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Frequently Asked Questions
For answers to any appointment-related question not listed here, contact us. For more information on specific types of treatments, visit our Treatment Services page in the Resources section of this website.
On your initial visit to Radiation Oncology Associates, you will meet with one of our Radiation Oncologists to discuss your medical history and undergo a physical exam. This is a good time to talk with your physician about any questions or concerns that you have regarding your upcoming treatments. Most often, treatment services are not administered until the third appointment.
You may download your registration paperwork from this website and fill it out prior to your visit. Although this is NOT required, many patients find it convenient to fill out the forms in advance.
Please try to arrive 15 minutes before your first appointment to fill out registration forms and provide us with your insurance cards. If you prefer you may go to www.roafw.com and complete the downloadable registration form and bring to your first appointment. For other appointments, please arrive 5-10 minutes before your scheduled appointment.
After your initial consult with the radiation oncologist, you will be scheduled for the treatment planning process. This involves taking images of the tumor area, marking and simulating the appropriate setup for treatment. A simulation procedure is scheduled to gather the data and information needed for the physician and his team to work up the appropriate treatment plan for your particular diagnosis. The length of time for this process depends on your specific diagnosis and how soon you need to start treatment. Generally the simulation and treatment planning process takes 3-5 working days. Once the best treatment plan is approved by your radiation oncologist, you will start your daily treatment.
The time required for the treatment depends on the treatment plan for your type of cancer. The average time is generally 20 – 20 minutes from the time you arrive until you leave the center. However, some treatments may take a little longer. Your first treatment will take longer in order to review the set up with the physician prior to starting. You may ask your radiation therapist on the first day how long to expect your treatment to last.
Sometimes, check with your physician prior to your appointment.
Your physician will give you dietary instructions based on your specific course of treatment.
First bill - You will receive a bill from ROA.
You will receive a bill for care and treatment rendered by your Radiation Oncology Associates physicians and staff.
You will receive a bill for care and treatment rendered by your Radiation Oncology Associates physicians and staff.
Second bill - You may also receive a facility bill.
If your treatment is at a location other than our Jefferson office, you will receive a bill from your ROA physician and staff and a second bill from the hospital or clinic where treatment is administered. This bill is for the use of their facility and equipment. This is a separate fee paid to them.
If your treatment is at a location other than our Jefferson office, you will receive a bill from your ROA physician and staff and a second bill from the hospital or clinic where treatment is administered. This bill is for the use of their facility and equipment. This is a separate fee paid to them.
Appropriate payment of your services is dependent on proper authorization or referral. If your plan requires referrals for services provided by a specialist, please contact your primary care physician to obtain the needed authorization or referral.
If you do not have a referral or authorization upon arrival in our office, we have a telephone available for you to call. If you are unable to obtain the referral or authorization at that time, you may have to reschedule your appointment.
Radiation Oncology Associates, P.C. Contracted Managed Care Plans:
- Advantage Health Solutions Medicare
- Anthem IN BCBS- Trad, BP, BA, GM
- Auto Acct/Chrysler,Ford
- Anthem HIP
- Buckey-OH MCO
- Cigna HMO
- Cigna PPO
- Community Choice-MI.
- Encore/Encircle Direct
- FrontPath Health Coalition (PKVHS)
- Great Lakes Health Plan-MI.
- Health Plan of Michigan
- IHN (Indiana Health Network)
- Indiana Medicaid
- MHS (Managed Care Medicaid)
- MDWise Total Health (MCMedicaid)
- MDWise (Managed Care Medicaid)
- Anthem Medicaid (Managed Care Medicaid)
- Indiana Medicare
- Lutheran Preferred
- Med Mutual of Ohio
- Michigan Medicaid
- Ohio Medicaid
- Physicians Health Plan
RR Medicare - Sagamore
- Signature Care (PKVHS)
- Three Rivers Preferred (+) (TRMA)
- Today's Options Medicare
- TriCare/Champus (Standard Provider)
- United HealthCare
Patients often assume that their insurance carrier will pay the entire bill. Usually your carrier will only pay a portion of the bill. It is important that you know that you are responsible for payment regardless of insurance, litigation, or other circumstances.
You should familiarize yourself with the specifics of your insurance coverage, particularly the limitations of your coverage. In this brochure we list the insurance plans that we contract with and their terms. Your policyholder card has a phone number where you can get additional information about your coverage.
If you do not have health insurance coverage, we can work out a payment schedule with you. Please ask to speak to a financial advisor or if treatment will create a financial hardship – contact your county department of human services to apply for assistance.
A diagnosis of cancer is usually a life-changing experience for patients and their loved ones. As they seek treatment for their disease, cancer patients need to know that they are receiving safe and appropriate care. To achieve ACR-ASTRO Accreditation, our facility’s personnel qualifications, equipment requirements, quality assurance and quality control procedures have gone through a rigorous review process and have met specific qualifications. It’s important for patients to know that every aspect of the ACR-ASTRO accreditation process is overseen by board-certified, expert radiation oncologists and medical physicists.
- Our facility has voluntarily gone through a vigorous review process to ensure that we meet nationally-accepted standards of care.
- Our personnel are well qualified, through education and certification, and to administer your radiation therapy treatments.
- Our equipment is appropriate for the treatment you will receive, and our facility meets or exceeds quality assurance and safety guidelines.
When you see the ACR-ASTRO seal, you can rest assured that your treatment will be done at a facility that has met the highest level of quality and radiation safety. The facility and its personnel have gone through a comprehensive review to earn accreditation status by the American College of Radiology (ACR), a national professional organization serving more than 34,000 diagnostic/interventional radiologists, radiation oncologists, nuclear medicine physicians and medical physicists and The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), a professional organization serving more than 10,000 radiation oncologists, medical physicists and other health care professionals involved in the treatment of cancer patients.
