Office hours and Policies

All of our physicians are fellows of the American Academy of Dermatology and board certified dermatologists. Our goal is to provide you with the best qualified and educated physicians to provide medical care. All physicians are active and credentialed on the hospital medical staffs of Clear Lake Regional Medical Center, Mainland Medical Center, and Christus St. John Hospital staffs.

1. Bay Area Dermatology accepts most insurances and Medicare
2. We accept Mastercard, Visa, and American Express for all payments
3. Office Hours, Prescription Refills and Appointments
   • Webster office

   Sees patients from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

   Monday through Friday

   The appointment desk operates from 8:00 am to 12 Noon and from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Monday through Friday.

   • Texas City office

   Operates on Tuesday only from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

   Appointments and questions can be answered by both office staffs every day by phone.

   The Webster office will make appointments and see patients when the Texas City office is not open.

   • Prescription Refill Line - Call the office during business hours and you will be transferred to the refill voice mail line: leave your name, date of birth, and phone number, prescription number on the medication, the phone number for the pharmacy and any related information.
   • Medications - If the prescribed medicine is not working, ask to leave a message for the Medical Assistant to discuss the issue. When you leave the information on the recording, please leave your name, date of birth, phone number and medication related issue. Remember, your chart must be pulled and reviewed by the physician prior to your being called back. This may not be until the end of the day.
   • Appointment Cancellation - Please cancel any appointments 24 hours in advance and 48 hours for any surgical procedure.
   • Wait Times - Bay Area Dermatology tries to run on time but emergencies and more complicted procedures require more time. Please be patient.
4. Office Policies
   • Patients are responsible for understanding their own medical insurance plans and the benefits negotiated by their employers.
   • Many times the physician will not prescribe a new medication or treatment from a telephone request if you have not been seen recently or the presentation of your problem is different than what they have treated previously.
   • For each individual patient, Bay Area Dermatology has to comply with the benefits that your plan specifies.
   • The insurance fee schedules for the procedures performed are contracted for all physicians and set by your insurance company, not by the physician.
   • Some procedures requiring biopsy, cryosurgery (freezing and excisions of lesions are considered surgery and will fall under your plan's surgical deductible. This is directed by your insurance. Deductible payment is required at the time of service.
   • Patients are responsible for obtaining referrals from the primary care physician prior to the appointment. If the patient arrives for the appointment and we do not have the referral, he/she may have to reschedule the appointment.
   • As a service to patients, our office will bill the patient's insurance for services rendered. We will bill both primary and secondary insurance policies. However, we require any applicable co-payments and/or deductibles be paid at time of service.
   • For patients who do not have insurance, we require payment at time of service. Payment may be made with cash, check, or credit card.
   • We are enrolled as providers for most private insurance plans and Medicare as well.
   • Laboratory charges, blood tests and pathology are billed by the labs and not the physician's office. Patients will pay for physician services in the office at the time of their visit and receive a separate bill from the lab at a later date. Lab billing questions should be directed to the lab, not the physician's office.
   • To schedule an appointment - Call 281-332-8571, have your insurance card ready and the name of your primary care physician.
   • New Patients
     • Medical Records - If possible, fax all of your relevant medical records prior to the visit to FAX 281-332-8307.
   • What to bring to the appointment -
     • Current Insurance Card
     • Valid Drivers license or legal photo ID
     • Consent for Treatment of Minors (under 18) - Minors need to have a parent or legal guardian with them unless they have signed a consent form and provide a photo ID authorizing the child to be seen with someone else. You may download this Consent form from this website.
     • If applicable, bring your referral, or confirm with our office that it has been received in our office at least one day prior to the appointment.
     • Copy any online forms applicable and bring to your office visit.
     • Co-Pays and deductibles are expected at the time of visit..
   • After hours, call the office phone number and a phone number will direct you to the 24 hour on call physician. If this is an emergency and you are unable to reach the physician on call in the time period needed, please go to the emergency room. Otherwise, leave a message with the on call physician and they will return your call.