Fountain Hills Medical Center (FHMC) FAQ
Does the medical clinic offer the COVID vaccine?
Yes, we have vaccines for the most recent variants of Covid-19, as well as Monoclonal Antibody Infusions.
Visit our 24/7 ER or Walk-in Medical Clinic for a “NO COST” Evaluation & Treatment for Patients with Insurance
Where is the Medical Center located?
What are the hours of operation for the ER & Medical Clinic/Urgent Care?
The Medical Center, Emergency Department (Including Laboratory and Imaging) are Open 24hrs/day and 365 days/Year.
The Medical Clinic is open Mon-Thurs: 8am-6pm and Fri: 8am-Noon.
What is the Medical Center hoping to achieve?
Mission:
Our mission is to provide compassionate, quality and accessible health care to all.
Vision:
Our vision is to be the Health Care Organization of choice for the Fountain Hills area by prioritizing care to patients, staff and their families.
Values:
- Teamwork
- Integrity
- Patient Centered
- Compassion
- Accountability
- Respect
- Empathy
Is FHMC a Boutique Medical Center?
We operate as an Emergency Room and community Medical Center and are able to take care of patients of all age groups (within our scope of service) that seek medical care at our Medical Center. We provide “boutique like” services to all our patients regardless of what insurance they might have.
Are you an Urgent Care Center?
Fountain Hills Medical Center is open 24hrs a day, 365 days a year and our ER is a full service ER as can be seen in any acute care hospital. Our Emergency Room is staffed by Board Certified Physicians and ER trained nurses.
We also do have a medical clinic next door – same building that accepts walk-ins. This provides our patients an alternative location to be seen if they believe that the conditions for which they seek care do not constitute an Emergency. Once evaluated by our Medical Provider at the clinic, the person will be referred to the Emergency Department next door if their condition our patients and the Residents of Fountain Hills.
What is the difference between an Urgent Care and Emergency Room
The difference between urgent care and emergency rooms is the severity of the health problem. If the condition is life-threatening, go to an emergency room. Emergency rooms are perfect for emergency situations. Emergency Situations are what the average patient thinks is an emergency. Even if it ends up not being an Emergency – your health plans are mandated by law to cover those ER visits because we do not want patients second guessing themselves if they believe the have an Emergency
Conditions that can constitute and emergency include:
- Chest pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Stroke
- Head trauma
- Severe bleeding
- Loss of vision
- Abdominal pain
- Cough
If the condition is a minor illness or injury, a visit to the urgent care may be necessary. If you are not sure – please come to our emergency room and we will help sort it out for you. That is precisely what we are here for.
Why is having a Medical Center in Fountain Hills important to the community?
Fountain Hills Medical Center is the first medical center with 24/7 emergency room capabilities in the Fountain Hills area. Emergencies can happen anytime of the day or night. In many such cases starting the initial treatment as soon as possible is of utmost importance. Having a medical center right in Fountain Hills shortens the time to start treatment. Patients also have less wait times in the ER.
Our clinic accepts new patients and will act as a seamless continuation of care for our patients.
What services will the Medical Center provide?
Currently we have an Emergency Department with eight ER beds, five Observation beds and a primary care/walk-in clinic. We also have 24/7 CT, X-ray, ultrasound and echocardiogram capabilities along with a 24/7 patient pharmacy and laboratory.
In our second phase of the Medical Center – we plan on providing additional subspecialty services such as General Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Special procedures (with interventional Radiology), Cardiac intervention and procedures, Endoscopy, Hemodialysis, Hematology/Oncology and Neurological services.
Will Telehealth be an option?
Yes. Telemedicine both in the Medical Clinic and ER will be available June 20, 2023.
What if I need further care that requires and admission to the Medical Center?
We have a handful of observation rooms available to admit patients or place in observation for many medical conditions. If the condition requires care that we are not currently equipped to provide, our staff is able to initiate a transfer that can result in a “direct-admission” to a larger acute care hospital, bypassing the emergency department.
Do you provide care for both children and adults?
Yes, we treat patients of all ages and medical conditions.
Do I need to make an appointment?
There is no need to make an appointment with Fountain Hills Medical Center if you think you might be having a medical emergency. We encourage you to come in immediately.
We offer an out-patient Walk-in clinic for new and established patients. There are no appointments required to come to our walk-in clinic.
