Hampden County Physicians Associates

Business Hours:

Most offices are open Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 5pm. Please contact the office directly to confirm hours. After-hours coverage is available 24 hours per day by calling the phone number listed under each office. All offices require a 24 hour notice to cancel appointments.
View Offices and Locations

Urgent Care:

Our urgent care center, Medical Care Center in East Longmeadow (413) 525-3958, is open Monday - Friday from 9am - 6pm and weekends from 9am - 3pm. Certain health plans may require a referral to this facility.
View More Information about our Medical Care Center

Prescriptions:

Refills will be processed by the end of the day for urgent requests and within 24 hours for non-urgent. Call in your prescription renewals during normal office hours and have your prescription information ready so we may better serve you.

Referrals:

Your primary care physician will help determine the type of specialty services needed and can recommend specialists who would best meet your needs. In many situations, these specialists are right here in our group. Your physician's office will work with your insurance plan to insure that all of the requirements for referral authorization are met by the time of your visit. Our primary interest is making the resources of our organization available to you, when you need them, to meet your health care needs.
View Insurance Information

Appointment Policy:

At Hampden County Physician Associates, we care about your health.  One of the ways we can meet your healthcare needs is to provide appointments with our physicians in a timely manner, in many cases the same day of your request. 

In order to provide improved access to appointments, we have the following “no show” policy – we define a “no show” as missing any appointment without notice or giving less than 24 hours notice.

HCPA asks that you notify your office at least 24 hours in advance when you are unable to keep your scheduled appointment.

The goals of the policy are:

• To reduce the number of lost appointments due to patients not coming in for their scheduled appointments and or not calling in advance to cancel their appointment.
• To assure that there is a reduced risk of complications for a patient that “no shows” or cancels an appointment.

Our policy states:

• Two (2) “no show” appointments within a twelve (12) month period may result in a charge to your account of $50 for the missed appointment, and
• Three (3) “no show” appointments within a twelve (12) month period may result in you being dismissed as a patient from the practice.
• If you “no show” for a New Patient appointment (i.e. your first visit with a provider) you may be subject to immediate discharge from the practice.

Our clinical office scheduled your appointment and reserved time for you in good faith.  Please assist us in our goal of offering you timely appointments, by adhering to this policy.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Do I need to bring anything special to my first visit?

We want to ensure you are seen quickly once you arrive and that your time with the physician is used effectively. Please bring to all your visits your current insurance card and any medications you are taking. Be sure to include any non-prescription medication as well.

How do I make the most of my medical appointments?

Be prepared: If you have questions that you want to have answered by your physician, write them down before your appointment.  Keep a record of all of your immunizations, medications, test dates and results.

Always be honest with your physician:  Be sure to tell your physician if you are not feeling well.  Do not be embarrassed to discuss problems with your doctor.  Everything you say is confidential.

Your primary care physician will monitor your health and recommend appropriate preventive measures, but ultimately you are responsible for your well-being.  Make sure to schedule regular checkups and follow up appointments with us. Be aware of your family medical history as well as risk factors for common illnesses, such as heart disease.

Appointments

Please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment. If you are a new patient, please arrive 30 minutes before your appointment. Call your doctor’s office if you think you will be late; otherwise, it may be necessary to reschedule your appointment. Please contact your doctor 24 hours before the appointment if you need to cancel so the staff can schedule something more convenient for you. Also, please bring your current medications to every office visit.

Insurance

Hampden County Physician Associates, LLC accepts most health insurance plans. Please check with your doctor’s office to see which plans he or she accepts. Please bring your insurance card to every office visit. If your insurance plan requires a co-pay, we require that you pay at the time of your visit. We accept cash, checks and major credit cards.

I am turning 65 years old. What are my options?

All HCPA, LLC physicians participate in Original Medicare and in most  Medicare Supplement plans. Additionally, our physicians also participate in Tufts and Fallon's Medicare Advantage HMO plans.

If you would like to learn more about any of these Medicare Plans you may contact:

• Tufts Health Plan Medicare Preferred HMO at 1-800-867-2000, Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
• Fallon Senior Plan at 1-888-377-1980, 7 days a week 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
• Original Medicare and Medicare Supplemental Plans at 1-800-633-4227, 24 hours a day 7 days a week

Please ask your Doctor or our Office Manager about our participation in certain Medicare plans or see below for more information.

Enrollment Periods for Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Coverage and Medicare Advantage Plans

When can you join, switch, or drop a Medicare Drug Plan?

