Silver Valley Family Practice PC Linda Jo Yawn

01/16/2026

This is what I received from UHC:

To support the transition and because referral requirements are new on many UnitedHealthcare HMO and HMO-POS plans:

· UnitedHealthcare will not deny claims for lack of referral on plans with new referral requirements for dates of service through April 30, 2026

· However, providers are encouraged to begin submitting referrals for services scheduled on or after Jan. 1, 2026.

· Claims for specialist services without a referral will be denied beginning May 1, 2026.

How to submit a referral: In the coming weeks, we’ll share details about how to submit referrals to Optum for your patients covered by UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage HMO and HMO-POS plans.
Planning ahead:

Prepare your patients: Begin discussing the new referral requirements for 2026
Most HMO and HMO-POS plans require referrals for specialist care
Services provided without a referral are the care provider’s responsibility and cannot be billed to the member
Prior authorization and advance notification requirements still apply
Refer to the links below to identify specialties and services that do not require referral

01/16/2026

If you have a United Healthcare Medicare Advantage plan, please be aware that if you see a specialist, your primary now has to generate a referral to the specialist. However, in my case, the UHC Provider portal is having technical issues so I am unable to get the referrals to go through. I am working with UHC and the State Board of Insurance to rectify this. However, this may result in delays for my patients' care. Rest assured, I am pushing as hard as I can to get UHC to get this sorted out so it does not delay anyone's care. May I suggest at the next open enrollment, maybe stay away from UHC? Also, feel free to try and reach out to them and complain. Thanks!

12/18/2025

UPDATE: We are open!! We have power!! Yay!! Great big thank you to our hard working linemen!

Due to the ongoing power outage, we will be closed tomorrow. We should be open again next Monday. Please stay safe and check on your neighbors!

11/01/2025

Great description of MTHFR and why, if you have this, you can feel tired all the time!

10/29/2025

Last event for the year.

10/13/2025

Welcome to the Halloween government shut down. Who wants to set up a pool for how long it will take for them to get it together??

10/08/2025

We’ve been flocked!!! This is a wonderful fundraiser for the Kellogg High School cheerleaders. I just love this idea! Our cheer team needs all the support they can get!

08/27/2025

FYI

Back to School: Your Child, Your Choice

Parents across the country are pushing back against school mandates, corporate agendas, and overmedicalized programs that put profits over children’s health. With 1 in 5 kids now facing obesity, rising cancer rates, and shrinking physical education, schools continue to serve junk food and follow outdated nutrition guidelines—often ignoring parental input.

Backed by tens of thousands of doctors and health experts, the Independent Medical Alliance calls on every state and school board to adopt this Healthcare Bill of Rights—restoring parents’ authority over their children’s health and education and putting family values ahead of outside agendas. Learn more: https://geni.us/parents-bill-of-rights

08/27/2025

We will be closed from Wednesday, August 27th through September 2nd. If you have an emergency, please call 911 or go to the ER. If you need a refill, please call your pharmacy and they will send me the refill request electronically. And, as always, you can message me on the patient portal or leave a message on the answering machine at the office. Thank you!! I hope everyone enjoys the long weekend! Be safe in the heat!

08/17/2025

Please be advised that Facebook is not a HIPAA compliant platform. If you need to reach our office for something, the best way is via the patient portal (if you are an established patient) or by calling us at (208)783-0300. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

06/13/2025

The office will be closed from 6/11 through 6/22 for a staycation. We will be back in the office on June 23rd. If you have an emergency, please go to the nearest ER or call 911. If you need a refill on a prescription, please call your pharmacy. We will be checking messages at the office as well. Sorry for any inconvenience.

05/10/2025