Frequently Asked Questions
“We value you and your health”
Welcome to our functional medicine FAQ. We understand that there are many options and choices when it comes to health care, and we want to make sure we do everything in our power to make your healing journey as efficient and seamless as possible. We truly appreciate you trusting our office with your health or that of a family member. Below, our functional medicine FAQ covers the topics our patients ask about most, from new patient visits to insurance and treatment.
Getting Started
What is covered in the new patient appointment?
During this visit, the doctor will take time to review your health history, discuss your current concerns and goals in detail, and begin building a personalized plan tailored specifically to you. Depending on your situation, this may include a physical exam, recommendations for lab work or diagnostic testing, and education about nutraceuticals or other therapies that may support your care. You will leave your appointment with a clear understanding of your next steps.
On your first visit, your practitioner will spend up to 90 minutes with you. This fee does not include any medicines, diagnostics, other therapies or labs. Depending on your case, requested lab work will be an additional cost (anywhere from $20 up to $2,000, on average). These fees are highly variable due to our unique approach and NO ‘one size fits all’ model. Every patient’s care is tailored specifically to them. These fees will be discussed with you in advance.
What conditions do you treat?
Our practitioners take a functional medicine approach, meaning we look for the root cause of a wide range of health concerns rather than simply treating symptoms. Common concerns we support include hormone imbalances, thyroid and metabolic issues, digestive problems, chronic fatigue, autoimmune conditions, and general wellness and prevention. Because every patient’s case is different, the best way to find out if we are a good fit for your specific concern is to schedule a consultation with one of our practitioners or a complimentary consult with our new patient advocate to learn more before you schedule.
Do I need a referral to become a patient?
No referral is required. You are welcome to schedule a new patient appointment or a complimentary consultation directly with our office. If you are being referred by another provider, feel free to bring any relevant records or test results with you to your first visit.
What should I bring to my first appointment?
Please bring any medical information you have access to, such as a list of your current medications and supplements, and any relevant recent lab work or medical records. Completing your new patient intake paperwork ahead of time also helps us make the most of your first visit, so that time isn’t spent on paperwork instead of your care.
You may also find it helpful to bring a friend or family member with you, both to help recall details and as a second set of ears, since we typically cover a lot of information during your first two visits.
Insurance, Billing & Policies
Do you take insurance?
We are a fee-for-service office and are not contracted with any insurance providers. We’ve chosen this approach for several reasons:
We take a patient-centered approach. We spend as much time as necessary with each patient and don’t allow insurance companies to dictate how you should be treated. You get your practitioner’s undivided attention and exactly the care they feel you need at every visit. Whether that calls for a 15-minute appointment or a 90-minute one, it doesn’t matter what an insurance company says they’ll pay for — you get what your practitioner feels you need, not what your policy happens to cover.
In today’s healthcare climate, many offices that take insurance have a waiting list of patients. That means if you were treated poorly and left, there would be very little effect on that practice — in essence, you no longer have a vote. There’s a long line of other people trying to get in, simply because of their insurance coverage.
We don’t have that luxury. We have to do our very best for every single patient, every time. We rely on you and your great results so that you’ll refer your loved ones and friends to share in the same great experience. Without you, we wouldn’t be able to do what we love — help people get well. In a fee-for-service office, you always have a voice, and we’d like to keep it that way.
One benefit you may not have considered with a fee-for-service office is privacy. We work for you, not for a third-party company. Our conversations, notes, and your lab results — everything stays between us. The only time anything is ever released from our office to another is if you request it.
Can I use my insurance for labs or other testing that the doctor wants?
You sure can! We understand that you may have insurance and would like to utilize your benefits, however please understand that we cannot guarantee nor are we responsible for any future billings from your insurance provider. That contractual agreement is between you and your insurance company. We recommend you call your insurance company BEFORE your labs are drawn and processed to ensure they will be covered. There are some labs that do not participate in any insurance, and, in those instances, you would have to go through our office to get the best pricing possible. We also have contracted cash pricing with some of the larger blood labs to provide you with outstanding prices—you may want to check with us on our prices and see if we can save you money—we do provide national codes that you can take and attempt to submit to your insurance company.
