Frequently Asked Questions

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Functional medicine is an approach that addresses the root causes of diseases and focuses on treating the whole person rather than just the symptoms. It emphasizes personalized and integrative care. 

We specialize in providing care for adults experiencing gastrointestinal issues, hormonal concerns, and weight loss challenges. Common ailments we address encompass fatigue, vitamin deficiencies, food sensitivities, gastrointestinal infections or dysbiosis, hormonal imbalances, autoimmune illnesses, and cardiometabolic concerns such as obesity, insulin resistance, and prediabetes. 

While having a membership plan instead of accepting health insurance may not be common for healthcare providers, I believe there are many benefits to this type of service. Here are several reasons: 

1. Customizable Care and Enhanced Patient Experience: Tailoring services to individual patient needs and spending extended time with them during appointments fosters a more personalized and effective approach to healthcare. This allows for a deeper understanding of patients' concerns and a more thorough exploration of their health conditions, and more time to ensure adequate understanding of the information received. 
2. More Control Over Services: By not being bound to low-paying reimbursement models, we have the freedom to offer a wider range of services that may not be covered by traditional health insurance. This is particularly relevant for specialized areas such as weight loss and functional medicine were medication, supplements, and labs may not be covered.
3. No Denials, Claim Disputes, or Prior Authorizations: Eliminating the bureaucratic hurdles associated with insurance claims and approvals streamlines the healthcare process. This can result in a more efficient and less burdensome experience for both healthcare providers and patients.

Certainly! We encourage and value the role of medical insurance, particularly in supporting preventative care and essential screenings, as mentioned earlier. Additionally, it serves as a crucial safety net for unforeseen medical emergencies. For patients with Medicare, please be aware that signing an ABN form is necessary to access our programs. You can conveniently find this form within the patient portal when booking your appointment. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. 

To enhance our community's well-being, we're expanding our services to include Direct Primary Care through a functional medicine lens. While prioritizing functional medicine, we'll also provide additional preventive screening services usually covered by primary insurance. Though we don't accept insurance, it's essential to prioritize your preventative exams. As a telemedicine practice, we collaborate with specialty clinics to ensure comprehensive screening tests and preventive exams are ordered, fostering a collaborative approach to your healthcare. If you wish to use insurance for these exams, we will assist you in this to the best of our ability. 

While our service models may offer different appointment times, rest assured that we allocate adequate time to address all your concerns. Initial patient intake sessions typically last around 60+ minutes, allowing for a comprehensive discussion. Follow-up appointments are designed to be efficient yet thorough, with durations ranging between 30-45 minutes. Our goal is to ensure your healthcare needs are met with the attention and time they deserve. 

At Eden, we've established a valuable partnership with Rupa Health, providing you with direct-to-patient lab access. Once prescribed by your healthcare provider, labs are conveniently dispatched directly to your doorstep. If blood samples are required, scheduling a lab draw appointment with a local lab company or hospital organization in your area is a straightforward process. You can use Rupa's phlebotomy tracker or contact any local lab company to set it up. Simply take your kit to the designated draw station, where professionals will skillfully collect the necessary blood samples. Afterward, carefully package and ship the completed labs via UPS or FedEx, following the provided shipping label, manufacturer's instructions, and including any required frozen cold packs.

Please note that certain draw stations may charge an additional phlebotomy fee, beyond our control, typically ranging from $40 to $60. Rupa strives to simplify the process and can even provide FSA and HSA reimbursement forms if needed.

If you wish to use insurance for some labs, we may be able to facilitate this; however, we cannot guarantee lab pricing, and you may incur additional charges.

*Now offering lab shops and direct-to-consumer lab processing without an order. A provider will follow up with you and provide an in-depth assessment of your labs and direct you toward any necessary follow up.

Results in functional medicine can vary widely based on the individual and the specific health concern. It's important to understand that functional medicine is a holistic and long-term approach to health. Some individuals may experience significant changes within a few months, while others may notice more gradual improvements as we delve into the underlying causes of their health concerns. For our weight loss programs, patients typically start seeing noticeable changes within 8-12 weeks. Our commitment is to work collaboratively with each individual to achieve sustainable and positive health outcomes. 

At Eden, safeguarding your privacy is our top priority. We want to assure you that all the systems we utilize in patient care, including our booking, charting, communication, video conferencing software, online fax, patient portal, pharmacy portals, and lab ordering, are fully HIPAA-compliant. While we take pride in our stringent privacy measures, it's essential to acknowledge that, with the use of cyber technology, we cannot guarantee absolute immunity from potential breaches. Rest assured, we are dedicated to continually enhancing our security protocols to minimize any risks to your sensitive information. 

Patients have the ability to schedule, reschedule and cancel appointments via the patient portal.  However, if canceling or rescheduling within 24 hours of your scheduled appointment, you may subject to a full charge. Many payments are processed at the time of booking or on a recurring cycle at least 24 hours before your scheduled appointment. A time spot has been allotted to you, and unless there is an extenuating circumstance, you are responsible for the booked spot and any charges occurred.  If a refund deemed appropriate, the patient will be responsible for any "fee" associated with reporting funds electronically.   After two instances of missed or tardy appointments, our services may be subject to termination. 

Given the nature of our services, payments are required at the time of booking for individual appointments. For membership plans and weight loss programs, we recommend quarterly installments. If you've arranged a monthly payment plan through our scheduling system and have provided a card on file, your payments will be processed on a monthly schedule. Please note that late payments may incur a surcharge "processing fee". We do not take "tax", but this is for processing. 

For specialty labs, payment is collected at the time of ordering to ensure timely processing and follow-up with patients.

In the event that payments are not received, there is a possibility of being dropped from our services indefinitely.

Eden is primarily a telemedicine-based medical practice. We do have an office location with limited availability. If a face-to-face visit is necessary or desired for local clients, we have the ability to accommodate this on a case-by-case basis.