Preferred Medical Group 2026: Portal, Care & Locations

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East Alabama and West Georgia · Medical, behavioral and developmental care

Connect Every Member of Your Family With the Right Preferred Medical Group Service

Preferred Medical Group provides pediatric care, adult primary care, counseling, psychiatry, speech therapy and autism-focused services across the Phenix City, Auburn, Fort Mitchell, Opelika and Columbus area.

This guide explains what each location handles, how to register a newborn, child or adult, what the Healow portal can do, how same-day visits work, which office rules may affect your appointment, and how to apply for reduced fees when healthcare costs are difficult to manage.

Register a new patient Open patient portal Choose the right service
Confirm that this is your Preferred Medical Group. This guide covers the practice at preferredmedgroup.com serving East Alabama and the Columbus, Georgia area. An unrelated Michigan organization uses a similar name and a different patient portal, phone number and office system.
Do not wait for a portal reply during an emergency. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department for severe breathing difficulty, chest pain, possible stroke, uncontrolled bleeding, loss of consciousness, a severe allergic reaction, suicidal danger or another potentially life-threatening situation.
Regional network

Clinics and services across East Alabama and Columbus, Georgia.

Whole-family care

Newborn, pediatric, adult, senior and behavioral-health services.

New-patient review

Completed registration is normally reviewed within three business days.

Central contact

334-664-0463

Portal platform

Healow mobile app and eClinicalWorks desktop portal.

Start with the correct department

Which Preferred Medical Group service should you request?

PEDIATRICS Newborns, children and teenagers

Use pediatric care for newborn visits, well-child examinations, immunizations, school or sports physicals, acute illness and ongoing childhood health concerns.

Prepare: immunization history, medication bottles, school forms, custody documents and the name of every person authorized to bring the child.
ADULT PRIMARY CARE Young adults through seniors

Choose primary care for preventive examinations, new symptoms, diabetes, blood pressure, asthma, cholesterol, thyroid conditions and medication monitoring.

Prepare: all medication bottles, prior test results, pharmacy information, insurance cards and a list of your highest-priority concerns.
BEHAVIORAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL CARE Counseling, psychiatry, ABA and speech

Request this path when the primary concern involves emotional health, psychiatric medication, autism support, communication, behavior or developmental skills.

Prepare: previous assessments, school plans, medication history, therapy records, diagnosis documents and insurance authorization information.
Best first call: Explain the patient’s age, location, main concern and preferred service. Ask which office currently provides that service and whether the first appointment is medical, counseling, psychiatric, developmental or therapy-based.

Go directly to the patient task you need

The important policies and preparation steps are explained here so the official website is needed mainly for final registration, login, payment or scheduling actions.

Avoid the wrong portal

How to confirm that you found the Alabama and Georgia practice

This is the correct group when
  • Your clinic is in Phenix City, Auburn, Fort Mitchell or Opelika, Alabama.
  • Your ABA service is in Columbus, Georgia.
  • Your practice phone is 334-664-0463.
  • Your portal is connected to Healow and eClinicalWorks.
  • Your paperwork names Dr. Ritu Chandra or Preferred Medical Group.
Stop and recheck when
  • Your office is in Michigan or another state.
  • Your portal displays a different organization or provider group.
  • The phone number does not use the 334 area code.
  • The listed services do not include the Alabama and Georgia network.
  • The address does not match your appointment confirmation.
Location-count warning: Current official pages do not describe the Columbus sites consistently. The main homepage highlights five locations and lists Columbus ABA Services at 2301 Airport Thruway. An older About page also lists 101 Enterprise Court in Columbus. Confirm the exact Georgia destination before driving or sending records.
Regional location guide

