It is the mission of the TCHC to provide quality health care to the uninsured and underinsured. Unfortunately, we do not have sufficient staff, space or financial resources to always see everyone as quickly as we would like. With that in mind, please do the following:

1. Arrive for your appointment 20 - 30 minutes early to allow receptionists sufficient time to check you in.

2. Please be patient. Often, your doctor or practitioner is providing care for patients with multiple health concerns or special health care needs. Because of this, you may be seen later than your scheduled time. You will not be seen any faster by being impatient or angry.

3. If you bring children with you to your appointment, please bring a responsible adult to watch them.

4. IF YOU SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT, KEEP IT. To view our no show policy click here.

5. Please do not walk in without an appointment and expect to be seen. If we have the appropriate medical staff and available time, we will try, but make no guarantee that we can see you that day. If you are sick and need to be seen quickly, please call and ask for the triage nurse. Phone calls are taken in the order that they are received. Please do not hang up.  If the nurse is assisting another patient, a recorded “please hold” loop will begin. The triage nurse takes the call in order, will assess your need and, if possible and necessary, arrange a time for you to come in.

6. If your address, phone number, income status or insurance information changes, please bring that information to the clinic as soon as possible. If your name changes, you must provide a legal document with your new name on it; i.e., marriage certificate, social security card, driver's license, Medicaid verification, or court document. Medicaid patients are reminded that you have only 10 days to notify your caseworker of any of these changes or they will terminate your coverage.

7. We are not a free clinic, but do offer services on a sliding fee scale to those who qualify based on family income. Currently, our minimum fee for an office visit is $17.00. Payment for services will be made during the check-in process. Since the receptionists generally cannot determine what services beyond the lowest level office visit will be performed or ordered by your doctor/practitioner, you will be asked to pay at least that amount. If other services are provided you will be expected to pay the balance when you receive a statement or come in for your next visit, whichever is first.

8. Our Board of Directors has adopted a policy that requires income to be verified every 3 months for patients who have declared zero income, and every 6 months for all others. This requirement applies to all patients, even those on Medicaid and/or Medicare. If you come to an appointment and your income verification date has expired, you will be given 30 days to bring in the required verification to be considered for reduced charges for the visit. Charges over 30 days old for patients who do not comply with this policy will not be eligible for the sliding scale. Pregnant women and children who have not yet reached their 19th birthday are to apply for the Hoosier Healthwise program through the Medicaid office. Those who do not follow through with the application process will not be eligible for the sliding fee scale and must pay the entire cost of the visit at the time of the visit.