Find information to help you prepare for your visit with Rheumatology Associates
Preparing for your visit with Rheumatology Associates
Registering as a Mass General Patient
All Mass General patients must have a current blue MGH registration card for hospital services. You may register by calling Patient Registration at 866-211-6588 (hours are Monday through Friday, 8am to 8pm). Remember to have your insurance cards and primary care provider information when you place the call.
New Patients
All patients requesting a first-time visit with Rheumatology Associates must be referred by another provider (generally by your PCP or other specialists) for an evaluation on the basis of clinical evidence. This “medical referral” can be in the form of clinic notes, lab reports, and/or a letter from your doctor’s office, and must be faxed to 617-643-1274 prior to contacting our office for an appointment.*
If your referring provider is at Mass General or another Partners Facility, the medical information we require may be available in your electronic medical record. You may call our clinic to inquire whether we have the necessary information to make your appointment.
*Please note, no self-referrals are accepted (no exceptions).
Insurance Coverage
We advise all patients who are either first-time patients to Rheumatology Associates or who have had a recent change of insurance to contact your insurance carrier and inquire about your coverage for a visit to an outpatient Rheumatology practice at a hospital facility. Even if you have other providers at Mass General, your coverage may differ from one practice to another.
Getting an Insurance Referral
A majority of patients seen in our practice need an insurance referral from their primary care provider. Please consult with your insurance carrier prior to your appointment. If a referral is needed but not obtained, you will be responsible for payment.
What to Bring to Rheumatology Associates
- Insurance Card
- Prescription plan card
- Mass General ID card (“blue card”)
- Co-payment
- Referral from your Primary Care Provider (it is the patient's responsibility to obtain this referral). Patients who are seen without a referral will be held responsible in the event that patient’s insurance does not cover visit.
You may also receive your blue card in advance and in the mail by calling Patient Registration at 866-211-6588 (M-F, 8am to 8pm). Allow 7-10 days for delivery.
If You are Unable to Keep Your Appointment
Please notify our office at least two (2) business days prior to your scheduled office visit. This allows us to schedule other patients who are waiting for an appointment. Patients who cancel multiple appointments on short notice (fewer than 48 hours) may be asked to transfer their care to a different provider in our group, or to an alternate facility.
On the Day of Your New Patient Visit
Please arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled time of your appointment to be checked in. If you are more than 15 minutes late for your appointment, you may be asked to reschedule to a later date.
Your Rheumatology Associates Healthcare Team
You will be evaluated and cared for by physicians who have received specialized training in the field of Rheumatology. As Mass General is a teaching hospital affiliated with Harvard Medical School, doctors receiving advanced subspecialty medical training, such as residents and fellows, may also work with your physician.
Related Links
Arthritis Foundation: http://www.arthritis.org/
Lupus Foundation of America, Inc: http://www.lupus.org/newsite/index.html
The Paget Foundation: http://www.paget.org/
Scleroderma Foundation: http://www.scleroderma.org/
Sjogren’s Syndrome Foundation: http://www.sjogrens.org/
Vasculitis Foundation: http://www.vasculitisfoundation.org/