Preferred Medical Group locations and the care each office emphasizes

Addresses, service focus and local preparation tips
Location Address Services emphasized Best preparation step
Phenix City 3700 South Railroad Street, Suite A
Phenix City, AL 36867 		Pediatrics, adult primary care, counseling and psychiatry for children and adults. Confirm whether the appointment is pediatric, adult, counseling or psychiatry because arrival rules and forms may differ.
Auburn 318 Samford Village Court, Suite 100
Auburn, AL 36830 		Adult primary care, preventive care, chronic-disease management, women’s health, geriatric care and psychiatry. This location emphasizes adult care. Confirm pediatric availability elsewhere when scheduling for a child.
Fort Mitchell 2 Gilmore Road
Fort Mitchell, AL 36856 		Pediatrics, adult primary care, counseling, psychiatry and speech therapy. Military families should bring current TRICARE information, referral details and the sponsor information required by the plan.
Opelika 5809 US-280
Opelika, AL 36804 		Pediatrics, adult primary care and psychiatry for children and adults. Ask whether your chosen provider works at Opelika on the requested day rather than assuming every service is available daily.
Columbus ABA Services 2301 Airport Thruway, Suite F-4
Columbus, GA 31904 		Applied Behavior Analysis and autism or developmental support. Confirm assessment requirements, diagnosis documentation, insurance authorization and expected therapy schedule before the first visit.
Local routing tip: The closest office may not be the correct office. Auburn emphasizes adult primary care, Columbus emphasizes ABA, and Fort Mitchell specifically lists speech therapy alongside medical and behavioral care.
Hours are not described consistently across all official pages. The practice advertises Saturday appointments and one late clinic evening during the school year, but current pages conflict over whether that evening is Tuesday or Thursday. Call or text 334-664-0463 to verify your location’s current schedule.
Open current location directory Call or text 334-664-0463
New-patient workflow

How to register a newborn, child or adult patient

Select the correct registration packet The official registration page separates Family Practice, Pediatric and Newborn registration. Choose the packet that matches the patient’s age and intended department.
Complete every required section Do not leave questions blank. The practice specifically instructs patients to enter “N/A” when a question does not apply or the answer is unknown.
Enter legal identity information accurately Use the patient’s full legal name, date of birth, current address and contact details exactly as they appear on insurance and identification documents.
List primary and secondary insurance Include both plans before receiving care. Missing insurance information can prevent the practice from filing the claim and may leave the patient responsible for the charge.
Add medical and medication history Include diagnoses, allergies, surgeries, hospitalizations, current medicines, prescribing providers and the preferred pharmacy.
Upload or arrange supporting records Pediatric patients may need immunization records. Behavioral, speech or ABA patients may need previous evaluations, school documents or therapy records.
Submit the completed packet The registration page lists registration@preferredmedgroup.com for completed forms and registration questions.
Allow up to three business days for review The New Patient Coordinator states that completed registrations are reviewed and the family is contacted within three business days to discuss next steps.
Registration is not the same as a confirmed appointment. A submitted packet must still be reviewed. Do not arrive assuming a time has been reserved unless the practice has confirmed the appointment.
New-patient follow-up script
“I submitted a completed [newborn, pediatric or family-practice] registration for [patient name] on [date]. Can you confirm that it was received, whether anything is missing, which location and provider are appropriate, and what the next scheduling step will be?”
Open official registration forms Email registration department
Schedule the correct visit type

How to request a Preferred Medical Group appointment

Identify the patient’s age and service State whether the patient needs pediatrics, adult primary care, counseling, psychiatry, ABA therapy or speech therapy.
Describe the main reason in one sentence Give enough information for safe routing without sending a long medical history through unsecured email.
Choose the preferred location Ask whether that location actually provides the requested service and whether another office has earlier availability.
Verify new-patient status The practice advertises appointments within one week of registration, but timing still depends on registration completion, service, provider and insurance requirements.
Confirm insurance participation Read the complete plan, product and network name from the insurance card. Do not rely only on a company logo shown online.
Ask about authorization or referral Psychiatry, counseling, ABA, speech therapy and specialty evaluations may have different authorization requirements from ordinary primary care.
Ask what is due before the patient is seen Copays and coinsurance are required before the visit when the insurance policy assigns those amounts.
Save the appointment details Record the provider, service, address, arrival time, cancellation deadline and paperwork required.
Appointment request script
“I need an appointment for a [newborn, child, adult or senior] for [main concern]. We prefer the [location] office. My insurance is [full plan and network]. Which provider and appointment type are appropriate, what documents should we bring, and what amount may be due before the patient is seen?”
Call or text

334-664-0463

The contact page says messages are generally returned within one business day.

Appointment email

appointments@preferredmedgroup.com

Use for non-urgent appointment communication. Do not send emergency symptoms by email.

