A really great trick I learned is to use the 3 way calling feature of your phone. Call the insurance company, go through the please go away don't bother us menu system (now with voice recognition!), wait on hold for an agent, speak with the agent and tell them you are going to conference in your doctor's billing department, and call your doctor. Have them speak directly with each other.

This is also usually necessary to find out if something will be covered.