FAQ

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• What insurance plans do you accept?

  Alamo Family Foot and Ankle Care participates with most major carriers. Please consult your insurance carrier or contact one of our scheduling representatives prior to your appointment to verify our participation status with your insurance plan. Below is a partial list of participating plans.

  Medicare 

  BCBS PPO/HMO 

  Aetna 

  Cigna 

  United HealthCare

  Humana HMO/PPO

  Humana Gold Plus

  Texas True Choice 

  Methodist Physician Alliance 

  Community First Health Plans

  CHIP 

  Workers' Compensation

  Accountable Health Plans of Texas

  Aetna Baptist PHO:Beech Street

  Comp Health Network

  Direct Care

  Elder Health 

  TexasEmployers Health Network 

  First health 

  Focus

  Galaxy Health Network

  Great West Healthcare of Texas

  Group Pension Administrators, Inc

  Health Payors Organization

  HealthSmart Preferred Care

  Integrated Medical SystemsMed/Corp 

  SouthwestMedical Control Inc.

  Medicare Railroad

  Multiplan

  Private Healthcare Systems

  San Antonio Employer's Health 

  AllianceSouth 

  West Medical Provider Network

  Texas True Choice

  Tricare

  Texas True Choice/ Ethix Southwest

  Unicare

  US Department of Labor

  USA Managed Care Organization

  Wellcare

  Bravo

  CPS

• What are your hours?

  Medical Center:

  Monday 8 am - 12 pm  /  1 pm - 5 pm

  Tuesday 1:30 pm - 5 pm

  Wednesday 8 am -12 pm  /  1 pm - 5 pm

  Thursday 8 am - 12 pm  /  1:30 pm - 5 pm

  Friday 8 am -12 pm

  
  

  Alamo Heights: 

  Monday 8:30 am - 12 pm  /  1 pm - 5 pm

  Tuesday 8 am - 12 pm  /  1:30 pm - 4 pm

  Wednesday 8:30 am -12 pm  /  1 pm - 5 pm

  Thursday 1 pm - 5 pm

  Friday 8 am - 12 pm

  
  

  Stone Oak

  Monday 1:30 pm - 5 pm

  Tuesday 8:30 am - 10:30 am  /  2 pm - 5 pm

  Wednesday 8:30 am -12 pm  /  1 pm - 5 pm

  Thursday 8:30 am -12 pm  /  1:30 pm - 5pm

  Friday 8:30 am - 1 pm

  
  

• Are your doctors board certified?

  Yes, all of our doctors are certified by the American Board of Podiatric Medicine.  Additionally, they are also members of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, American Podiatric Medical Association, Texas Podiatric Medical Association and the Bexar County Podiatric Medical Society..

• Do I need a referral?

  Each individual healthcare plan has very specific guidelines regarding referrals to specialists. Alamo Family Foot and Ankle Care currently participates in over 190 health plans. We will make very effort to assist you in with your insurance referrals; however, it is ultimately your responsibility to ensure a referral is provided for each physician visit.

• What should I bring to my first appointment?

  • Insurance Card(s) and a Photo ID: If the appointment is for a minor, you will need to provide the legal guardian's insurance card(s) and photo ID.
  • Medical Records: please bring relevant medical records from other physicians; results and copies of X-rays; and other imaging studies and lab tests and bring these items with you to your appointment.
  • Written lists of: Medications, herbs, vitamin supplements and over-the-counter medications you are taking.
  • Your concerns: about your condition (pains, loss of mobility or function).
  • A Family Member or Friend: Consider asking a friend or family member to accompany you if you need any assistance in walking, using the restroom or filling out paperwork.
  • Questions: Take the time to make a list of anything you may want to ask your physician regarding your condition.

• I need to cancel or reschedule my appointment.

  If you wish to cancel or reschedule you appointment, please call at least 24 hours prior to your scheduled time.

• What is your financial policy?

