Q. How is a formal doctor-patient relationship established?

A. Patients must make a request in writing (via email) to Maimonides Sleep Arts and Sciences requesting treatment services. Until such a relationship is established, medical advice cannot be provided to patients seeking answers to questions about medical care. If you were to use our online intake system, you would not need to send an email. Please note that even if you are out of state, filling out the online intake will automatically characterize you as a New Mexico patient. 

Q. Are my records kept confidential?

As in any other doctor's office, all of your records are kept confidential. We will gladly e-mail copies of your records to you for your personal files, assist you with discussions with other health care providers, or help with insurance reimbursement issues.

Q. Can you examine me without being in New Mexico?

A. Even with telemedical treatment, you need to establish a doctor/patient relationship, and a physical examination or in-person encounter is obviously not possible unless you choose to travel to New Mexico. If you do establish a "patient" relationship and a physical examination becomes necessary, Dr. Krakow will suggest the type of doctor to see and what type of physical examination might be needed.

Q. Will my health insurance cover any of these treatments?

A. If you begin treatment with us, you will be provided with physician notes that contain full documentation of your evaluation and treatment plans. In some instances, you may be able to use these documents to obtain reimbursement from your health insurance plan. You are welcome to pursue coverage for services provided at the Center through traditional means of primary care referrals, preauthorizations and so forth. However, there is no need to inform us of this intention. All our medical notes and communications will be provided directly to you in a timely fashion, usually within 2 working days after completion of any appointment. As a reminder, all payment for services must be provided directly from the patient or a responsible party representing the patient at or before the appointment.

Q. Are there laws pertaining to the practice of telemedicine and distance medicine which pertain to a patient seeking care from Maimonides Sleep Arts and Sciences in New Mexico?

A. Maimonides Sleep Arts and Sciences is located in the state of New Mexico and, therefore, holds that any encounter with patients occurs under the jurisdiction of the state of New Mexico. Your locale may perceive such encounters differently and therefore you are advised to contact your doctor or your local medical board to determine if there are any legal constraints that would prohibit seeking care at the Maimonides.

Q. Can I get a referral to Maimonides Sleep Arts & Sciences?

A. Given that treatment for sleep disorders can represent highly specialized care, there is one safeguard against any infringement of local medical board laws that you can always consider. If you discuss your problems with your primary physician or other healthcare provider, you can request a referral to Maimonides Sleep Arts on the grounds that you have been unable to successfully get help for these problems in your area. On a humanitarian basis, if you require treatment for something and treatment is unavailable, then seeking care outside of your area is usually perceived as a reasonable course of action.

What do I do to pursue such a course? 

A. You may simply need to discuss all of this with your primary physician who can then send a referral to the Maimonides Sleep Arts. In such instances, the Sleep Center will maintain regular contact with the referring physician to apprise them of the specialized treatment you receive. In this way, you remain technically under the care of your primary doctor who has sought additional and temporary assistance in the management of your care for these sleep-related problems. If you prefer even greater clarification of telemedicine issues prior to seeking consultation at the Center, you could write your local board requesting advice or a ruling about your situation.