FAQs

Wellness Center Frequently Asked Questions

Appointments & Treatments
What types of treatment are offered at the Health & Wellness Center?
- Chronic Disease Management
- Annual Physical Examinations
- Lab Orders and Follow Up
- Medication Prescriptions
- Specialty Referrals as Needed
- Acute/Sick Visits as Needed
- Sports Physicals
- Women's Health
- Personal Health Assessment's
- Tobacco Cessation
- Allergies
- Asthma
Can my family use Health & Wellness Center?
Yes. Covered spouses and dependents over the age of 2 have access to the same resources as employees. Please note, you will need to maintain a relationship with your pediatrician for well-child visits and immunizations; however we will see young children ages 2 and up for acute care needs.
What do I need for my first visit?
Please bring a valid I.D., such as a driver's license as well as your medical insurance card. Please be prepared to have your photo taken. We highly encourage you to complete your new patient paperwork prior to your new patient visit, found at www.careatc.com/patient-forms.
Are walk-ins welcome?
We ask that patients please use the Patient Access Center, Patient Portal, or CareATC Mobile App to schedule all appointments. The Patient Access Center can be reached at 1-800-993-8244. Appointments can also be made online by logging in to the patient portal at careatc.com. There is also a CareATC mobile app available for free download for Android and iPhone users. Please Call the Patient Access Center to obtain your log-in information for the patient portal and mobile app.
Where can I find my login information?
Your login information can be obtained by calling the Patient Access Center at 1-800-993-8244.
How long will my appointment take? Why am I required to arrive 15 minutes before my appointment time?
Arriving 15 minutes prior to your scheduled time with the doctor is with the nursing staff. At this time, they will update your information, take your vitals and review your medication to prepare for the doctor who will see you at your scheduled doctor's appointment. Your appointment with your doctor could take 20-30 minutes, depending on your health care needs. The Wellness Center operates on a strict appointment schedule to ensure patients are seen in a timely manner.
Will my health information or test results be shared without my permission?
Absolutely NOT. CareATC takes all personal health information seriously and is 100% HIPAA Compliant.
Is there a co-pay or other cost to use the Health & Wellness Center?
There is never a charge or co-pay to use the Health & Wellness Center.
Do I need an appointment to refill my medications?
This may vary. Please contact the patient access center to notify them you are in need of a medication refill. The provider will look over your chart and determine if you will need a follow up appointment or that a direct medication refill is suitable. You will then receive a follow up phone call from the medical staff notifying that the prescription refill has been filled, or that scheduling an appointment will be required.
What is a PHA?
The Personal Health Assessment (PHA) is a biometric screening that includes a check of blood pressure, height, weight, waist measurement; and a blood draw to measure blood glucose, triglyceride levels and other key lab values. Please note: A PHA requires you to be fasting 8 hours or more prior to the time of the blood draw. Black coffee and water is allowed during the time you are fasting.
What is the difference between preventive/wellness visits and acute care?
An acute illness is one that starts suddenly, but is short-lived. A list of acute care and preventive / wellness care examples is located under the Care Services section of our Medications and Services web page.
Referrals
What is a referral?
When a physician with the Health & Wellness Center believes that you need "specialized" care to address a medical condition or concern another physician will be contacted and asked to see you.
Does the Health & Wellness Center have to make a referral for ALL "specialized" care?
No, you can see a specialist without a referral from the Health & Wellness Center and still receive the $20 co-pay for the following medically related concerns – Routine OB-GYN, Dermatology and Opthamology.
If I or a dependent is currently seeing a specialist, do I have to get a Health & Wellness Center referral?
No, but it will save you money on the specialist copay.
Who chooses the physician?
If you have a specialist you would like to use, the Health & Wellness Center physician will contact that specialist and schedule an appointment for you. If you don't already have a specialist, the Health & Wellness Center physician will choose the specialist that meets your needs in the best possible way.
What if I already have a specialist that I used before I switched to the Health & Wellness Center. Can I keep using that person?
Yes. All you need to do is tell the Health & Wellness physician that you already have a specialist and that you would like to continue seeing your specialist.
If I use my own specialist what will I have to pay?
As long as the Health & Wellness physician referred you to your specialist, you will pay the co-pay stated in your Health & Wellness Plan which is $20.
