Patient FAQs

  • What is Renaissance Physicians?

    Renaissance Physicians is a citywide provider-owned and operated Independent Provider Association (IPA) made up of over 1,300 Primary Care Physicians and Specialists who serve the needs of approximately 45,000 patients in Houston and Southeast Texas.

  • Why do I need a referral?
    A referral is a communication tool shared between the referring physician (often a PCP) and a receiving provider (often a specialist). Referrals communicate diagnosis and clinical information that is essential in effectively treating the patient. A referral provides the providers name, phone number, and address of the provider for the patient.
  • How can I become a Renaissance member?

    Renaissance Physicians currently holds contracts with the following Medicare Advantage plans: Cigna Medicare Advantage, and Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage. Renaissance Physicians also offers a CIN to its physicians to join. Plans with the RPO CIN include: Aetna Medicare HMO and PPO, Humana Medicare PPO, and Cigna Commercial PPO. CIN contract is separate from standard RPO contract. In addition, Renaissance currently holds contracts with the following commercial plans: Blue Cross Blue Shield Value Based Incentive Plan, Cigna Collaborative Accountable Care, and Cigna City of Houston. Members that are part of these plans utilize the Renaissance Physician’s network. Contact your health plan customer service to learn more or to request that Renaissance Physicians be added to your network.

    Having the right health insurance coverage is important for staying healthy. Learn more about Medicare Advantage

  • What should I bring to my appointment?
    We recommend that you bring the following information to your appointment: Your photo ID and insurance card, a referral sheet if one was provided, any recent test results or images (from the past 3-6 months), a list of questions you may have for your physician and something to write notes in.
  • What makes Renaissance Physicians different?

    For over ten years, Renaissance Physicians has been dedicated to providing patients with stronger doctor-patient relationships. We focus on providing preventive care to improve patients’ quality of life. Patients are at the center of the Renaissance Physicians model and has a team of highly committed physicians led by the selected Primary Care Physician. The team creates and manages a plan that helps keep you healthy.

  • What is an IPA?
    The acronym IPA stands for Independent Physician Association. An IPA is a network of independent physicians who work closely together to provide coordinated care for patients. The IPA provides coordinated care through consistent communication between providers and patients.
  • What is a POD?
    Physicians Organized Delivery Systems (PODS) is a group of providers—PCPs and Specialists located in a geographic area. The POD as has preferred hospital(s) and specialists whose referral patterns remain within the same geographic physician community. This can be advantageous to the patient when they live within the POD’s geographic area because this limits the travel distance to a provider.