SICKLE CELL DISEASE PROGRAM | Feist-Weiller Cancer Center

The term sickle cell disease describes a group of inherited red blood cell disorders. “Inherited” means that the disease is passed by genes from parents to their children. Sickle cell disease is not contagious. A person is born with sickle cell disease.

Both boys and girls can inherit sickle cell disease. In the United States, most people with sickle cell disease are of African ancestry or identify themselves as black. There are also many people with this disease who come from Hispanic, southern European, Middle Eastern, or Asian Indian backgrounds.

Yes, however, you must be a patient at the Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport Academic Medical Center.

A support group for sickle cell patients meets every Monday from 12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. in the George and Sandra Bakowski Center for Learning on the first floor of Feist-Weiller Cancer Center. For information call Ron Nierman, MA, LPC, CGP at (318) 470-6180 or Jackie Walton, RN, at (318) 813-1405.

• You must be registered for each clinic visit or before having a test.
• Please allow for time to park; parking is available at identified parking lots. Valet Parking is available. Register your car at the kiosk inside or at the main entrance. You will need to know your license plate number.
• Clinic registration is done by appointment time. To decrease your overall waiting time, we recommend that you do not arrive more than 30 minutes prior to your appointment.
• Please leave your valuables at home.

Feist Weiller Adult Sickle Cell Service will see patients by appointment Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Appointments can be made by calling the nurse coordinator at (318) 813-1405.

Pediatric patients should call (318) 813-2001 to schedule an appointment in the St. Jude Affiliate Clinic located on the first floor of Feist-Weiller Cancer Center.

• Picture ID
• All Insurance Information
• Required Referral letter from you Primary Care Physician (community care referral)
• Any required co-payments/deposits (Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport Academic Medical Center accepts Visa and MasterCard)
• Current proof of income for patients requesting free care classification
• Your medications -- prescription bottles and over the counter medication

If you have a question about referrals or scheduling an appointment, please call (318) 813-1250. Referrals may be faxed to (318) 813-1255.

Please call (318) 813-1405. The Clinic Nurse Coordinator will be available to answer questions about scheduling.

Please call (318) 813-1405. If there is no answer, leave a message and your call will be returned.

Sickle cell patients experiencing a crisis who need to be seen urgently should go to the Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport Academic Medical Center Emergency Services at 1541 Kings Highway for immediate care.

You will be admitted to Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport Academic Medical Center.
Click here to Prepare for a Hospital Stay.

Have relevant clinic notes, diagnostics, pathology reports, prior treatment records and appropriate contact information faxed to (318) 813-1255. The referral should clearly state Second Opinion. The Clinic Nurse Coordinator will be in contact to schedule an appointment.

If you are an ADULT patient in the Sickle Cell Disease Program and need a prescription refill call (318) 813-1201. The Nurse Coordinator will schedule you an appointment for your refill.

If you are a PEDIATRIC patient in the Sickle Cell Disease Program and need a prescription refill call 318-626-0811. This voicemail will be checked at the end of each business day. Be sure to leave your name, the medication needed, date of birth, pharmacy name and phone number along with a phone number where you can be reached. Please allow 24 hours for the staff to handle this request.

Yes. Fees for copies of records are determined by Louisiana state law. Call (318) 626-2089 if you have questions.

To get a copy of your medical records, go to the Health Information Management Department on the ground floor of the main hospital across from the cafeteria. You will need to bring a driver’s license or state issued ID. You will have to fill out a form when you get there and it will cost 14¢ per page. They are open Monday – Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Call (318) 626-2089 if you have questions.

A physician’s office can call (318) 626-2089 and make arrangements to have information faxed to them

Yes. To get a copy of your X-rays you must go to Room D-246 on the second floor of the main hospital. You will need to bring a driver’s license or state issued ID and will have to fill out a form. Call (318) 626-1695 if you have questions.

No. You will need to bring a driver’s license or state issued ID and will have to fill out a form. The X-Ray will be copied to a CD.

Ask your doctor if a Clinical Trial is right for you.

Yes, if you are a Louisiana Resident. We accept patients with or without insurance. For information regarding health plans, call (318) 626-2039

If you are uninsured and unable to provide proof of Louisiana Residency at the time of registration, you may be required to pay a minimum $250.00 non-Louisiana Resident fee at each clinic visit.