Is a specialist copay less if I obtain a referral from the Health & Wellness Center?
Yes, at just $20, the specialist copay is $10 less than the specialist copay for the existing health plans. With a Health & Wellness Center referral, you will save on each specialist visit and in most cases will require fewer visits because you may receive routine monitoring and testing free at the Health & Wellness Center.
If a referral has to be made to address my medical condition how long will it take?
The Health & Wellness Center staff will try to make your referral within three to five days after your appointment. There are times when delays may happen but this will be the exception and not the norm. They will notify you that a referral has been made and give you the name of the physician. Please call the Health & Wellness Center if you have not heard from them after five business days.
A referral was made for me. It was three weeks before the specialist contacted me. Why does it take so long?
The specialist will schedule you according to the availability of appointment slots. You may have to wait longer if your specialist is already treating a large number of people with your same medical condition.
I'm a member of the Health & Wellness Center. Do I have to go through the Health & Wellness Center to see a specialist?
No, but if you want to pay the $20 co-pay for specialist care you must be referred from the Health & Wellness Center.
Urgent Care
What is classified as Urgent Care?
Medical Care is classified as "urgent" when an individual experiences a sudden illness that requires immediate attention.
Does the Health and Wellness Center provide Urgent Care?
Yes, individuals who are very ill but don't have appointments can go to the Health & Wellness Center for care. People seeking such care should expect to wait longer than individuals who have scheduled appointments unless their condition is life threatening. If the condition is life threatening the Health & Wellness Center may call 911 for transport to the hospital.
Why do I have to pay more ($50 copay) under the Health & Wellness Health Plan if I go to a private urgent care facility during the Center's normal business hours?
The Health & Wellness Center operates from appointments. If you are ill and want to be seen the same day, the Health & Wellness staff will attempt to work you in. If you don't care to wait and prefer to go to a private urgent care facility you will have to pay a copay.
What is the Health & Wellness Center doing to address the need for urgent care? I'm concerned because there are probably going to be more people with the flu and bad colds that will need to be seen by a physician.
The Health & Wellness Center is anticipating that with the colder weather more patients will seek care for the flu, colds and other seasonal illnesses. The Health & Wellness Center has aligned its clinical staff to manage these urgent care needs. More staff will be available on Mondays and Fridays when there is usually an increase in urgent care visits.
General Questions
If I enroll in the Health & Wellness Center plan can I continue to see my current primary care physician?
Although the short answer is yes, that defeats the purpose of the CCG Health & Wellness Center, which is to reduce physician office visit costs by providing less expensive access to a higher level of care that you are currently receiving. The copay for primary care visits outside the Health & Wellness Center is $50.
Can my child continue seeing a pediatrician rather than the Health & Wellness Center even for sick visits?
Yes, that is your choice entirely and a Health & Wellness Center referral is not required.
Can I continue seeing my gynecologist if I join the Health & Wellness Center plan?
Yes, annual exam is covered the same as with your current health plan and no referral is required. A Health & Wellness Center referral for other gynecological services will reduce your copay.
If I have a prescription from another doctor and the medication is on the CCG Health & Wellness Center list of free medications, can I bring the prescription and pick it up?
You must be seen by the Health & Wellness Center Physician. Call for an appointment and in most cases the Center Physician can prescribe that medication for you. The Health & Wellness Center is not a pharmacy and requires a therapeutic relationship with the Center Provider to obtain medications.
May I take my child to the Health & Wellness Center to have a sport participation physical performed?
Yes, if your child is a covered dependent on your Blue Cross Health & Wellness Center plan.
What if I get sick and need to see a doctor when the CCG Health & Wellness Center is closed?
You may go to an urgent care center as you do now, except the copay is only $20 when the Health & Wellness Center is closed, $10 less than the current plans.
Will I still be able to use the CCG Health & Wellness Center when I retire?
Yes, this benefit is being offered to pre-65 retires immediately but because of complex Medicare mid-year change rules, Medicare eligible retires may start participating effective January 1, 2014. Health & Wellness Center participants that become Medicare eligible later this year may continue using the Health & Wellness Center for the balance of 2013 but then must enroll in the appropriate plan to retain Health & Wellness Center access.