A second opinion is a valuable tool when you are faced with difficult health circumstances and choices regarding your treatment options. In fact, second opinions are quite common throughout the health care industry, and are frequently utilized by treating physicians to assist in providing the best care possible for a patient's health status.

Depending on where you live, your mobility, or your availability for travel, your accessibility to highly specialized care may be limited. The Johns Hopkins Gastroenterology and Hepatology Remote Second Opinion program brings some of the world's foremost expert gastroenterologists quickly and directly to you and your physician without requiring you to spend time and money on traveling.

Other reasons for considering a remote second opinion from Johns Hopkins Gastroenterology & Hepatology include:

• Assistance in selecting the best treatment option for you.
• Desire for more information on other treatment options available for your condition.
• Confirmation of your physician's treatment recommendation.

The cost of a Gastroenterology Remote Second Opinion is $550.00.
If a Pathology interpretation is required, there is an additional cost of $200.00.
If a Radiology interpretation is required, there is an additional cost of $200.00.

Payment is due at the time of the request. Major credit cards (Mastercard, Visa, American Express and Discover) are the accepted means of payment. A receipt for services will be mailed to you approximately 5 business days after payment is received.

Once your credit card has been charged and work has begun on reviewing your medical history to render an opinion, we cannot cancel your request to discontinue your second opinion. Please let us know if there are extenuating circumstances.

The Johns Hopkins Gastroenterology & Hepatology Remote Second Opinion Program is a self-pay service. At this time, most health plans do not cover a remote second opinion, although there is increasing interest in doing so. You may contact your insurance carrier to inquire of your benefit coverage for a remote second opinion; however, Johns Hopkins Gastroenterology & Hepatology will not file a claim with your insurance carrier.

Johns Hopkins Gastroenterology & Hepatology desires to preserve the relationship you have with your local physician. As such, we seek to partner with him/her to provide the best care, locally, for you. A copy of your personalized second opinion will be sent to your physician for his/her records as well as for discussion at your next appointment.

Request a Remote Second Opinion

To view a sample patient case and the Johns Hopkins remote second opinion, please click here.

Yes. The service that Johns Hopkins Gastroenterology & Hepatology offers is designed to complement the care you receive from your local, licensed physician. Johns Hopkins desires to preserve that relationship, as well as the relationship between the Johns Hopkins physician and your physician. We also believe the benefits of your remote second opinion are maximized when your local, licensed physician is included in the communication of our assessment and opinion, which means that you continue to receive the best care possible. Additionally, many states require the involvement of your local physician when consulting with an out-of-state physician. In an effort to adhere to state laws, Johns Hopkins requires your physician's permission.

We cannot offer remote second opinions to patients who are residents of or have current mailing addresses in Iowa, Louisiana and Maine. Johns Hopkins Gastroenterology & Hepatology abides by state laws governing the practice of medicine in these states. If you are a resident of these states and wish to have a second opinion from a Johns Hopkins gastroenterologist, we are happy to assist you in making an appointment to be seen at one of our offices in the Baltimore, Maryland, metropolitan area. Please call (410) 955-4166.

All international requests are coordinated by Johns Hopkins International; please visit www.jhintl.net for more information.

X-ray films/scans will be returned to you via overnight courier within two weeks of the completion of your remote second opinion. Paper medical records will not be returned; this is why we advise you to make copies before sending them to Johns Hopkins.

All materials and correspondence should be sent to:

Johns Hopkins Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Remote Second Opinion Program
2360 West Joppa Road / Ste 205
Lutherville, Maryland 21093
(410) 616-7361 / phone
(410) 616-7351 / fax
Note: Please do not send your request for remote second opinion via facsimile.