Acute illness workflow

How same-day sick appointments and after-hours calls work

Call at 8 a.m.

The office policy recommends calling at 8 a.m. when the patient is sick so staff can arrange an appropriate same-day evaluation.

Expect triage questions

A nurse may ask about symptoms, severity, duration, age, medical history and emergency warning signs before assigning the visit.

Availability may require flexibility

The patient may need to see another provider, use another PMG location or wait for an opening.

What to tell the scheduler

Patient’s age and location
Main symptom and start time
Highest temperature when relevant
Breathing, hydration or alertness changes
Medicines already given
Recent exposure, injury or test result
Pregnancy status when relevant
Ability to travel to another office
After-hours service: The practice states that urgent after-hours calls are routed to an answering service that contacts a provider. This service is not a substitute for examination, and providers normally cannot diagnose or prescribe safely without evaluating the patient.
Use emergency services immediately when needed. Do not wait for an after-hours callback when the patient has severe breathing trouble, chest pain, stroke symptoms, major trauma, uncontrolled bleeding, a dangerous overdose, loss of consciousness or immediate risk of self-harm.
Service comparison

What the major Preferred Medical Group departments actually do

Department, common needs and first-visit preparation
Department Common reasons for care What to prepare
Pediatrics Newborn care, well-child visits, immunizations, illness visits, physicals, development and pediatric behavioral concerns. Immunization records, growth or hospital records, medications, custody documents and school or daycare forms.
Adult primary care Annual wellness care, acute illness, diabetes, hypertension, asthma, heart disease, cholesterol, thyroid care and medication monitoring. Every medication bottle, recent laboratory results, home readings, pharmacy details and prior specialist records.
Counseling Emotional stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, family concerns, coping, resilience and behavioral challenges. Treatment goals, prior therapy history, current safety concerns, school or family context and insurance authorization.
Psychiatry Psychiatric evaluation, diagnosis, medication management and complex mood, anxiety, trauma or behavioral conditions. Complete medication history, past diagnoses, hospital records, therapy notes and previous psychiatric testing.
ABA therapy Communication, social interaction, daily living skills, positive behavior development and reduction of challenging behavior. Autism or developmental evaluation, insurance authorization, school plan, behavioral history and caregiver goals.
Speech therapy Speech production, language, communication, developmental needs and selected adult communication concerns. Previous speech evaluation, hearing information, school plan, developmental history and specific communication examples.
Coordinated-care advantage: Preferred Medical Group describes a team-based model in which medical, mental-health and developmental providers can coordinate care. Patients should still ask what information will be shared and sign any authorization required for outside schools, therapists or specialists.
Pediatric visit preparation

What parents and guardians should know before a child’s appointment

Bring the child’s complete immunization history
Bring the parent or guardian’s valid photo ID
Bring custody or guardianship documents when applicable
List adults authorized to bring the child
Bring every prescription and over-the-counter medicine
Bring the required school, camp or sports form
Schedule each child who needs examination
Tell staff about smoke, asthma or allergy triggers

Immunization policy

The office policy states that pediatric patients must receive state-mandated vaccinations. Parents should provide all available immunization records before or at the first appointment.

Missing vaccine records can create a second visit. The clinician may complete the wellness examination but postpone vaccinations until the team can confirm the child’s previous doses and correct schedule.

Custody and authorized caregivers

First appointment

A parent or legal guardian must accompany the child and bring identification that can be scanned into the chart.

Another adult brings the child

The adult must be listed as authorized on the registration form and should expect identity verification.

Custody is not shared equally

Bring the custody agreement or legal document showing authority to make medical decisions and receive information.

Several children need care

Schedule an appointment for each child rather than adding an unscheduled sibling’s medical concern during another child’s visit.

Household pediatric policy: The official policy states that pediatric children in the same household are expected to receive care through the same Preferred Medical Group provider group. Families should ask how this applies when siblings have different insurance or specialty needs.
Adult and senior care

How to get more value from an adult primary-care appointment

1
Bring medication bottles

The practice strongly requests the actual bottles, not only a handwritten list, so strength, directions and prescriber can be confirmed.

2
Bring home measurements

Include blood-pressure readings, glucose logs, weight changes, symptom timing or other measurements relevant to the visit.