• When you first become eligible for Medicare.
• Between November 15 – December 31 each year. Your coverage will begin on January 1 of the following year.

NOTE:  In most cases, you must stay enrolled for that calendar year starting the date your coverage begins.  However, in certain situations, you may be able to join, switch, or drop Medicare drug plans during a special enrollment period (like if you move out of the service area, lose creditable prescription drug coverage, live in an institution or qualify for extra help).

When can you join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage Plan?

•  When you first become eligible for Medicare (3 months before you turn age 65 to 3 months after you turn age 65).
• If you get Medicare due to a disability, you can join during the 3 months before to 3 months after your 25^th month of disability.
• Between November 15 – December 31 each year. Your coverage will begin on January 1 of the following year.
• Between January 1 – March 31 of each year. However, you can’t join or switch to a plan with prescription drug coverage during this time unless you already have Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D). You also can’t drop a plan with prescription coverage or join, switch, or drop a Medicare Medical Savings Account Plan during this period.

NOTE:  In most cases, you must stay enrolled for that calendar year starting the date your coverage begins.  However, in certain situations, you may be able to join, switch, or drop Medicare Advantage Plan at other times (like if you move out of the plan’s service area, have both Medicare and Medicaid, live in an institution or qualify for extra help).

For an explanation of how to determine your eligibility for Medicare Part D or

Medicare Advantage Plans, contact Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE

(TTY 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Referrals

Why do I need a referral from my primary care physician to see a specialist?

If you are insured by an HMO, or in some cases a PPO, your health plan will probably require a referral for specialist care. Your primary care physician is your central contact for all medical concerns as this allows for continuity of care for members and allows a central location for medical records. Referrals are typically processed within 14 days, except in urgent situations. Of note, some insurance policies do not require a referral.

Test Results

The time needed to receive lab test results varies depending on the test. During your visit, please ask your doctor how and when you will receive your results.

Refilling your medications

Hampden County Physician Associates, LLC realizes that you need your prescriptions in order to feel your very best. By following a few simple guidelines, you can be sure that you will not run out of your medications.

Don't allow yourself to run out of medicine

The best way to ensure that you will have the medicine you need is to request your refill or new prescription when you still have enough medication for a few days. If you call your doctor’s office for a refill, please provide the pharmacy information, medication name, dosage and number of tablets (or duration). Allow two days for a prescription to be filled. If you call the pharmacy the day you run out of medicine, you may have to do without for a day or two, so plan ahead and call for a refill when your medication gets low. 

Calling in your refill

Calling in a prescription refill is fast and convenient. Look at the label on your medicine bottle. At the bottom of the label you can see how many refills have been authorized by your provider. If there are refills available, there is no need to call your provider.

Hospital Care

Hampden County Physician Associates, LLC employs hospital physicians who work at both Baystate and Mercy Mercy Medical Center. Your primary care physician works closely with these physicians, called hospitalists, who specialize in hospital care to ensure the best possible treatment for you. These physicians will see you in the hospital and consult with your doctor upon admission and discharge to maintain continuity in your care.

Emergency Services

If you feel you or a family member are experiencing a medical emergency (difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, stroke symptoms, loss of consciousness), seek treatment at the nearest emergency room and call your primary care physician as soon as possible. Otherwise, call your primary care physician’s office during or after hours.

Voice of the Customer Program (Continuous Quality Improvement)

We have a Voice of the Customer Program that allows you, our customer and patient, to provide us with feedback about the quality of care and services you have received. Your questions and concerns are important to us, and we want to hear from you. Please contact the Office Manager to discuss your concerns. If your concerns persist, the Office Manager will contact Administration.

How do I obtain a second opinion?

Obtaining a second opinion from a physician can be a critical step in making informed health care decisions. Here is a list of the most important reasons to seek the opinion of another doctor. 

• Your questions were not answered.
• A rare disease has been diagnosed.
• A major surgery has been recommended.
• A serious illness or condition has been diagnosed.
• The recommended treatment has serious potential risks or side effects the diagnosis is difficult and warrants an additional medical opinion to confirm the findings.
• The recommended treatment is excessively expensive.
• A course of treatment has not been effective.

Getting a second opinion usually results in the second physician affirming what the first physician initially recommended. However, it can be worthwhile to gain this reassurance and confidence in your care. In other situations, the second physician’s opinion differs from that of the first physician. In this case, you will be better equipped to make an informed decision about the course of your treatment.