ID Theft Prevention
Identify Theft happens, even at the doctor's office! Your insurance company may be tricked into paying for medical care for someone who claims to be you.

As a result of this fraud, laws have changed. Here are the new policies we are adopting at Dry Creek Family Practice:

  • 1. We are required to verify all patient insurance information with the insurance company. Patients MUST bring in an insurance card. If their insurance has changed and they have not yet received a card, patients needs to bring in some other documentation proving insurance: a welcome letter, new packet of info, etc.

  • 2. All of the information on the forms we give them must be filled out BEFORE patients will be checked in. If the patient is dawdling over the form, hoping to be called back before it is filled out, they may miss their appointment. If another patient is ready to be called back, even if their appointment is later, they will be first because their form is filled out.

  • 3. We won't see patients who refuse to sign our forms. They will need to pick a new doctor (this is not law, but we are legally allowed to refuse to see them).

  • 4. We will scan an insurance card for every patient and driver's license for every patient over 16. If they don't have a license or another photo ID, they can't be seen. This is the law.

  • 5. Every patient MUST have a picture for their chart. This is, again, the law and for their protection so that no one can impersonate them. Patients who refuse to have their picture taken will not be seen.

  • 6. We will verify every patient's identity when they pick up a prescription, even if we have known them for years.

  • 7. We have to verify the identity of any patient who requests information by phone, fax, or in person. So we will ask for DOB or some other identifying information or ID.


Other things we will start doing:
  • 1. We will now charge $25 to copy patient medical records, for any reason. Records of 10 pages or less will be $1 per page.

  • 2. One adult can't name another adult as the responsible party, meaning that a young adult 18+, can't put the dad as the responsible adult. The mom can't write the ex-husband as the responsible adult. The person who brings in the children HAS to sign the form as the responsible adult. This is a legal issue and not a capricious rule on our part. Whoever incurs the debt is responsible for the debt.

  • 3. We must get a work phone number for any patient who has one.

  • 4. Co-pays MUST be paid at the time of service. We cannot and will not bill for these. This is part of the patient's legal arrangement with the insurance company.


When you come in for an appointment with Dr. Sharp, you'll be pleased to see our child-friendly waiting room, filled with activities, colors, and books.