3
Separate preventive and problem needs

Ask how a new symptom evaluated during a wellness appointment may affect documentation, visit length and insurance cost sharing.

Adult-care needs and useful information to bring
Need Useful preparation Question to ask
Diabetes Glucose readings, medication bottles, diet concerns and recent eye or foot information. Which laboratory tests and follow-up interval are needed?
High blood pressure Home readings with dates, times, cuff type and symptoms. Should medication be taken before laboratory testing or the next visit?
Thyroid care Current dose, timing, supplements and previous laboratory results. Should the blood test occur before or after the daily dose?
Senior care All medicines, falls, memory concerns, mobility changes and caregiver observations. Which medicines or combinations increase dizziness, confusion or fall risk?
New symptom Start date, severity, pattern, triggers and treatments already tried. Which warning signs should lead to urgent or emergency care?
Mental-health care routing

Choose counseling, psychiatry or coordinated medical care

COUNSELING Talk-based therapeutic support

Counseling may help patients work through anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, family concerns, behavioral patterns, coping skills and life transitions.

Ask about: therapist specialty, age range, session frequency, family participation and telehealth availability.
PSYCHIATRY Medical evaluation and medication

Psychiatry is appropriate when the patient may need diagnostic medical assessment, psychiatric medication or management of a more complex condition.

Bring: every psychiatric medicine, previous medication response, diagnoses, testing and hospitalization records.
PRIMARY CARE COORDINATION Physical and emotional health together

Medical symptoms, sleep, pain, thyroid disease, medication effects and other physical factors may affect emotional health and should be considered.

Ask whether primary care and behavioral providers need permission to share treatment information.
Immediate safety concerns require immediate action. Call 911 or use a crisis service when a person may act on suicidal thoughts, has a plan or means, is threatening serious harm, cannot remain safe or is experiencing a dangerous medical or psychiatric emergency.
Mental-health arrival rule: The office policy states that patients arriving more than 10 minutes late for a mental-health appointment may need to reschedule. Arrive early enough to complete screening and consent forms.
Developmental and communication support

How to prepare for ABA therapy or speech therapy

ABA therapy may focus on
  • Functional communication
  • Social interaction
  • Daily living and self-care skills
  • Positive behavior development
  • Reduction of dangerous or disruptive behavior
  • Parent and caregiver training
Speech therapy may focus on
  • Speech sound development
  • Understanding and using language
  • Functional communication
  • Social communication
  • Developmental communication needs
  • Selected adult communication difficulties

Documents that may prevent an authorization delay

Diagnostic evaluation
Insurance card and benefit information
Primary-care referral when required
School IEP or developmental plan
Previous ABA or speech evaluation
Hearing test when relevant
Behavior and communication examples
Caregiver priorities and practical goals
Ask about the complete weekly commitment. Therapy may involve assessment, direct sessions, caregiver training, home practice and progress reviews. Confirm the likely schedule, attendance rules and caregiver participation before committing.
Healow and desktop access

What the Preferred Medical Group patient portal can do

T
Test results

Review laboratory and test results that have been released to the portal.

$
Online payments

Review available billing information and make payments through the secure patient system.

M
Care-team messages

Send routine, non-emergency questions directly to the medical team.

Rx
Refill requests

Request a routine prescription refill, subject to the provider’s medication and follow-up policies.

A
Appointments

View upcoming appointment information and available scheduling functions.

R
Available records

Access health information and recent records made available through the portal.

A portal result is not a complete interpretation. An abnormal flag does not explain severity, diagnosis or treatment by itself. Contact the ordering provider for context and next steps.
You cannot log in Ask the office to verify the patient’s legal name, birth date, email and mobile number before repeatedly resetting the password.
A child is not visible in your account Ask about parent or guardian proxy access rather than creating a duplicate chart or sharing credentials.
A result is missing The test may still be processing, awaiting provider review or not yet released to the portal.
You need the complete historical chart Submit a formal Medical Records Release Form because portal access may not include every document.
A refill is urgent Call the treating office. The practice discourages phone refill requests except in emergencies, but running out of an important medicine still requires direct clinical guidance.
The portal shows another organization Stop before entering health or payment information and verify the Preferred Medical Group name and patient identity.
Open official portal instructions Open desktop patient portal
Arrival and cancellation rules

