our best to accommodate walk-ins but we do give priority to scheduled patients.

3.)  Why types of medical insurance are you in-network with?

We are in-network with most major medical insurance carriers.  Due to the variety of medical insurance carriers that are now available and the rise in polularity of “narrow network” plans, we ask that you call your insurance carrier and verify we are considered “in-network”.  It is best when you make that call to document for your personal record the name of the individual you talked to at the insurance company, the date and time you talked with them and ask them for a reference number in case these is a future issue.

​4.)  What types of medical conditions do you evaluate and manage?

We are a primary care family medicine practice and care for a variety of medical issues.  Click here to see a list of the most common conditions we care for.  You can always contact us to see if we can help you with your medical concern.  

​5.)  Do you deliver babies or admit patients to the hospital?

​We do not practice obstetrics or manage obstetric related complications (i.e. gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, etc).  We do provide referrals to local obstetricians for our patients who become pregnant.  We do manage non-obstetric related medical issues (i.e. asthma in a pregnant patient).  Our patients that require hospital care are admitted to the hospitalist service. Once discharged, care and follow-up is then managed by our providers.

​6.)  Do you provide healthcare services to children?

We do see pediatric patients in our practice for acute visits, chronic disease management (asthma, allergies, etc) and well child check-ups. 

​7.)  Where do I have to go if you order lab work, xrays, or other tests?

​As a courtesy to our patients we are able to draw blood for most lab tests in our office.  We also have X-Ray onsite.  We have a variety of radiology services providers conveniently located in the Denver Tech Center including x-ray, ultrasound, CT scanning, and MRI scanning.  Most testing ordered can be completed using these facilities but sometimes we may need to refer you to an outside facility for select testing.

​8.)  Do you give immunizations?

We do give a variety of immunizations.

​9.)  Do you see patients for “travel consultations” and administer travel vaccines?

All travel medicine and vaccine related services are provided through the Denver Travel Medicine Clinic.

​10.) How do I obtain records from my previous doctor or from the hospital where I was recently discharged and have then sent to your office?

We recommend that you obtain records from your previous physician and/or from the hospital you were discharged from prior to your appointment with us.  Click here to download our medical release form.  Fill out all portions of this form and you can mail it directly to the hospital or to your previous physician.  Records can take up to 3 weeks to arrive once they are requested.

​11.) Do you see patients with worker compensation related injuries or injuries related to automobile accidents?

​We recommended that you talk with your human resources representative, your workers compensation insurance carrier or to your auto insurance carrier if you need to be seen for a work related injury or an auto related injury.  If a patient wants to be seen in our clinic for either of these types of injuries, we require that the patient pay in full at the time of service.  We do not submit claims to workers compensation insurance carriers or to auto insurance carriers.  Medical insurance policies do not cover work or automobile related injuries.  Patient’s referred by Medical Lien Management (Bridgewell) are seen in our clinic.

Established Patients

​1.) I need a refill on my medication.  How do I request a refill?

​We recommend that you call your pharmacy to request a refill on your medication.  Your pharmacy will contact us with this request.  This allows our office and your pharmacy to confirm the medication and dosage you are taking.

​2.) I want to go see a specialist.  How do I request a referral?

​We do not refer patients to a specialist unless they have been seen in our clinic for the medical issue of concern.  If you are requesting a referral for an issue that has been evaluated by one of our providers, you can call our office to make your referral request.  It is up to the discretion of the provider as to whether that referral is appropriate.

​3.) How will I find out about my lab results?

When lab testing or radiology are ordered, you will be scheduled for a follow up visit to discuss the results.  If you have not been contacted about your lab results at it  has been over one week, please call our office.

​4.) I have an emergency or an urgent question and your office is closed.  What do I do?

​If you are having a medical emergency, call 9-1-1 and go to the emergency department immediately!  If you have an urgent concern that cannot wait until regular business hours, you can call our main office phone number and select the option to page the on-call  provider.  Please note that the on-call provider cannot give medical advise to patients who have not been seen in our clinic.

Billing Questions

​1.)  Will you submit claims to my medical insurance carrier for services you provide in your office?

As a courtesy to our patients we do submit insurance claims to most major medical insurance carriers.  We do not submit claims to workers compensation or  automobile insurance companies.

​2.) Why did I receive a separate bill from the the lab company (such as Labcorp or Quest)?

