Maplewood Cancer Center

The information we will ask for includes:

• Your basic information: name, address, phone, etc.
• Your diagnosis
• Your referring provider and primary care information

We will also discuss with you the necessary paperwork and what you need to bring to your first appointment.

• Your insurance cards
• A list of all medications that you are currently taking (including over-the-counter remedies, vitamins and herbal supplements)
• Your completed paperwork
• A release of information (if needed)

You may receive a phone call from your Nurse Care Coordinator prior to your appointment to ensure you have what you need and to ask if you have any questions.

eRegistration allows Minnesota Oncology to digitally send registration forms to patients via text and/or email.  Patients can digitally fill out and electronically sign required forms and attach a copy of their insurance card. Having forms completed prior to the appointment allows Minnesota Oncology to ensure we have your most updated information and can validate insurance for financial clearance. Allowing us to prepare for appointments before patients arrive will expedite check-in at the front desk.

We take the time to thoroughly evaluate every new patient, so your initial consultation may take 1-2 hours.

If you need to reschedule an appointment, please don’t hesitate to call the scheduling team at 651.414.3150

If you have any questions about your visit or about your diagnosis,  please contact your Nurse Care Coordinator. If they are unavailable, a message will be taken and your nurse will call you back as soon as possible. If needed, they will talk to your physician and let you know what next steps.

We offer a variety of support services to help with your journey. These services include: financial counselors, social workers, genetic counselors, dietitians, survivorship and palliative care. Your physician may recommend you see one or more of these services.  Your scheduler will set up these appointments.

Minnesota Oncology is pleased to provide a new and improved portal to our patients from Navigating Care, the same company that provides the HealthTracker app we implemented recently for remote side effect and symptom management.

Use the Navigating Care Portal to:

• Access your health information 24/7
• Receive personalized patient education
• Be prepared for your doctor visits
• Complete forms from home
• Review lab and test results
• Communicate with secure messaging
• Find support and connect with others
• Track appointments and events
• And more

We participate with most major insurance companies and will submit claims to your carrier on your behalf. Medicaid patients are welcome.

Health plan insurance we accept:

• Allina Health Aetna
• Aetna
• BCBS of Minnesota
• First Health
• Health EZ
• HealthPartners
• Humana
• Medica
• Medicare
• Minnesota Medical Assistance (Medicaid)
• Preferred One
• TriCare
• UCare
• United Healthcare

We also accept Medicare assignment — however, you will be responsible for the deductible and your 20% co-payment for Medicare’s allowed charges for physician care, chemotherapy drugs, and laboratory tests. 

Your Patient Benefit Representative is your ally in getting answers to your questions and resolving any issues that may arise throughout your treatment journey. This program was created to assist you in understanding the financial aspects of your treatment and to set up a workable and understandable financial plan so that you can set your mind at ease and focus on getting well.

The Patient Benefit Representatives at Minnesota Oncology are insurance experts. They also have access to a variety of programs that can help with drug costs, and even with co-pay and co-insurance costs, if you qualify. They will answer your questions and ensure that a coverage plan is in place before treatment begins. Our financial counselors work closely with our Social Workers to help you access other financial assistance resources as well.

Clinical trials help uncover various new cancer treatment options for a variety of cancers and give many patients the opportunity to receive newly developed cancer treatment therapies or investigational drugs not yet available outside the study. Typically, a cancer clinical trial isn’t the first or best option for newly diagnosed patients. Talk to your oncologist to determine if you’d be a good candidate for a clinical trial.

It is only natural that you want to be absolutely certain that you have cancer before beginning treatment. It’s understandable that you may want to get a second opinion on your diagnosis and recommended treatment before making any decisions. There is no harm in doing this, and it will help you feel confident about your diagnosis and treatment.

Our oncologists provide second opinions regularly for patients. Most insurance companies will cover a second opinion assessment, but you should always check with your insurance provider before making an appointment.