Frequently Asked Questions

These 40+ questions are listed in the  frequency by which they are asked:

1. Does Dr. Coker prescribe or refill controlled substances?

A. No.  They include the following:

ADD/ADHD

• Ritalin/Concerta/Metadate/Daytrana/Methilphenidate
• Adderall/Amphetamine salts
• Focalin/Dexmethylphenidate
• Vyvanse/Lisdexamfetamine
• Strattera/Atomoxetine

ANXIETY

• Xanax/Alprazolam
• Klonopin/Clonazepam
• Valium/Diazepam
• Ativan/Lorezepam
• Restoril/Temazepam
• Librium/Chlordiazepoxide

CONTROLLED SLEEP MEDS

• Ambien/Zolpidem
• Lunesta/Eszopiclone
• Belsomra/Suvorexant
• Sonata/Zaleplon

PAIN MEDS

• Oxycodone
• Oxycontin
• Hydrocodone
• Hydromorphone
• Codeine
• Tramadol
• Ultram
• Ultracet
• Percocet
• Morphine
• Demerol
• Meperidine
• Dilaudid

If you need refills on any of these medications you can contact:

Healing Touch*

15100 NW 67th Ave Suite 203

Miami Lakes, FL 33014

305-631-2405

* Please understand we are NOT recommending this practice. 

We just happen to know they refill controlled substances.

2. Can I schedule a visit with Dr. Coker if my insurance has not paid my bill in over 3 months?

A. Yes. However, you must first pay your outstanding bill. After your insurance settles the account we will reimburse your payment. It may also be a good idea for you to call them to help expedite the process.

3. Are all appointments really cancelled after 10 minutes?

A. Yes. 

• Please arrive 15 minutes before all your scheduled appointments
• All late visits are turned away after 10 minutes - No Exceptions 

4. What type of medicine does Dr. Coker practice?

A.  Dr. Coker practices traditional western medicine, which in many cases is not compatible with holistic and/or alternative medicine.  

5. Since your office is at Mercy Hospital are visits billed as a Hospital Benefit?

A. No. Our office is located at the Mercy Campus but we are not affiliated with the Hospital.

6. I have read your "Policies" section. How do you stay in business with so many strict rules? 

A. Our practice was created in  2012 for patients who need to see Dr. Coker on-time.

In order to achieve this goal daily we have rules that some people don't want to follow.  We understand, we are not for everyone, and we are grateful for the concern these individuals have for the well being of our practice. However, having over 5,000 established patients allows us to hand pick the 5 to 10 new patients we accept each month who are more than happy to follow our "strict" rules.

7. Why do I need to do so much "paperwork" in my phone every time I make an appointment? I never had to do this before.

A. Yes you did. The difference was that before the pandemic you did it when you got to the office with a pen and paper and now you have to do in your phone.  The length of the "paperwork" depends on how long it has been since your last yearly physical.

• More than 1 year = Long Form - About 10 minutes to complete
• More than 6 months = Mid Form - About 5 minutes
• More than 30 days = Short Form - About 1 minute
• We use an automated system that confirms your visit when it is activated
• You have until 5 p.m. to activate your account
• At 5:01 p.m. you will receive a text message canceling your visit
• Call 305-392-0449 during business hours to reschedule

8. Does your practice personally recommend specialists?

A. No.

9. How can I find a good specialist?

A. We recommend you take the following steps:

• Contact your insurance for a list of "In Network" specialists
• Chose more than one
• Waiting time to see them can sometimes take weeks or even months
• Call their office to double check if they are still "In Network"
• Failure to do so may result in a denial of claim and an out of pocket expense
• Make sure their style of medicine matches your expectations
• You can do so by reading reviews  from patients who actually saw them
• A good website for that is ZocDoc.com but there are others 

10. Can Dr. Coker call me back?

A. Dr. Coker does NOT call back the following individuals:

• Pharm Reps / Insurance Reps / Telemarketers
• Former patients who were terminated
• New patients who have not yet been seen 
• Spouses or relatives seeking medical  information on patients
• Patients with abnormal lab results (They must be seen in person by Dr.Coker)

11. I am a current patient can she call me back?

A.  Yes, with this exception:  Abnormal lab results can only be discussed in person not on the phone.  

Please understand the following guidelines:

• Your last visit has to have been within 30 days
• Conversations can only be about that visit 
• If you are suffering from a new ailment
• Or if you feel the discussion will take more than a couple of minutes
• Schedule a consultation
• Dr. Coker will only discuss medical issues
• For everything else ask to speak with our Senior Partner - Marc Marchello 

12. Does Dr. Coker's make all final decisions?

A. Dr. Coker makes all final Medical-Decisions. All other matters, including adhering to office policies and discharging patients due to non compliance are made by our Senior Partner Marc Marchello.

13. Are you open on the weekends?

A. No. Our hours are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and we are closed for lunch daily between 1 and 2. 