Policies that can cause a visit to be delayed, rescheduled or charged

Official timing rules and likely consequence
Situation Official rule Likely consequence
Recommended arrival Arrive 10 minutes before the scheduled appointment. Provides time for identification, insurance, forms and payment.
Late primary-care arrival More than 15 minutes late. The appointment may need to be rescheduled.
Late mental-health arrival More than 10 minutes late. The appointment may need to be rescheduled.
Primary-care cancellation Provide at least 24 hours notice. Late cancellation or no-show may result in a $25 fee.
Mental-health cancellation Provide at least 48 hours notice. Late cancellation or no-show may result in a $50 fee.
Repeated no-shows Three no-shows may trigger practice action. PMG states that it may discharge the patient and family members from the practice.
Different departments have different deadlines. Do not assume the 24-hour primary-care rule applies to counseling or psychiatry. Mental-health appointments require 48 hours notice under the published policy.
Best prevention: Save the appointment in two calendars, set a reminder before the cancellation deadline and call as soon as transportation, school, work or illness may prevent attendance.
Prescription and refill policy

How to avoid running out of medication or losing an appointment

Bring every medication bottle Preferred Medical Group strongly requests actual bottles at appointments. Missing bottles can cause inaccurate medication reconciliation and may result in rescheduling.
Ask for refills during the visit Review how many doses remain and request enough refills to reach the required follow-up date.
Schedule the next reevaluation before leaving Some conditions require review every three months or sooner before additional refills are approved.
Do not rely on a pharmacy fax The published policy says faxed refill requests from pharmacies and mail-order services are not accepted.
Confirm the receiving pharmacy Check the pharmacy name, street location, medication, dose and quantity before leaving the office.
Allow documentation time Prescriptions are sent after the provider completes the visit and required documentation. Immediate pharmacy availability is not guaranteed.
Do not stop certain medicines suddenly without medical advice. Abruptly stopping psychiatric medicines, seizure medicines, steroids, insulin or other important treatments may be dangerous. Contact the treating office or urgent medical service for guidance.

Controlled-substance policy

The practice states that controlled medicines such as opioid pain medicines and benzodiazepines are not prescribed during an initial visit. Later consideration may require records and objective evidence from the previous prescriber, monitoring, drug screening and specialty referral.

Bring prior records before requesting continuation. A new provider is not required to continue another clinician’s medication. Arrange records, testing and prescribing history before the first appointment.
School, sports, work and disability forms

How Preferred Medical Group handles paperwork requests

Form type, timing and possible cost
Form Published process Possible delay or fee
Daycare, preschool, camp or sports form Bring the actual form to the child’s wellness examination. When no current well-child visit is needed, the practice lists a $5 fee and up to 48 hours processing.
Child not seen recently The chart must contain current information sufficient to complete the form. An appointment may be required if more than three months have passed since the last visit.
Employer, insurance or college form Adult patients should schedule an appointment for form completion. Published processing time is up to 48 hours after the required evaluation.
Disability paperwork The provider must have enough treatment history to evaluate the claimed condition. PMG states that providers cannot complete disability paperwork for a pre-existing condition during the first six months of treatment.
Form request script
“I need a [school, sports, employer, insurance or disability] form completed by [deadline]. Does the patient need an appointment, what records or testing are required, what fee applies, and when should I bring the original form?”
Bring the form instead of asking the office to find it. The pediatric policy specifically says the offices do not keep every daycare, preschool, camp or activity form.
Insurance and payment preparation

Plans, Medicaid, TRICARE, copays and billing questions

The official website displays insurers and programs including Aetna, BlueCross, Cigna, Humana, Medicare, CareSource, Peach State, Viva, WellCare, MultiPlan, Georgia Medicaid, TRICARE and UnitedHealthcare.

A logo does not guarantee coverage. Participation can differ by plan product, network, provider, state, location and service. ABA, speech therapy, psychiatry and primary care may have different authorization rules under the same insurance card.
Alabama Medicaid

The official insurance page states that Alabama Medicaid is accepted. Confirm provider assignment and service authorization.

Georgia Medicaid

The site specifically references Georgia Medicaid at the Columbus location. Verify the exact managed-care plan and ABA benefit.

Medicare

Medicare is listed, but Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage products may have different networks and authorization rules.

