Patient Policies

New Patients

Without Insurance

A new patient is someone who has never been seen through GSC or has not been seen in over three (3) years. The Good Samaritan Clinic accepts new patients, 18-64 years of age, who are uninsured and below 200% of the Federal poverty level. Once enrolled, patients may also access other clinic services such as the mental health program.

New patients are required to go through a screening process to see if they meet the eligibility requirements to receive services through the Good Samaritan Clinic. Eligibility appointments are done in our Waynesville location. New patients are scheduled for an intake appointment at which time staff will determine qualifications and eligibility. If a patient qualifies, a new patient appointment will be scheduled at either the Canton or Waynesville location. As a new patient expect your appointment to last longer than average. Please bring past medical records, a list of medications, and any other relevant information to this appointment.

New Medicaid Patients

Once a patient is listed with Mountaintop Healthcare as their Primary Care Provider (Carolina Access), they should come by the Waynesville office to schedule an appointment. Patients should bring their Medicaid card by the office so that a copy can be made prior to the first visit. If Mountaintop Healthcare is the Carolina Access provider listed on the card, the patient will receive a packet to fill out. Once this information is complete, an appointment will be assigned at either the Canton or Waynesville office.

We are only accepting newly enrolled Medicaid patients or patients who are currently seen through GSC who qualify for Medicaid services. We cannot accept Medicaid patients who are already assigned to/or have been assigned to another Primary Care Provider.

Appointment Scheduling Policy

Patients are asked to a make an appointment when they need to be seen. Walk-in appointments are not accepted. After your initial appointment, if you need to be seen, you will need to call at 8:30 on the day you wish to be seen. GSC has open scheduling and can only schedule appointments for the same day. Please call and cancel if you cannot make your appointment. This will allow us to make arrangements for someone else to be seen in this appointment slot.

Refills

Patients are advised to call our office during clinic hours for refills on medications. Every effort will be made to call in medication refills on the same day that patients call. Refills are usually called in at lunchtime (12:00 noon) and 4:00 pm. If a refill is needed, please contact the office before the lunchtime hour or contact the pharmacy for refills. Calls received in the afternoon for refills may not be called in until the next business day.

***WE DO NOT CALL IN REFILLS OR MEDICATIONS AFTER OFFICE HOURS***

Please do not call the provider on call for a refill on medications. Routine refills should be handled during normal business hours. On call providers do not have access to your medical chart and are not able to call in routine refills. Please be aware that messages left for on call providers requesting refills are not relayed to staff. Patients will need to call back the following day.

Lab Work

Normal Lab Results

A letter will be mailed to the patient within 2 weeks of the lab test. Please allow time to receive this before calling our office for results.

Abnormal Lab Results

If we receive abnormal lab results, every effort will be made to contact you within a timely manner. We will contact you within 1-2 business days and provide additional information (if any) for follow up on these labs. Please make sure that your information and the phone number we have listed is correct so that we are able to get in touch with you.

Routine Labs

If you are due for routine labs and we have an order listed in your chart, you can come by the Waynesville office at 8:30am for a routine lab draw on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings. The Canton office does lab work on Wednesday and Thursday mornings starting at 8:30am. Please be aware if you need to arrive fasting for your lab work.

Referrals

If you have diagnostic tests (such as X-ray, CT scan, or MRI) you will be responsible to pay for the test. Our hospital is very generous in working with clients on payment plans. Haywood Regional Medical Center is a small community hospital and cannot afford to do testing for free. You may contact the financial office at the hospital to see if you are eligible for assistance. Please be responsible in paying any outstanding services that are provided when Good Samaritan Clinic begins the referral.

The Good Samaritan Clinic is not able to pay for services once a referral is made to a specialist. Many specialist offices will make an effort to establish payment arrangements for our patients. This will be the patient responsibility to find out from the provider what is expected at time of service (if any) and make sure that payment arrangements are made in advance.

A referral will NOT be made or authorized unless you have been seen by a provider at the GSC and it is deemed medically necessary.