Student Health Services

East Texas A&M students who are currently enrolled at the university may use Student Health Services for free. There are additional charges for labs, X-rays, minor procedures, etc.

Students must be enrolled during the current semester to be seen by the providers. View our Guidelines for Students below for more information.

Insurance

Student Health Services currently accepts the following insurances:

• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas Academic
• Blue Student Health Insurance
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield
• United HealthCare
• Aetna Health Insurance
• Cigna
• UMR

If you do not have insurance, you will be responsible for all additional charges for X-rays, labs, etc…

We recommend that you carry your health insurance information for any emergency, specialty or major health needs for which Student Health Services does not provide care.

If you are considering health insurance, keep in mind that some insurance plans terminate when (1) the student reaches the age of attainment on a parent’s policy, meaning that they are no longer covered, (2) the student gets married, (3) the student becomes legally independent, or (4) the student is studying abroad. You should also consider coverage areas and provider availability.

Several sources provide health insurance to students, including:

• Group insurance
• Parent’s health insurance
• Student’s individual policy
• A Student Health Policy

The Texas A&M University System provides insurance. For information, call 1.877.624.7911.

Note: International students are required to have Health Insurance as well as Evacuation and Repatriation insurance. If you have questions or concerns regarding health insurance for international students, please contact the Office of International Programs for more information. They are located in Ferguson Social Sciences, Room 137, and their number is 903.886.5097.

Appointments

We encourage patients to make an appointment if they want to be seen by Student Health Services staff. Call 903.886.5853 or 903.886.5847 to make an appointment. Due to a limited number of appointments, appointments will usually be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. During high volume times (i.e. flu or allergy season), non-urgent issues may be scheduled for a time when patient load is lower. These times will vary and Student Health Services staff will proceed accordingly. In order to allow sufficient time for your visit with the provider, we ask that you provide a brief description of the reason for your visit when you make your appointment. Incorrect time allotment or an incorrect visit description may require your appointment to be rescheduled.

Cancellations

If you cannot make your appointment, you are encouraged to call to reschedule or cancel the appointment. You may cancel your appointment by calling Student Health Services at 903.886.5853 or 903.886.5847. To avoid the $10 no-show fee, you need to call at least two hours before your scheduled appointment. You may leave a message with your CWID number, name, date and time of your appointment, and a callback number.

Missed Appointments/Late Arrivals

Once the appointment time has passed by five minutes or more, you will be considered a no-show. No-show appointments will be charged a $10 fee. If you arrive five minutes late or more for your appointment, your status will change to no-show and you may incur a no-show fee. Whether you can be worked into the schedule is left to the discretion of the provider, based on the nature of your medical concern and the schedule of the provider. We recommend that you arrive 5 to 10 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment time to check in properly and have all of the appropriate paperwork updated and given to the correct staff.

Walk-ins

Walk-ins are welcome and Student Health Services will do their best to see you in a timely manner. Patients are prioritized based on level of acuity because there are a limited number of same-day sick appointments reserved. During times of high clinic usage, such as flu or allergy season, there may be significant wait times for walk-in appointments. If you walk in with non-urgent issues during busy times, you may be asked to make an appointment and come back at a later time/date.

Payments

Student Health Services currently accepts the following insurances:

• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas AcademicBlue Student Health Insurance
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield
• United HealthCare
• Aetna
• Cigna
• UMR

Students may use their health insurance for all visits as long as Student Health Services is in-network. Students who do not currently have health insurance will be responsible for fees incurred for services. We currently accept cash, check and major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express). Students with remaining balances, including any late fees, will be subject to holds placed on their MyLEO accounts, which can result in failure to graduate, register for classes and/or obtain a transcript until balances are paid. For questions regarding holds for unpaid services, please call 903.886.5853.

Parking

There is a limited number of parking places located directly in front of Student Health Services at Henderson Hall. There is parking specifically for Student Health’s patients located near the front of Henderson Hall in Parking Lot 7.

For students with injuries or medical conditions that limit mobility, Student Health Services can complete a form requesting a temporary accessible parking pass from the University Police Department. You must be seen by the physician assistant in order to complete the form. Student Health Services is not responsible for filing the form or taking it to the cashier’s window, located in the Business Administration Building.