TRICARE

TRICARE is listed. Military families should confirm referral, authorization, sponsor and assigned-primary-care requirements.

Self-pay

Patients without insurance can receive care and may apply for the Sliding Fee Discount Program.

Payment methods

The insurance page lists major credit and debit cards and CareCredit. The office policy says checks are not accepted for copays and coinsurance.

What is due before the patient is seen?

The office policy states that required copayments and coinsurance must be paid before the appointment begins. Patients remain responsible for deductibles and balances not covered by insurance.

Insurance-verification script
“My plan is [complete insurer, product and network]. The patient will see [provider] at [location] for [medical, counseling, psychiatry, speech or ABA service]. Is the provider and service in network? Is prior authorization required, and what amount is due before the patient is seen?”
Billing questions

334-664-0463

Follow the billing prompt or request extension 3305 for out-of-network and billing questions.

Payment plans

The insurance page instructs patients to contact the billing department to discuss available payment-plan options.

Check current insurance information
Cost assistance

How the Sliding Fee Discount Program works

Preferred Medical Group states that the program is available to uninsured and underinsured patients. Eligibility is based on total household income and household size using current Federal Poverty Guidelines.

Request the application Ask the front desk, call the assistance extension or request help during registration.
List every household member Eligibility depends on household size as well as total income.
Provide proof of household income Examples listed by the practice include recent pay stubs, tax returns or other documents showing income.
Submit the application Applications can be submitted in person at a clinic or with staff assistance.
Wait for the eligibility determination The practice reviews the application and tells the patient which reduced fee applies.
Renew annually Sliding-fee eligibility must be renewed each year under the health-center policy.
At or below 100% of poverty guideline

Qualifying patients are charged a nominal fee for covered services.

Above 100%

Patients may receive a partial discount based on income and household size.

Services outside PMG

Outside laboratories, imaging and specialist services may not qualify because PMG does not provide them directly.

No-cost language help: The sliding-fee page states that language assistance is available without charge. Ask for assistance when completing the application or understanding eligibility documents.
Sliding-fee assistance

334-664-0463, extension 3309

Email

appointments@preferredmedgroup.com

Open sliding-fee instructions
Medical-record request

How to transfer or obtain Preferred Medical Group records

Complete a written release The patient or authorized representative must sign the Medical Records Release Form.
Identify exactly what is needed Request immunizations, growth charts, recent laboratory results, visit notes, medication history, behavioral records or the complete chart.
Add a useful date range A specific range can reduce unnecessary pages and help the receiving provider obtain the information needed for the next appointment.
Name the receiving physician or organization Include the complete recipient name, office, address and secure delivery information.
Allow up to 30 days The office policy states that providers may take up to 30 days after the signed authorization to release the records.
Ask for an interim summary when needed While the full request is processing, the practice states that it can provide a non-official immunization and laboratory record with a medical summary at no cost.
First physician transfer

One transfer of immunizations, growth charts and other records to another physician office is described as free.

Patient’s full copy

A standard fee permitted by Alabama law may apply when the patient requests a complete personal copy.

Additional requests

Further record requests may also create a charge under the published policy.

Pickup and delivery policy: The office says medical information should generally be picked up in person and that it prefers not to fax or email medical records. The secure patient portal can be used to review and print available appointment, laboratory and recent-visit information.
Records-status script
“I submitted a signed release on [date] for [record type and date range] to be sent to [recipient]. Can you confirm that the request is complete, the expected release date, whether a fee applies, and whether an interim immunization, laboratory or medical summary is available?”
Practical local shortcuts

Tips that can prevent a repeat trip across East Alabama or Columbus

01
Call at 8 a.m. for illness

The office policy specifically recommends an early call for same-day sick appointment routing.

02
Confirm the late-clinic day

Official pages conflict between Tuesday and Thursday. Verify the current schedule instead of relying on an older page.

03
Do not drive to the wrong Columbus address

The current homepage emphasizes the Airport Thruway ABA center, while an older About page also lists Enterprise Court.

04
Use Auburn mainly for adult needs

The Auburn page emphasizes adult primary care, seniors, women’s health, chronic care and psychiatry.

05
Use Fort Mitchell for nearby military-family access

The office is near Fort Moore’s back-gate area and specifically serves military families and veterans.