14. I have been calling your office and I keep getting your voicemail. Why is that?

A. Reasons:

• You are calling from a Private or Unknown number ( We don't pick up those)
• You are calling from an international number (We don't pick up those)
• We are a mature practice with over 5,000 patients 
• Our entire staff is comprised of 4 people and that includes Dr. Coker
• Our office only has 2 phone lines 
• Which means if it is business hours we are probably on the other line 
• Leave us a message and we will call you back

15. Will my insurance pay for 2 physicals done on the same calendar year?

A. No.

16. Can I pay out pocket for a second physical?

A. No.  We do not take self pay patients.

17. Can I have a physical and a consultation on the same day ?

A. No.

18. What is the difference between a physical and a consultation?

A. One is a preventative visit, the other is a problem focused visit.

19. My last physical was less than a year ago, can I schedule one with you now?

A. This may seem like a simple question to answer but it is not. Here are the variables:

• Insurances allow you to have 1 free physical every 12 months
• Some insurances have told patients it can be done per calendar year
• Only to reject payment after the fact
• By this logic you could have one in December and then again in January
• Therefore as per office policy they have to be 366 days apart - No Exceptions
• This applies even if your last physical was done under a different insurance

20. My physical was done more than a year apart and I still got billed for it,  why is that?

A. Here is a list of the most common reasons:

• Retroactive cancellation by your insurance due to non payment
• Your birthdate may be incorrect on their end
• Your address may be incorrect
• Your name may be incorrect
• Your insurance may think that you have a second insurance
• Call them and ask for the reason as to why they did not pay for your visit

21. I got a bill for the follow-up visit to my physical that should have been covered by my insurance.

A. That is not correct:

• The day of your physical is covered by your insurance
• All other visits are not

22. I came in for my FREE yearly physical and it got billed as a consultation. Can you  resubmit it?

A. If in  the middle of a physical you start discussing any symptoms. It stops being a physical and it turns into a consultation. And no, it cannot be resubmitted as a physical, that would be fraud.

23. I have blood work and labs from a different doctor that I want Dr. Coker to review, can you bill this visit as a physical ?

A. No.  A visit to go over labs is a consultation, to bill it as a physical would be fraud.

24. Why are patients required to have voicemail, text, and email?

A. Being able to reach patients is extremely important, especially when it involves time sensitive lab results. Not having all 3 will disqualify you from becoming our patient.

25. Are patients really terminated if their voicemail is full or disconnected 3 separate times?

A. Yes.

26. How long has Dr. Coker been in practice ?

A. Since June 2000. 

27. Does Dr. Coker speak Spanish?

A. No.

28. Does anyone in your office speak Spanish?

A. No. 

29. I made an appointment online and it was cancelled. Why did this happen?

A. There are many reasons why this would happen, we will list some of them here:

• All appointments require a verbal confirmation - We were unable to reach you 
• Your voicemail was full or not activated
• You are a new patient and did not complete our "Two Minute Registration"
• Your insurance is inactive or has assigned you to a different doctor
• You are an existing  patient and your insurance has changed or is inactive
• You were terminated or not accepted as a patient in the past
  

30. Can I schedule a fasting blood draw in the afternoon?

A. No.  All fasting blood draws must be done before 11 a.m.

31. How do I get my lab results?

A. Follow these steps: 

• Download the "MyQuest for Patients" 
• The lab will post your results as soon as they become available. 
• If your results appear in any color other than red they are within normal limits. 
• If they are in RED call 305-392-0449 to schedule a follow up visit. 
• Please Note: Abnormal test results cannot be discussed over the phone. 

32. Can I refuse a follow up appointment to discuss abnormal test results?

A. If your results are abnormal we will do our due diligence to contact you. If you refuse a follow-up appointment or if we do not hear back from you within 30 days, you will receive a certified letter terminating our Doctor/Patient relationship.

 

33. Does your practice do "Executive Physicals"?

A. No. Ask your employer where to go for one.

34. Can I make a first time appointment for someone else?

A. No.

35. Can I have my assistant/spouse/significant other make an appointment for me?

A. No. If you are an adult who wants someone else to handle your medical care, we are not the practice for you.

36. My child is 19 can I have access to his/her medical records?

A. No. Your child became an adult at 18, all his/her records are private.

37. Can I give my husband/wife/parent/significant other full authority over my medical records?

A. No.

38. I am an existing patient,  can your office  prescribe new medications over the phone?

A. No. This policy includes medications for colds, flu like symptoms, UTIs, allergies, etc.

39. Can your office prescribe existing medications over the phone?

A. Yes, within 30 days of your last visit

40. How long can your office refill BCPs or prescriptions for chronic conditions?

A. Up to one year from your last physical. After 365 days you will need to schedule a physical.

41. Can I get to your office taking public transportation?

A. Yes.  Metro Bus 12 has a stop at Mercy Hospital. 

Please Note: Arrival times are erratic, plan accordingly.

All late appointments are cancelled after 10 minutes - No Exceptions. 

42. I have not seen Dr. Coker for a few years. Has your office moved?

A. Since our grand opening on December 12th, 2012 these have been our addresses:

1757 SW 3rd Avenue 

1390 Brickell Avenue

2250 S. Dixie Highway

As of 2021 we are at:

Mercy Hospital Campus - Not affiliated with the Hospital - 3661 S. Miami Avenue Suite 605

43. I wrote you an email and did not hear back?

A. Our HIPAA compliant email  is MiamiFamilyMedicine@gmail.com

It is only used to upload medical documents and it does not provide personal correspondence.

For everything that requires a response, please call our office.

Thank you for taking the time to read our FAQs. If you did not find your answer call 305-392-0449.