We also offer outpatient Radiology, Laboratory, Infusion and other services that may require scheduling an appointment.
Can I select my PCP? Where can I find a list of providers?
You can find a list of providers here.
What is the time frame for phase 2?
Planning and Design is underway for phase 2.
Does FHMC have volunteer opportunities?
Not at this time, we will announce changes in the future.
FHMC Insurance Q & A
What insurance will FHMC accept?
Billing
- Fountain Hills Medical Center (emergency and observation) Will NEVER BALANCE BILL PATIENTS even when ‘OUT OF NETWORK.
- Fountain Hills Medical Center HONORS ALL in-network benefits for emergency services and observation services.
FHMC clinic is able to bill all insurances, and we also accept self-pay patients.
What is FHMC’s billing policy?
The Medical Center will bill all insurance programs including Aetna, Humana, United Health, Cigna, and BlueCross/BlueShield. We also accept out-of-pocket payment in the form of cash, checks or credit cards. Your ER co-pay will be collected at the time of your visit. We will then bill your insurance company for the policy’s emergency room benefits. There will be two different claims mailed to your insurance company: the facility bill and the physician bill.
What about deductibles and coinsurance?
FHMC will honor all in network deductibles and coinsurance. In other words – you will never pay more than your in-network deductibles and coinsurance in our facility, regardless of your insurance. Our goal is to completely remove financial barriers to seeking medical care, as much as we possibly can.
What about your providers? Will they be in network with the major insurers?
We are currently credentialing our providers in the Medical Center with the major insurance carriers. Regardless of how long the process takes, we will always honor in-network deductibles and coinsurance in our facility.
In addition – Arizona carriers are required to pay in-network benefits for any member seeking emergency medical treatment. Arizona law requires your insurance carrier to pay for your emergency care, whether the emergency room is “in network” or “out of network”. The state of Arizona gives you the right to use “a prudent layperson standard” in considering what constitutes an emergency.
What about FHMC and other government administered insurance such as Medicare/Medicaid/Indian Health?
We accept Medicare/Medicaid/Veterans/Indian Health patients both in our Medical Center and Medical Clinics. FHMC however is a Physician owned medical center and we do recognize the challenges involved in seeking full CMS approval and are determined to overcome them in a short period of time. These challenges will not prevent us from taking care of patients at our facility regardless of what insurance they have. Patient access to care is the priority at our facility and we will overcome any challenges involved in getting CMS approval.
What is an EOB?
An Explanation of Benefits (EOB), or an Email from your insurance carrier is NOT A BILL. If you are not sure about what you have received, please call the insurance company initially to address the clarification and then Medical Center for any further clarification.
We DO NOT BALANCE BILL patients for any services we provide. This is applicable to all patients regardless of which company they are insured with.
How will I be billed after a visit to the Emergency room or Medical Clinic?
The billing for your visit will be processed by our third-party billing department – a highly respected billing company who we have partnered with. Fountain Hills Medical Center accepts “in-network” benefits even if we are or have not been credentialed with your insurance company.
Therefore your responsibility will never be more than your “in-network” responsibility for copay, coinsurance and deductibles. You do have a responsibility to forward to the Medical Center, any check from your insurance company for services performed by the Medical Center.
What if my insurance company refuses to pay for my ER or Medical Center Visit?
Commercial insurance companies are required by the State and Federal Law to pay for the emergency evaluation of a patient presenting to an Emergency Department in the State of Arizona. It is your right to file a grievance with Arizona Department of Insurance at https://insurance.az.gov/ if your insurance company refuses to pay for an Emergency or Medical Center visit.
Do you accept Workers Compensation?
Absolutely. It is mandatory under Arizona law to secure Workers Compensation. Regardless of who is at fault, workers injured at work are entitled to Health care benefits. Compensation must however be filed by the injured worker within one year after injury occurred. Please visit the Industrial Commission of Arizona Claims Division for more information.
What do I do if I receive a check from my insurance company after a visit to the medical center?
You have a responsibility to forward such a check to the Medical Cener or billing company upon receipt.
What about the Uninsured or Cash Pay Patients?
We have implemented cash options for visits to our clinic, Medical Center and ER. We will make sure that cash paying patients are aware of the estimated cost of their visit before they consent to treatment.
Got Questions, and don’t see the answer on this page?
Send us a message and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Please do not use this form for emergency requests. For emergencies, call 911.
