Expectations &

Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT TO EXPECT & HOW TO PREPARE FOR YOUR FIRST VISIT

We require that ALL INTAKE PAPERWORK BE COMPLEted prior to your scheduled visit with us.

A link to complete all necessary intake forms will be securely sent to you through email following scheduling your initial visit on our electronic medical record platform to ensure security and privacy. Depending on when you schedule your appointment, you will only have a limited time to complete these forms prior to our initial visit to ensure a smooth, seamless ability to provide medical care.

If you do not receive an email with the intake forms within 24 hours of scheduling your appointment with us, please email us here to notify us so we may send those forms to you promptly.

What to Bring To Your First Visit

  • Yourself!

  • A photo ID

  • Any recent or pertinent lab work

  • Any food or blood sugar logs you would like to share

What To Expect During Your First Visit

Plan for you first visit to be at around 60 minutes long in which much of the time will be discussing and exploring you, your health, and what you would like to accomplish together. We will review:

  • Past Medical History

  • Family History

  • Current Diagnoses

  • Recent Lab Work

  • Medications and Supplements

  • Anthropometrics (eg. Height, Weight, BMI, etc.)

  • Short-Term and Long-Term Goals

  • Potential Barriers to Achieving Your Goals

Nutrition therapy, just like any therapy, is a collaborative effort and we will work together with you to set the stage for success. Your nutrition care plan will be based on your goals, preferences, medical history, lifestyle, and food preferences. We will determine an appropriate timeline for you so you can see the results you dream of on a timeline that is realistic, sustainable, and enjoyable.

Follow-up appointments are strongly encouraged for ongoing support, education, and goal adjustments to support progression, accountability, and optimization. We strongly recommend scheduling a follow-up session during or after your initial session to ensure ongoing progression is achieved.

Your first visit is the most important step in your health and wellness journey! From finding the courage, motivation, and commitment to signing up to setting yourself on the right path to sustainable, enjoyable, and meaningful change, it is a milestone in and of itself!

Our goal is to make sure you feel as comfortable, confident, and prepared for your journey ahead that we will forge together. We have laid out some information that will help you understand the process of working with a nutrition and exercise professional and what to expect after scheduling your first visit.

How To Check For Insurance Coverage For Medical Nutrition Therapy

It is important to understand your insurance coverage, including your co-pays, co-insurance, and deductibles. It is your responsibility to check if nutrition services are covered by your insurance plan prior to your first visit. Failure to properly check prior to our sessions may lead to unexpected out-of-pocket expenses and denial of reimbursement.

To verify your insurance benefits for nutrition counseling, call the number on the back of your insurance card and ask them the following questions:

  1. What are my out-of-network nutrition benefits?

  2. Do I have benefits for nutritional counseling using CPT codes 97802 and 97803 with diagnosis code Z71.3?

  3. Do I have coverage with an overweight, obesity, or heart disease diagnosis (same CPT codes)? If so, which diagnoses?

  4. Do I have a deductible to meet before insurance covers my out-of-network sessions? If so, how much have I met so far?

  5. Will I have a Co-Pay or Co-Insurance for out-of-network specialist visits?

  6. Is a doctor’s referral required for insurance coverage?

  7. Is there a limit on the number of nutrition counseling visits I receive coverage for per year?

  8. Are audio-video telehealth visits included in my coverage?

  9. Can I get a reference number for this call today for future reference?

*Be aware, information given by your insurance company is NOT a guarantee of coverage. Reviewing your coverages with your insurance company and retaining that reference number will be your best line of defense should they decide to deny your claim.

Good Faith Estimates

Under the law, health care providers need to give clients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the expected charges for medical services, including nutrition services. You have the right to ask for and receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, including nutrition services. You can ask the health care provider for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service, or at any time during treatment. If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate and how to dispute a bill, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call (800) 368-1019.

General and Insurance FAQs