Frequently Asked Questions
Our Practice
What is Functional Medicine?
Functional medicine is a personalized, patient-centered approach to healthcare that considers how different aspects of your health may be connected.
Rather than focusing only on individual symptoms, practitioners take time to understand your medical history, lifestyle, environment, and other factors that may contribute to your health concerns.
At Functional Medicine Collaborative, we work in partnership with patients to investigate potential contributing factors and develop individualized care plans that may include nutrition, lifestyle recommendations, laboratory testing, and other treatments when appropriate.
Is Functional Medicine right for everyone?
Functional medicine may be appropriate for many people, particularly those experiencing chronic, complex, or ongoing health concerns, or those seeking a more individualized approach to their health.
However, functional medicine is not a replacement for emergency medical treatment, routine primary care, or specialized medical services when needed.
Our approach often involves active patient participation, including recommended changes to nutrition, lifestyle, and other aspects of care.
If you're unsure whether our services are appropriate for your needs, we encourage you to schedule a complimentary 20-minute consultation or visit our Is Our Practice Right for You? page.
How do I know which practitioner to see?
Many times, patients come to us with a referral for a certain practitioner, but if you are not sure, we can guide you based on your specific health needs during your free 20-minute consultation call.
Can you be my Primary Care Physician (PCP)?
No. Functional Medicine Collaborative does not provide primary care services.
We encourage all patients to maintain a relationship with a primary care provider for routine preventive care, annual examinations and medical concerns outside the scope of our practice.
Our practitioners can work alongside your primary care provider and other specialists to support a coordinated approach to your healthcare.
How do I know you can help me?
Many of our patients come to us after seeing multiple healthcare providers and continuing to experience symptoms or unanswered questions.
Our practitioners take time to review your health history, previous testing, symptoms, and other factors that may be contributing to your concerns. We look at how different aspects of your health may be connected and develop an individualized plan based on your needs.
While we cannot guarantee specific results, we offer a complimentary 20-minute consultation to help you determine whether our approach and services may be appropriate for you.
You can also visit our Is Our Practice Right for You? page to learn more about the patients we work with and when another type of care may be more appropriate.
How soon will I feel better?
Every patient's experience is different, and the time it takes to notice improvements depend on several factors, including your health history, the conditions being addressed, and your individual response to treatment.
Some patients notice changes relatively early, while others with more complex or longstanding health concerns may require additional time and ongoing care.
Our practitioners work with you to establish realistic goals, monitor your progress, and adjust recommendations as appropriate. While improvements cannot be guaranteed, our goal is to help you make meaningful progress toward better health.
What do I need before I come to see you?
Intake Form: You will complete an extensive intake form. Please take your time and give us as detailed information as possible, including dates.
Labs and/or Tests: You do not need to complete any labs or tests prior to your visit with us. Once we meet, we will review any labs you have already completed and determine what testing we may still recommend.
Please send us any labs or specialty testing you have completed in the past year.
Do I need to fill out everything online?
Yes. Functional Medicine Collaborative uses the Charm Health patient portal for new patient paperwork, medical records, and communication.
We ask patients to complete their required intake forms online before their first appointment, so their practitioner has time to review their health information.
If you have difficulty accessing the portal, completing your forms, or uploading medical records, please contact our office. Our team can help you navigate the process.
How to sign up for the patient portal
Functional Medicine Collaborative uses the Charm Health patient portal for new patient forms, medical records, and secure communication.
To register for your patient portal:
Open the invitation link sent to your email.
Enter the patient's date of birth.
Create a password and complete the required security verification.
Accept the portal's privacy policy and terms.
Enter the verification code sent to your email to complete registration.
Once registered, you can use the portal to complete forms, access available records, and communicate with our office.
Having Trouble Registering?
Check your spam or junk folder if you haven't received your invitation or verification email. Avoid repeatedly refreshing the verification page, as this may invalidate previous codes.
For additional assistance, visit Charm Health's Patient Portal Registration instructions or contact our office.
What if I have questions in between visits?
If you have a brief, nonurgent question about your treatment plan, please send a message through the Charm Health patient portal.
Please allow up to 2 business days for a response. Messages are reviewed Monday through Friday during regular business hours, excluding holidays.
Questions involving new symptoms, medication changes, laboratory results, or more complex medical concerns may require a follow-up appointment.
Our patient portal is not monitored continuously and should not be used for urgent or emergency medical concerns. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or seek emergency medical care.
Financials
Why does it cost so much?
At Functional Medicine Collaborative, appointments are designed to provide time for a thorough discussion of your health concerns, medical history, previous testing, and treatment goals.
Our practitioners bring specialized training and clinical experience to their work. In addition to the time spent with you during your appointment, they may review medical records, research relevant clinical information, and develop individualized recommendations.
This approach requires additional time and preparation, which is reflected in our appointment fees.
We understand that healthcare costs are an important consideration and encourage patients to discuss financial concerns with our office before scheduling.
What are the other costs?
In addition to appointment fees, patients may have expenses related to laboratory testing, supplements, or other recommended treatments.
Laboratory Testing
Some laboratory tests may be covered by insurance, while others may involve out-of-pocket costs. If you have concerns about testing expenses, please let our office know before completing your testing. We may be able to offer more affordable direct-pay options for certain tests.
Specialty Testing
Specialty laboratories have different payment requirements. Some bill insurance, while others require payment directly from the patient. Certain tests also require specialized blood draw services, which may involve an additional collection fee.
Supplements
Your practitioner may recommend supplements as part of your treatment plan, but they are not always necessary. Supplement costs are separate from appointment fees.
We encourage patients to discuss financial concerns with their practitioner so that recommendations can take their individual circumstances and budget into consideration.
What if I can't afford it all at once?
We understand that healthcare expenses can add up, especially when laboratory testing, supplements, or additional treatments are recommended.
If cost is a concern, please let your practitioner know. They can discuss which recommendations are most important, whether certain steps can be approached gradually, and whether more affordable testing or treatment options are available.
Our office may also be able to offer lower direct-pay pricing for certain laboratory tests that are not covered by insurance.
We encourage patients to discuss financial concerns openly so we can help them make informed decisions about their care.
Why don't you accept insurance?
Functional Medicine Collaborative operates as a self-pay practice so our practitioners can dedicate the time needed to understand each patient's health history, concerns, and individual treatment needs.
Our appointments often involve detailed medical history reviews, discussion of previous testing, and the development of individualized care recommendations. This approach may require more time than is typically covered by standard insurance reimbursement structures.
Although we do not accept insurance or bill insurance companies directly for appointments, we can provide a superbill upon request. You may submit this documentation to your insurance company for possible out-of-network reimbursement.
Patients are responsible for verifying their out-of-network benefits and submitting claims to their insurance company. Reimbursement is not guaranteed.
Can I pay in installments?
No. In order to keep costs down we are a lean practice operating at a bare minimum of administrative support. We do not offer financing due to the administrative overhead this requires.
Can I use my HSA?
Many patients are able to use their Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to pay for eligible medical expenses, including certain appointments and laboratory testing.
Eligibility depends on the type of service or treatment and the rules governing your account. Some supplements and wellness services may not qualify.
We recommend checking with your HSA or FSA administrator before your appointment to confirm which expenses are eligible.
Our office can provide an itemized receipt upon request.