Real world example (patients’ names removed for privacy):
Patient 1: Our cost for a prescribed blood work — $90.10
This patient decided to go through her insurance and was back billed nearly $1,100.00! This was for the SAME EXACT test. Since she had already processed it through the system, there was no turning back. She had to pay the amount.
Patient 2: Our cost for recommended blood work — $385.00
This patient, thankfully, called her insurance company and was able to get a quote before the blood draw. Below is a screen shot showing the estimate was over $2,000.00. The kicker was that this wasn’t even everything we recommended, and it included a discount!
Now, there are those times where insurance is very cooperative and patients do get coverage. This is rare and, normally, takes a lot of legwork on the patient’s part. All of our services are properly coded for submission to your insurance company in hopes for some coverage or that the charges can be applied to your deductible.
That being said, we do encourage our patients to utilize our office to benefit from specialty pricing that we have negotiated with the labs. We appreciate your business and also work towards getting you the best prices possible. Running labs through our office also allows us to closely monitor the processing of your chemistries and to fix any bumps in the road BEFORE you come to your next appointment. It also ensures the particular tests that are needed will be run and helps prevent further delays in your care.
What is the cancellation policy at Gateway Natural Medicine? (subject to change without notice)
We understand that life happens and plans can change unexpectedly. If you need to reschedule, please call our office as soon as you know so we can find a time that works better for you and offer your original appointment to another patient who may be waiting to be seen.
Your appointment time is reserved just for you. A late cancellation or missed visit leaves a hole in the practitioner’s day that could have been filled by another patient. As such, we require 48 hours notice for any cancellations or changes to your appointment. Patients who provide less than 48 hours notice or miss their appointment will be charged a cancellation fee. This cancellation fee can be found in your new intake paperwork, or you can call our office for the most up-to-date information.
A credit card will be required to schedule all future appointments and will be charged the full cost if the appointment is not cancelled/rescheduled within the 48 business hours notice policy. Please see the new patient paperwork for a full explanation of our cancellation policy.
Treatment & Care
Can I buy some of the doctor’s recommended nutraceuticals online?
We do have many convenient options to shop online directly from our manufacturers and suppliers. This ensures you are getting the exact products and compounds your clinician is recommending.
Check out our online store.
We do not recommend purchasing from other third parties for the following reasons:
The recommendations that have been prescribed by your doctor are very specific. Any change to this could alter your care and the results that were expected. This could, ultimately, prolong your care, cause unforeseen reactions and cost you more money in the long run.
We have contracted DIRECTLY with the manufactures or their authorized distributors to source these nutraceuticals and natural medicine compounds. That means if anything happens (broken seal, damaged product etc.), WE will take care of it for you. You are not held responsible, and we will replace the product at no extra charge. This also ensures that the natural medicine compounds we carry are the “freshest” they have to offer, with the longest shelf life and highest potency possible.
There are fraudulent nutrients, believe it or not, and counterfeit products sold on Amazon, eBay, etc. The counterfeit companies have researched the most sought-after brands and created copies with suboptimal levels or even harmful additives. Some companies will even acquire expired products and sell them as “new”, once again lowering their potency or potentially causing a harmful effect.
We want to concentrate on you and make sure you get the absolute best healthcare we have to offer. Healthcare should be a relationship between you and your doctor — no one or nothing else. Please do not hesitate to ask any questions. Our friendly staff is here to help.
Do you prescribe medications?
Yes. We will do anything and everything possible to get you better in the safest, most efficient way possible, including pharmaceuticals when appropriate. Our approach is natural first, but there is a time and place for certain medications. Ultimately, the decision is yours. We are here to investigate and educate, but at the end of the day, you are the boss. We will always make sure you have informed consent so you can make the decision that is right for you.
How long until I see results?
Every patient’s timeline is different depending on their health history and the concerns being addressed. Some patients notice improvements within the first few weeks, while more complex or long-standing issues may take several months of consistent care to fully resolve. Your practitioner will discuss a realistic timeline with you based on your specific case during your appointment.