In an effort to ensure HNS network providers are accessible to members of HNS contracted plans and to remain consistent with national accreditation standards, HNS providers must adhere to the following accessibility standards.
In-Office Waiting Time:
In general, patients should be seen by the network provider within 15 minutes of the time of their appointment.
Routine Appointments:
All network providers should be able to schedule patients for routine, non-urgent appointments within 14 days from the time the patient calls for the appointment.
Urgent Appointments:
Network providers must be able to schedule patients for urgent appointments within 24 hoursfrom the time the patient calls for the appointment.
Access to Practitioner:
Network providers are to be available to members/insured 24 hours a day, seven days a week or must direct patient as to how to obtain care if they are not available. This means that providers must schedule an appointment with the patient within the above time lines, or direct the patient to seek other care elsewhere, as clinically indicated. Provider may opt to utilize a answering service, a message on an answering machine, or paging system in order to meet this requirement.
Answering Machine/Service:
Consistent with good professional practice, network providers must maintain an answering machine or answering service to direct patient as to how they are to obtain care when the office is closed. Below are two examples of appropriate voice mail messages for your practice:
“Hello, you’ve reached ABC Chiropractic. Our office hours are from 8am to 12 pm and 2pm to 6pm Monday- Thursday. Our Friday office hours are 8am to 11am. If you need immediate assistance and our office is closed, please call (000)-000-0000 and the doctor will return your call promptly. Otherwise, please leave a message and we will contact you on the next business day. Thank you.”
“Hello, you’ve reached ABC Chiropractic. Our office hours are from 8am to 12 pm and 2pm to 6pm Monday- Thursday. Our Friday office hours are 8am to 11am. If you need immediate assistance and our office is closed, please call 911. Otherwise, please leave a message and we will contact you on the next business day. Thank you.”
ADL Forms 
Accessibility