Information for Parents

Student Health Services is required by law to maintain the privacy of certain confidential health information known, under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), as Student Health Records (SHR) and to provide you with a notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to your SHR. We are required to abide by the terms of this version of this notice most currently in effect. The health information of the student can be released only after we have received and verified the student's written authorization for specific health information. If the student wishes, they can fill out a Patient Request Regarding Health Information Release form which allows Student Health Services to share access to the student’s personal health information with specified individuals. The student must visit or call Student Health Services to inquire about their medical records and bills.

Class Excuses

Student Health Services will not provide class excuses. Students will be required to work with their instructor(s) regarding their absence(s). Each patient is given a discharge summary at the end of each appointment with the providers and/or upon payment for services. However, this is not a class excuse. Students are encouraged to communicate with their instructors if they are going to miss class for any reason.

Medical Records

Medical records will be kept for ten years after the last date the patient was served by Student Health Services. Student Health Services is in compliance with all federal and state guidelines regarding your medical records. Your medical record and the information you share with the doctors and staff is confidential.

Privacy/Confidentiality

We value the privacy of all our patients and use strict confidentiality when addressing your health needs and information. Personal health information may be disclosed during your conversation/treatment at Student Health Services; therefore, we recommend that you see the nurse/provider by yourself, rather than bringing a friend/family member into the examination room with you. Friends/family members may use our waiting room during your visit with the provider or Student Health Services team member. ETAMU WiFi is available in the waiting room.

Lab Work

All lab work will be performed between 8 and 11 a.m. and 1 and 4 p.m.

Tuberculosis tests will be performed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Students must return to Student Health Services 48 to 72 hours after the administration of the test to have the results read.

Lab Results

Wait time for lab test results varies depending on the test performed. Students will be notified via phone call and/or secure message/email when their lab results are ready. Students may return to Student Health Services to pick up a physical copy of their results, or they may receive a copy through our secure portal.

Prescription Refills

Students must be under the current care of Student Health Services to be eligible to receive a prescription refill. Patients need to contact their pharmacy to have a refill request sent to our office. Please allow 24 to 48 hours for all refill requests. Student Health Services’ fax number is 903.886.5854.

Contraceptives Prescriptions

New patients will be required to have a consultation with one of Student Health’s medical providers prior to receiving a prescription. If possible, please bring previous pap smear results, Depo-Provera injections, and any other relevant office notes or results, or you can have a copy of your records faxed to Student Health Services before your appointment. Student Health Services’ fax number is 903.886.5854.

Allergy Injections

Student Health Services will administer allergy injections to students. Those who wish to have their injections given at Student Health Services patient must have their initial dose given by their current allergist. Student Health Services will not administer the initial dose. Students will be required to provide the following to Student Health Services:

• a request for administration of immunotherapy for the student at an outside medical facility
• the student’s current injection administration records from an allergist
• the student’s serum from the student’s allergist and the student’s own Epi-Pen

Injections will be given Monday through Friday between 8:15 and 11 a.m. and 1:15 and 4 p.m. Students will be required to wait in the clinic for a minimum of 20 minutes after receiving the injection. This is a mandatory wait time, and failure to comply will result in denial of future allergy injections so please plan accordingly.

Policies and Procedures Regarding Controlled Substances

The State of Texas allows PAs and NPs limited prescription authority for Scheduled III, IV, and V medications. Any situation requiring more extensive use of narcotics will be referred to a pain specialist or specialty clinic.

We at East Texas A&M Student Health Services are committed to providing you with the highest quality of care. Maintaining patient privacy and confidentiality is a standard that is upheld by all of our employees. Our staff is bound by state and federal laws regarding the disclosure of a patient’s personal health information (PHI).

We will not disclose public health information to deans, professors, other university staff, parents, or other parties without your written consent unless there is a serious danger to you or someone else. In the event of an emergency situation requiring hospitalization where it is impossible to obtain a student’s permission, the parent or legal guardian will be notified.

Patient Rights and Responsibilities

Medical Release Form