Frequently Asked Questions
What does Azul mean?
Azul is the Spanish word for blue. While the color blue is often associated with sadness or frustration, at Azul Health we associate the color blue with healing. The ocean-inspired blues adorning the clinic space were chosen specifically to help aid in your journey towards improved health and well-being.
The clinic name Azul Health was a combination inspired by Megan's favorite beach, Playa Azul in Quintana Roo, Mexico, and her goal of helping others view psychotherapy and psychiatric medication treatment options as valuable tools to improve one's overall health.
If you are feeling blue....we can help!
Fun facts: The Fernandez household is bilingual, and Megan's favorite color is blue!
Do you accept my health insurance?
Dr. Hart-Fernandez, DNP (NPI#1780972570) is currently in network with Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), CIGNA, Optum, Midlands Choice, United Healthcare and several Health Partners plans.
She is not in network with Tricare, Amerigroup, Iowa Total Care, or Wellpoint and is unable to accept any new patients with these insurances at this time.
She is continuing to expand her network, so please check back if we are not yet in network with your plan.
Please contact Azul Health directly for scheduling of private pay rates and availability for late night and evening telehealth or in-home visits, psychotherapy & medication management services.
What types of visits do you provide?
Azul Health offers in-person clinic visits as well as virtual telehealth visits and in-home visits.
It is our goal to make healthcare convenient, efficient and accessible!
What should I expect at my first visit?
For your first visit, I will schedule 60-90 minutes together to ensure we have sufficient time together for you to receive a comprehensive assessment and truly be understood as a patient. It is essential for me to get to know you and better understand your most bothersome symptoms so I can best evaluate, treat and support you in your journey towards improved health.
I will explain any assessment findings with you and provide you with information on the various treatment options available to you. I encourage you to ask questions and will happily answer those questions throughout our visit together.
I have found this approach to care empowers my patients to make their own informed decisions about their care which results in better long-term success.
What should I expect from telehealth visits?
Virtual appointments are conducted much like a Facetime or Skype call, but will utilize a private and secure, HIPPA compliant connection to ensure privacy.
There is no app to download, the link is the same for every visit, & it can be accessed from any device connected to Wi-Fi: https://doxy.me/drmeganfernandez
In Iowa we have a telehealth parity law. This means that insurance companies are required to pay for telehealth visits and your co-pay is either the same (or sometimes it's even less expensive!) than an in-person visit.
Benefits of Choosing Virtual Care over an In-Person Appointment:
They are efficient & effective. 100% patients are able to save time & money by choosing telehealth visits over traditional in-person visits.
You don't need to spend time driving to/from appointments
You can attend your visit from any safe location within the state of Iowa (your backyard, in your parked car after dropping off your littles at daycare but before you head into the office, during your lunchbreak or while waiting to pick up your child from their band lesson....the many time saving options are endless!)
New parents: you can attend your virtual visit while your child is napping or from the comfort of your home!
Avoid any weather-related traffic delays
Save money on gas/car or bus fare expenses
You can relax & enjoy a snack during your visit
You can even attend if you are in quarantine after an illness exposure, or you are recovering from mild coughs/colds and feel well enough for a therapy visit but have not been symptom-free long enough to safely attend an in-person visit.
What should I know about house calls or on-site visits?
Dr. Hart-Fernandez, DNP offers her established patients and industrial partners the convenience of in-home or on-site visits for select services including:
Private pay individual therapy appointments
ADHD skill building home or workplace assessments (ages 18+)
Industrial safety walk-throughs
Ergonomic assessments of home offices or worksites
Lactation/breastfeeding support
Coverage of in-home visits varies depending on insurance plans. Azul Health does not submit in-home visits to patient health insurance plans, but can provided an itemized receipt, upon request, which allows patients to submit to their HSA or personal health insurance plans independently.
Why is there a no-show/cancellation fee?
Life happens and we understand that. If you fail to log-in/show-up for your scheduled appointment you are taking away time from another patient who may have benefited from that time.
We offer a convenient self-scheduling feature online for all current patients. The ability to reschedule/cancel is available online or via text to all patients up to 24 hours in advance of scheduled visits. You can also call the clinic to cancel or reschedule. You are able to notify us of need to cancel or reschedule >24 hours in advance without incurring any additional expense. Appointments that patients "no-show" or cancel with less that a 24 hour notice are subject to a late cancellation fee of $75 per occurrence for visits scheduled for 45 minutes or less. For new patient evaluations & appointments scheduled for 60+ minutes in duration, the late cancellation or no-show fee is $150.
Why can't my in-home visit be billed to my insurance company?
In-home visits are not billed to insurance because there are simply too many insurance plans/policies in place, and with the rapidly changing insurance rules and varying plans, it is not feasible for us to keep up on the ins and outs of every plan available.
Payment for in-home visits or other private-pay services is due at the time of service. If your insurance covers home visits, an itemized receipt known as a superbill can be provided, at your request, for you to submit to your insurance independently.
What are your hours?
Azul Health clinic is open by appointment only. Patient visits are typically scheduled on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays between 9:00am - 5:00pm, as well as some Saturdays from 9:00am -12:00pm.
I do offer some late-night and weekend telehealth and in-home visits for established patients upon request. These appointments can be scheduled directly through the clinic as they are not visible on the self-scheduling feature of the patient portal.
Where are you located?
Azul Health is located in Marion, Iowa.
The clinic is in a beautiful, remodeled farmhouse and is located directly across the street from Timberline Manufacturing.