FAQs
Assisted Living and Independent Living
Frequently Asked Questions
What insurances does Vantage Healthcare accept?
Vantage accepts all major insurance plans.
Should I keep my specialist, and will you communicate with them regarding care?
Yes, you should keep your specialist as you so choose. Vantage will be your Primary Care provider and we will coordinate with your specialist and recommend a specialist if you request and/or the need arises.
Are there any out-of-pocket expenses or fees for your service?
Vantage’s services are reimbursed by Medicare B and other insurance products. There will likely be a co-payment of 20%, most patients have co-insurance coverage. Patients without co-insurance coverage are responsible to pay out-of-pocket for the co-pay.
Is there an open enrollment period?
Residents that reside in senior living communities that Vantage serves may enroll with Vantage at any time.
Should the care of a specialist be required, are there any restrictions or limitations to what doctors can be accessed?
No.
Will referrals be required to see a specialist?
Yes, referrals for your specialist visits are coordinated by the Primary Care provider.
Will there be changes in how prescription medications are obtained?
No, the resident will maintain the Pharmacy of his/her choice. The Vantage team will coordinate, updating medication orders with your Pharmacy.
How are appointments with the primary care team arranged?
The Vantage Physician and Nurse Practitioner / Physician Assistant keep a consistent visit schedule to each community and the team, along with the Care Coordinator, tracks who needs to be seen by the provider.
Will someone from the primary care medical team be present regularly on site at the facility?
Yes, either the Physician or the Nurse Practitioner / Physician Assistant will likely visit weekly or every other week depending upon need.
If provider is not on-site at the facility how long should patients expect to wait for a response to an urgent medical need?
The assisted living community staff will communicate any concerns and issues to the Nurse Care Coordinator who is in contact with the Physician and Nurse Practitioner / Physician Assistant to order tests and services between onsite visits. Vantage is not an urgent care service so if a resident needs to be seen urgently between routine visits, arrangements are made with the community to transfer the resident to an urgent care location or hospital emergency department.
What is the period of commitment to Vantage, if any? Can the patient drop out of the program at any time should they not find it suitable?
Yes, the patient has the option to change Primary Care provider at any time.
What is your process for obtaining medical records from current and past care providers?
When the resident or their representative completes the Vantage enrollment packet, he/she provides authorization for Vantage to obtain medical records from the patient’s current providers.
What is your intake process for new patients? Does it include a physical exam?
The initial visit includes a review of history and a physician exam.
How do you contact the office directly?
Vantage provides residents, their families, and assisted living and independent living community staff with email and phone number contact information.
Is there a patient portal that I can access records on?
Vantage providers use an electronic health record system for documenting. We plan to have a patient portal available for residents or their authorized representative soon.
How often are patients seen by a provider?
As medically necessary and for annual wellness visits. Providers may schedule follow-up visits or visit due to a change in the patient’s condition.
How do I sign on to Vantage Healthcare services?
The enrollment packet is available on this website in electronic form and the packet may be downloaded to print and complete by hand.
What is the Chronic Care Management program and its benefits? Are there fees associated with this program?
Chronic Care Management is a Medicare benefit available to beneficiaries with 2 or more chronic health conditions. The program provides the resources of a Nurse to coordinate services between onsite provider visits. There are no fees associated with the program. There is a 20% co-pay for Medicare B which is covered by the patient’s co-insurance. If the patient does not have co-insurance, then the co-payment will be out-of-pocket.
Do you offer on-site ancillary services?
Vantage coordinates with on-site ancillary services such as Home Health, lab, mobile x-ray, and other services. Vantage does not offer these services directly, but we do coordinate on-site ancillary services.