Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
All You Need to Know
Do you accept insurance?
NO, WE DO NOT ACCEPT INSURANCE FOR OUR FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE VISITS. Our office does not bill insurance. You may pay by check, credit card, or HSA debit card. Upon request, we can provide you with a copy of the superbill, which you can submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement for out-of-network care. The superbill is a detailed medical receipt containing procedure and diagnosis codes and the fees charged for your office visit. We cannot guarantee what reimbursement, if any, you may receive. We do not submit claims or call insurance companies directly. This is the responsibility of the patient. We DO NOT accept Medicare, Medical CHG or other GoV Medical Plans in our Functional Medicare Practice. Do you offer payment plans? No, we do not offer any payment plans at this time.
Why don’t you accept insurance?
Unfortunately, when doctors participate with insurance carriers, they enter into a contract that allows the insurance companies to dictate what services will be supplied, limiting the quality of care that we believe you deserve. As the costs of keeping a clinic running has continued to rise, reimbursement has fallen, forcing most doctors to see more and more patients a day, keeping office visits very brief. We believe this approach of seeing patients for shortened visit times does not allow us to create the personalized plan of care that is necessary in a functional or integrative approach. Most laboratory services provided by LabCorp or Quest can be billed directly to your insurance plans unless you don’t have out- of-network coverage. For those that do not have good lab coverage we have partnered with LabCorp and negotiated a lower, fixed lab cost for our routine blood work labs. Most have found that this cost is less than their copay for the same tests. It also gives us the freedom to order a more comprehensive workup without concern for a denial of coverage, as the labs are paid for upfront. Some specialty labs may not be covered by your insurance plans. Please check with your insurance company regarding deductibles and reimbursement for out-of-network labs. It is not the responsibility of Functional Health Institute to understand your individual insurance coverage.
Who is a typical Functional Medicine patient?
Anybody who wants to take control of their health! Patients vary in complexity and health goals. We help people with complex chronic diseases such as autoimmune disease, diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, heart disease, arthritis, ulcerative colitis, thyroid disease, depression, and anxiety (to name a few) to approach their disease with the goal of healing from the inside out. Many patients can tailor their medications to this instance. We collaborate with the patient’s primary care physician and specialists before discontinuing medications. We also assist patients who are otherwise healthy but “don’t feel right”. These patients may have seen multiple doctors, and their labs are all normal. However, they are still plagued with fatigue, insomnia, mood disorders, brain fog, etc. We use our advanced diagnostic testing to get to the underlying cause of these issues.
What do treatments entail?
Our treatment focuses on lifestyle intervention, focusing on nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress reduction. Herbals and nutraceuticals/supplements may be prescribed to help support your body based on personalized needs. Prescription medication may also be prescribed, depending on disease and symptom severity. This truly holistic approach incorporates both eastern and western options. The patient’s goals and preferences overall direct it within the context of safety and efficacy for the health concerns being addressed. A trusting relationship between patient and practitioner is paramount and a precious tool available to promote health and healing. Time is spent cultivating this relationship to build mutual trust and respect.
Are you my primary physician?
NO, You are required to have a primary care physician. Dr. Reddy and Dr Bianca Snaed offer functional medicine consultation only and do not function as your primary care physician. You must have a primary care physician for yearly physicals, wellness visits, and after-hours or urgent care purposes. We do not respond to urgent requests of any sort, including messages or phone calls; you must have a primary care doctor for this purpose.