  We are committed to providing you with the best care possible. In order to achieve this goal we are in need of your assistance and understanding of our financial policy in the following areas:
  

  • The patient is responsible for any copayments and any unmet deductible amount, due and payable at the time of the office visit. As a courtesy, the office will bill your insurance company, provided you furnish the office with a completed insurance claim form or insurance card. A patient without medical insurance will be required to pay in full at the time of service.
  • Medicare Patients Since our office accepts Medicare assignment, we will bill Medicare for you. Patients who have Medicare only, are responsible for the co-insurance portion approved by Medicare. If you have a secondary insurance, we will also bill them for you.  Medicare restrictions can be explained by our staff
  • Workmen's Compensation must be pre-approved before the patient may receive services.
  • We accept cash, checks, Visa, Mastercard and American Express.

  While the filing of your insurance claim is a courtesy we extend to our patients, we must emphasize that as medical care providers, our relationship is with you the patient, not your insurance company. All charges are the responsibility of the patient from the date the services are rendered. We realize that from time to time temporary financial setbacks may affect timely payments on your account. If such problems do arise, we encourage you to contact our office for assistance in the management of your account.
  
  Our Staff will gladly discuss your proposed treatment and answer any question relating to your insurance. However, not all services are a covered benefit in all contracts and you must realize that your insurance is a contract between you, your employer, and the insurance company.
  
  If you have any questions about the above information or have uncertainty reqarding the insurance coverage, please do not hesitate to ask for assistance.

• Which is the best to use following an injury: ice or heat

  Most often, ice is recommended for the first 48-hours following an injury, as cold helps to control swelling, as well as pain. The application of heat to a 'fresh" injury may actually increase swelling as it causes the blood vessels to dilate and increases blood flow to the area, therefore, causing increased swelling. Cold has just the opposite effect. Heat is most often used to decrease muscle spasms.

• What causes a stress fracture?

  Stress fractures are microscopic fractures of bone resulting from repeated "stress", and are usually from bearing your own weight. Stress fractures most often occur in the feet and can be caused by trauma or overuse resulting from hiking, jogging or just being on your feet for prolonged periods. A stress fracture is most often too tiny to show up on a routine X-ray, so a bone scan may be ordered for further diagnosis. These types of fractures are most often treated by keeping weight off your foot as much as possible for a few weeks and the use of a hard-bottom walking shoe or sturdy tennis shoe. In some cases, a cast may be applied to give the foot additional support while it heals.

• What is a ganglion cyst?

  Ganglions are benign, fluid-filled cysts. These cysts grow from the tendons or the lining around bones and may occur anywhere, but are most commonly seen on the top and side of the foot. A cyst is a sac usually filled with thin, watery fluid, but the fluid in a ganglion is a thick, clear jelly-like substance. These cysts may be aspirated (drained); however, they may recur, or they can be surgically removed.

• What is gout?

  Gout is a condition that causes sudden, severe attacks of pain redness and swelling of the joints. Most often, gout affects a single joint in an episode and is commonly seen in the big toe. The cause of gout is due to an accumulation of uric acid within the joint fluid. Uric acid is a substance produced by our bodies to transport waste material, which is usually excreted via the kidneys. When the uric acid level becomes too high, gout or joint pain may occur. Diagnosis may be determined by removing a small amount of fluid from the affected joint to be sent to a laboratory or by a blood test to determine the uric acid level. Gout is usually treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications. Allopurinol is a medication that is widely used after an attack of gout to prevent future attacks.

• What is the difference between a sprain and a fracture?

  A sprain is an injury to the ligaments and soft tissue surrounding a joint. A fracture is an actual break in a bone. Sprained ligaments are soft tissue and are not visible on X-rays; however, broken bones are hard, dense tissue which is visible on X-rays. X-rays are the best way to distinguish between a sprained ligament and a broken bone. Both injuries are usually treated with a splint or cast to immobilize the injured area to promote healing.