Care Provided at Student Health
Services
A list of services provided by Student Health is available.
Clinical Care
Student Health offers outpatient clinical care services for Rice University students. It is staffed by two Internal Medicine physicians, one Family Practice physician, two nurses, a medical assistant, and two front office staff. The student health fee, which is required of all full-time Rice Students, provides for the professional services at the Student Health clinic.
- Student Health does not bill insurance companies.
- Students may not designate one of the Student Health physicians as their "primary care provider" for health insurance purposes
- Student Health is not able to provide primary care for students with chronic medical needs.
- Students who need significant continuing care for a medical, or psychiatric, condition will be referred to a physician in the Houston community.
Although the professional services provided at Student Health do not generate additional cost to students, laboratory testing and radiology services do. If laboratory testing, radiographic testing, or referral to a sub-specialist is needed it is at this point that health insurance becomes involved. Vaccinations provided at Student Health also involve additional cost. Students who require regular adminstration of allergy sera ("allergy shots") are able to store their sera at Student Health and receive their injections at no additional cost. The student must provide the sera and the schedule from their allergist.
Free Testing
Student Health can provide the following tests at no additional cost:
- rapid strep tests
- mono-spot tests
- urine pregnancy tests
- urine chemistry tests
- glucometer tests
- electrocardiography
Tests outside of this list (e.g., blood chemistry testing, x-ray services) are not located on-site and will be billed to the student or their insurance by the reference laboratory or radiology clinic used. Laboratory specimens (e.g., blood, urine) are collected on-site so the student does not need to go to another location. However, in the event radiographic testing (e.g., chest x-ray) is needed the student will be referred to a nearby radiology clinic. Students are expected to provide transportation or to have a friend drive them.
Sub-specialty Services
If a student is in need of sub-specialty services, such as orthopedic services, they will be referred to a nearby physician who can provide this type of service. Again, it is at this point that health insurance becomes involved and students are expected to provide, or find, transportation. It is also the student's responsibility to verify whether the physician they are being referred to participates in the student's health insurance program.
Because of the specific details of a given health insurance plan and the complex and shifting nature of contracts between community physicians and health insurance companies, it is not possible for Student Health to know what the cost to the student might be, or if a particular provider is a member of the student's health insurance plan. Note: Starting in August 2005 students with the health insurance plan sponsored through Rice University will be able to access a website listing providers who participate in the Rice Student Health Insurance plan.