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Dear valued patients,
We hope this letter finds you well. As part of our commitment to providing comprehensive care to all our patients, we wanted to inform you of a new policy regarding referrals for Hematology and Oncology treatments for patients under Indian Health Services.
Effective July 1, 2024, Cancer Centers of Southwest Oklahoma will make a maximum of three attempts to obtain a referral from Indian Health Services on your behalf. We will submit the initial request 6 weeks prior to the scheduled appointment along with necessary records (if applicable) and will follow up two more times. If the patients are for a cancer related diagnosis, these will be worked on an emergent basis, but patient involvement is still necessary. After these three attempts, it will become the patient’s responsibility to ensure that the necessary referral is obtained for continued treatment. The patient will be notified 7 days prior to the scheduled visit if we have not obtained the referral.
We understand the importance of timely and uninterrupted access to healthcare services, especially when it comes to Hematology/Oncology treatment. Therefore, we encourage you to communicate with the Indian Health Services representative to ensure that the referral process is completed efficiently and without delay.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this policy change, please do not hesitate to contact our Patient Authorization and Referrals Department at 580-355-8620 ext. 5022 or email at cancercenterauth@ccmhhealth.com. Our team is here to assist you in any way we can.
Thank you for your attention to this matter, and we appreciate the opportunity to continue providing you with the best possible care.
Sincerely,
Natalie Nunez
Supervisor
Cancer Centers of Southwest Oklahoma, LLC