If you have medical insurance and you have blood drawn for testing in our office, the specimens are submitted with the provided insurance information to the lab  company.  The lab company will bill your insurance for this lab testing.  Our office is not involved in this billing process.  Depending on your medical insurance  coverage, you may receive a bill from the lab for the lab services provided.  It is recommended that you check with your insurance company prior to your appointment  to see what lab services your insurance carrier covers.  Aspire Family Medicine does not make any guarantee that any lab testing ordered by one of our providers will be covered by your insurance carrier.  Coverage of lab testing in subject to your individuals insurance benefits.

3.)  I would like to talk with someone about my account statement.  Who do I contact?

​Call our office and ask to speak with our billing manager.

Office Policy

​-  What is your “No-Show” policy?

​Cancellation of an appointment requires 24 hours notice.  Failure to provide 24 hours notice will result in a $75 no-show charge.

Other Common Questions

​- What is the difference between a DO (Doctor of Osteopathy), MD (Medical Doctor) and a NP-C (Certified Nurse Practitioner)?

​DO, or Doctor of Osteopathy, is one of the physician designations (like MD) that identifies a physician who has completed medical school and appropriate advanced  training. DO’s complete four years of medical school and at least three additional years of residency training and then may be certified as specialists in any medical  specialty including family medicine, emergency medicine, pediatrics, orthopedics, etc.  DO's receive additional training in musculoskeletal medicine and are also  able to perform manipulation. In the state of Colorado, DO’s are licensed by the Colorado State Board of Medical Examiners. MD, or Medical Doctor, is one of the physician designations (like DO) that identifies a physician who has completed medical school and appropriate advanced  training.

MD’s complete four years of medical school and at least three additional years of residency training and then may be certified as specialists in any medical  speciality including family medicine, emergency medicine, pediatrics, orthopedics, etc.  In the state of Colorado, MD’s are licensed by the Colorado State Board of  Medical Examiners.

NP-C, or Certified Nurse Practitioner, designates a Registered Nurse with advanced education and training, who practices in all specialty areas to assess, diagnose,  and treat patients of all ages and with all types of health needs. NP-C’s generally have a minimum of a Masters Degree in Nursing and a National Certification to  practice in an advanced role

​About Acute Medical Issues and Injury:

​- I am having an urgent concern and need to be seen today.  Can I be seen today?

If you are having a medical emergency, call 9-1-1 and go to the local emergency department.  If you have having a medical issue and you would like to be seen today, we have same day appointments available every day but they do fill up quickly.  

Go to our Contact Us page for our office hours and for information on how you can schedule an appointment online or by contacting our office directly.

About Annual Physical Exams and Well Child Check-ups.

​- Does my insurance cover an annual physical or my child’s well child check up?

Most major insurance carriers do cover an annual physical exam or well child check up.  It is important that you check with your insurance carrier to verify your  coverage prior to your appointment.  If you have an HMO insurance plan, it is important that you make sure our practice is listed as your primary care provider  with your insurance carrier prior to your appointment.  Please contact our billing department for any further questions regarding coverage.  Please note that if for  any reason your insurance carrier does not cover any service provided, you are responsible for payment for these services.

​- Does my insurance cover immunizations and lab testing?

​Most major insurance carriers do cover routine lab work and screenings recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.  It is important that you check with your insurance carrier to verify your coverage for lab testing and screenings prior to your appointment. 

About Medication and Chronic Disease Management

-  I am almost out of my medication.  How do I get a refill?

It is best to contact your pharmacy to request refills.  We do require periodic follow up on medical conditions for refills.  If you are a new patient and have not been seen before we cannot provide refills of any medication until you have established care in our practice.

​-  Does my insurance cover immunizations and lab testing?

Most major insurance carriers do cover routine lab work and screenings recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.  It is important that you check with your insurance carrier to verify your coverage for lab testing and screenings prior to your appointment. 

​-  I am taking narcotic prescription medication for chronic pain.  Can your office refill this for me?

​Chronic pain of any type can be a difficult and disabling condition to live with.  Chronic pain can affect one’s mood, relationships, sleep patterns and the ability to work and be productive.  Narcotic prescription medication is a reasonable treatment option for some select individuals that have chronic pain.  It is also a medication type that has many potential risks and side effects including sedation, dependence, addiction, withdraw, and risk of death from accidental overdose.  We are lucky in the Denver metro area to have many providers that specialize in treating and managing chronic pain and those taking narcotic prescription medication.  Our patients that have chronic pain that are candidates for chronic narcotic prescription medical therapy are referred to one of our area pain management specialists for evaluation and management.  Due to the above described risks of this therapy, our office does not routinely prescribe or manage chronic pain medication.