Frequently Asked Questions
Does NewLife Medicine accept insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare?
We do not accept or bill insurance, and we are not a participating provider in Medicaid or Medicare. 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 service. We recommend contacting your health insurance about your out-of-network benefits. Functional Medicine consultation services may or may not be covered by your insurance plan.
Many patients use their flex plan or HSA account to pay for services. However, we recommend contacting your FSA/HSA company/carrier for more information on how you can use these funds.
Will my medical insurance pay for my lab testing?
This depends on whether the lab accepts your insurance. It is your responsibility to contact the lab if you have any questions regarding insurance. Some lab companies will directly bill your insurance, and you may or may not be responsible for those fees, while others may provide you with an invoice to submit to your insurance. Most conventional labs are covered by insurance such as thyroid testing (TSH), CBC, CMP, vitamin D, iron levels, glucose, and cholesterol panel.
Functional lab tests are cutting edge and were designed to shed more light on the aspect of healing. These tests are important because they provide in-depth information that allow Dr. Samara to uncover your root cause of your health issues. Please note that functional lab testing is an integral part of our process to uncover the root cause of your health issues. Without these tests, we are guessing at best. If you are searching for answers as to why you feel the way you do, we believe in testing– not guessing. If you are on a limited budget, then there are still options available and testing can be scaled back.
What to expect at my initial consultation?
Expect to spend 2 hours at the office for your initial consultation, including check-in/check-out time. You will spend 1.5 hours face-to-face with Dr. Samara. The consultation fee includes time spent before your visit that Dr. Samara needs in order to review past lab results, paperwork, and intake forms. Your follow-up visits may be face-to-face, telemedicine, or by phone and usually will last 60 minutes depending on complexity and time to review lab work.
Is a deposit required for my initial consultation?
The consultation fee includes time spent before your visit that Dr. Samara needs in order to review past lab results, paperwork, and intake forms.
For new patients, a partial payment of the new patient consultation will be collected upon scheduling your first appointment. The remaining balance will be charged on the date of service of the new patient consultation.
What is the cancellation and no-show policy?
Because we provide time and individualized attention to all our appointments, we do not overbook our schedule. Our appointments are much longer than standard office visits and cancellations significantly affect our clinic. Therefore, there is a 72-hour cancellation policy. You may reschedule or cancel your appointment by messaging us in the patient portal or calling our office. If calling after hours, please leave a message with your name, date of birth, call back number, and date of your scheduled appointment. If you have 3 cancellations without proper notification or no-shows, you will be considered being discharged from our practice. As we value your time and commitment, we expect you to consider our time valuable as well.
New Patient Consultations: Your partial deposit will not be refunded if you cancel your initial consultation in less than 72 hours or are a no-show. If you provide at least 72 hours’ notice, then your deposit will be applied to your rescheduled appointment or refunded (upon request only).
Follow-Up Appointments: You will be charged a fee of $75 for cancellations less than 72 hours as well as no-shows.
When is payment expected?
Payment in full is expected at the time of service. If you have any questions, please talk to office staff prior to your appointment.
What forms of payment are accepted?
Our office accepts cash, checks, credit cards (MasterCard, Visa, Discover, American Express), FSA, HSA, or CareCredit for consultation services. When scheduling your initial consultation, a partial payment of the new patient consultation will be collected. On the day of your scheduled appointment, all charges will be itemized and reviewed with you. Payment in full is due on the day of service provided. Follow-up consultations will be billed to your credit card on file in our office unless you have provided a different payment method and instructions prior to your appointment. You may apply online with CareCredit.com to found out if qualify for financial services.
What is Functional Medicine?
Functional medicine aims to treat the root cause of diseases. This is one of the main reasons why functional medicine is a solution for chronic illnesses. Functional medicine physicians and staff interview the patient about their personal history and lifestyle choices. The physician utilizes specialized lab testing that is more advanced than standard testing to guide them in finding out the cause of the disease. Functional medicine treats the whole body and not just the symptoms. This allows the physician to offer treatment options based on an individual’s personal genetics and outside influences from the environment.
Patient-Centered Healing Approach
Functional medicine is a patient-oriented healing process. This branch of medicine acknowledges the fact that all individuals are unique from a genetic, chemical, and biological makeup. This is why the treatment plan varies greatly from one person to another. Functional medicine is based on the principle that the human body has a dynamic self-regulating capability. The body can restore balance between all the body systems; sometimes, it just needs help.
Meets Patients’ Unique Needs
Functional medicine brings the patient and the medical practitioner together. Each aspect of the patient’s life is discussed in detail, including the history, genetic profile, and lifestyle factors. This helps the physician investigate the root causes of the disease using scientific principles and advanced lab tests. Every patient has a unique hormonal, metabolic, and nutritional composition that should be considered when developing a holistic healthcare treatment plan. Although the symptoms of different patients may be the same, the treatment options may differ since every patient has a unique medical history and the underlying reasons causing the symptoms.
Integrates the Best Medical Practices
Functional medicine brings together western conventional medical practices, and alternative healthcare advances using evidence-based medicine. The physician uses the latest laboratory testing, supplements, and prevention techniques such as nutrition, lifestyle changes, exercise programs, detoxification, and therapeutic diets. These techniques assist in targeting the root cause of the disease and treating the whole body, resulting in the patient's healthier state of well-being.
How Can We Help You at NewLife Medicine?
There are many conditions that can be kept under control or even reversed with the help of functional medicine, such as fibromyalgia, fatigue, chronic pain, diabetes, obesity, arthralgia, thyroid problems, etc. All these conditions have deep roots nestled in the human body. Conventional medicine typically treats the signs and symptoms. With functional medicine, the underlying imbalance or dysfunction of the body is addressed, thus achieving long-term relief and resolution. Functional medicine can be used to alleviate or to control a wide array of chronic conditions that may otherwise require extensive, expensive and potentially dangerous long term treatments. The purpose of this approach is to find the cause of the problem and treat it accordingly, thus preventing it from recurring.
How Does It Work?
Functional Medicine physicians follow a well-designed treatment plan. First, they take your history and emphasize on the slightest details, as they are often the key to the underlying imbalances. The diagnosis process also involves a thorough, in-depth physical examination that includes traditional medicine principles that are rarely used nowadays, in spite of being highly efficient.
What to Expect During Your Visit with A Functional Medicine Physician
Since a functional medicine physician focuses on the entire body, effects of lifestyle choices, genetics and the environment, your initial visit would be at least 120 minutes. During this time, every aspect of your history, diet, exercise, stresses, lifestyle habits, and environmental exposures will be discussed. You will also be asked about any medications and supplements you take on a regular basis. A thorough physical exam will be performed as well as laboratory testing if recommended or needed. Subsequent visits are generally shorter and designed to provide the physician a chance to find out how any recommended changes are affecting your conditions. Additionally, recommendations and lab tests may be ordered to check the progress of your health.
Are You Ready to Begin the Road to Your Wellness?
Wellness is a balanced synchrony of body, mind, and soul. Are you ready to take a step closer to a New Life of being healthy and well? Are you ready for a personalized approach that fits your needs? Our clinic can offer proven techniques to help your body heal and maintain its health for years to come.