06
Bring bottles, not only a list

The medication policy warns that missing bottles can lead to inaccurate records or a rescheduled visit.

07
Bring the actual school form

The pediatric policy says the offices do not keep every school, daycare, camp or sports form.

08
Start records early

The published record-release window can extend to 30 days, so do not wait until the week of a specialist visit.

09
Ask for financial help before delaying care

The sliding-fee program accepts applications from uninsured and underinsured households and provides free language assistance.

Contact the correct department

Preferred Medical Group phone, email and fax directory

Contact method and best use
Need Contact Best use
Appointments and general routing 334-664-0463 New appointments, same-day care, location confirmation and department routing.
Text communication 334-664-0463 Non-emergency appointment communication supported by the practice.
Appointment email appointments@preferredmedgroup.com Non-urgent appointment questions and sliding-fee assistance.
New-patient registration registration@preferredmedgroup.com Submitting completed newborn, pediatric and family-practice packets.
Other non-medical matters contactus@preferredmedgroup.com General administrative questions and policy clarification.
Fax 334-408-6354 Use only when a PMG department specifically instructs you to fax a document.
Billing and out-of-network questions 334-664-0463, extension 3305 Balances, coverage, out-of-network questions and payment-plan discussion.
Sliding-fee help 334-664-0463, extension 3309 Applications, income documents, household questions and language assistance.
Ordinary email is not an emergency or secure clinical service. Do not send urgent symptoms, suicide-risk information, detailed medical records or sensitive identifiers through general email.
Regional clinic map

Preferred Medical Group service area map

The map centers on the Phenix City practice and nearby Alabama–Georgia service area. Always navigate using the exact address in the appointment confirmation because different services may be provided at different locations.

Before leaving home: Confirm the city, street address, suite, provider and service. This is especially important for Columbus appointments because the official site contains references to more than one Georgia address.
Patient questions answered

Preferred Medical Group frequently asked questions

Which Preferred Medical Group does this guide cover?

This guide covers the East Alabama and Columbus, Georgia practice at preferredmedgroup.com, not the unrelated Michigan organization.

What services are available?

The practice provides pediatrics, adult primary care, counseling, psychiatry, behavioral health, speech therapy and ABA therapy. Location and provider availability vary.

Is Preferred Medical Group accepting new patients?

Yes. The official site states that new patients are welcome. Completed newborn, pediatric and family-practice registrations are normally reviewed within three business days.

Can I get a same-day sick appointment?

Same-day sick visits are offered based on availability. The practice recommends calling at 8 a.m., and a triage nurse may review symptoms before scheduling.

What can I do through the Healow portal?

You can access released test results, pay bills, message the care team, request refills, view appointments and access available health-record information.

What is the cancellation deadline?

Primary-care appointments require 24 hours notice. Mental-health appointments require 48 hours notice.

What are the no-show fees?

The published fee is $25 for a primary-care no-show or late cancellation and $50 for a mental-health no-show or late cancellation.

Does Preferred Medical Group accept Medicaid or Medicare?

The official site lists Medicaid and Medicare. Alabama Medicaid is accepted, and Georgia Medicaid is specifically referenced for the Columbus location. Verify the exact managed-care product and service before scheduling.

Can uninsured patients receive a discount?

Uninsured and underinsured patients may apply for the Sliding Fee Discount Program. Eligibility is based on household income and household size.

How long can medical records take?

The office policy states that providers may take up to 30 days after receiving a signed Medical Records Release Form.

Final live actions

Official Preferred Medical Group patient tools

The major policies and preparation steps are explained above. Use the official website when you are ready to submit registration, sign into the portal, verify a provider, request an appointment or complete another live action.

New-patient registration Patient portal Find a provider Insurance and payment Sliding-fee program Current office policies Contact the practice
Independent patient-information notice:

USMedicalGroup.org is not Preferred Medical Group and cannot diagnose a condition, schedule an appointment, guarantee insurance coverage, approve financial assistance, prescribe medication, process a payment or release medical records.

Provider availability, office hours, insurance participation, fees, location services and policies can change. Confirm time-sensitive information directly with the practice before receiving care.

This article provides general educational information and does not replace advice from a qualified healthcare professional. Call 911 for a life-threatening emergency.

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