Yes. All Feist-Weiller Cancer Center doctors are in network. Feist-Weiller Cancer Center is a division of Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport Academic Medical Center accepting most major health plans.

If your insurance plan does not list Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport Academic Medical Center as an in-network provider, you may be responsible for up to 100% of the hospital and physician bills.

Yes. We know illnesses can cause severe financial burdens. The financial counselor can answer questions about bills received for services like clinic visits, hospital stays, and chemotherapy treatments, as well as, bills from your physician. The counselor can also help you with questions about insurance, applying for Medicaid, and free care. The financial counseling service is FREE.

For Inpatients:
The Financial Counseling office in Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport Academic Medical Center is located in room K1-9 and is open from 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Ask for directions at the information desk. No appointment is necessary.

For Feist-Weiller Cancer Center Clinic patients:
Financial Counseling in Feist-Weiller Cancer Center is located on the 2nd floor in the treatment area. The office is open from 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call (318) 626-0239 for more information. No appointment is necessary.

Bring the following documentation to your appointment:

IF SINGLE (divorced, widowed, never married):

• Identification (valid Louisiana driver’s license or Louisiana photo ID card)
• Insurance card, Medical Cards, Medicaid Card (if Medicaid, you MUST have a referral from assigned provider)
• Proof of income. If employed, you will need to bring a check stub. If self-employed, Form 1040 plus schedule C, D, E, & F. If no income, you will need to have a provider statement--please call the Financial Counselor at (318) 626-0239 if you have questions about these forms.

IF MARRIED OR SEPARATED:

• You must bring all of the items listed above for yourself AND your spouse. As long as you are legally married, spouse’s information is required even if separated.

You will get a bill if you do not have health insurance. If you have health insurance and showed us a current insurance card when you checked in, we will send the bill to your insurance company for you. If your health insurance does not pay the bill in full, you may get a bill for the amount left over.

The Clinic and Hospital Billing office for Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport Academic Medical Center is located at 1512 W. Kirby Place. Questions concerning bills for clinic and hospital services, including chemo billing, may be directed to (318) 654-6760. Questions about free care applications may be directed to (318) 626-1422.

The Patient Accounts Cashier window is located on the first floor of Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport Academic Medical Center. Ask for directions at the information desk.

Call (318) 654-6760 for questions concerning billing.

Physician billing questions may be directed to (318) 654-6760. You may mail this payment to the address listed on the bill or you may pay in person at The Patient Accounts Cashier window located on the first floor of Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport Academic Medical Center. Ask for directions at the information desk.

We must pay for the medicine, supplies and equipment we use to treat you. We also must pay the doctors, nurses and all the employees who care for you.

Yes. We will send the bill to Medicare if you have a current Medicare card. You may have to pay your Medicare deductible or co-payment. We will send the bill to Medicaid if you have a current Medicaid card. If you have a Medicaid Community Care card, you must bring a referral from your doctor to your appointment.

Your health insurance company may require you to pay a small fee now called a co-payment. If your illness is not covered by your health insurance policy, you may be asked to pay for your treatment in advance. If you do not have health insurance and you are not a Louisiana resident, you must pay a minimum $250.00 non-Louisiana Resident fee at each clinic visit.

We will send you a bill for the amount that your health insurance did not pay.

Please call our Credit Office at (318) 654-6760. We can help you arrange a payment plan. We also accept VISA and MasterCard for your convenience.

Yes. Medical bills are just like other bills you must pay. If you do not pay your bill, your account may be sent to a collection agency. Your credit report may also show that you did not pay the bill. If you believe you may qualify for free care, please contact Financial Counseling to receive a Free Care Application.

Financial Counseling for Inpatients:
Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport Academic Medical Center
7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. M-F
Room K1-9 located on the 1^st Floor of the main hospital.
No appointment is necessary.

Financial Counseling for Feist-Weiller Cancer Center Clinic patients:
Feist-Weiller Cancer Center
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. M-F
(318) 626-0239 phone
Room B-214 located on the 2^nd floor of Feist-Weiller Cancer Center
No appointment is necessary.