FAQs About Functional Medicine | The Thrive Clinic

FAQs

What should I expect at the initial appointment?

At your initial appointment, you will be given an opportunity to discuss your medical history, your present condition and your personal health goals with Dr. Sievert. He will then recommend an extensive lab panel based on your discussion to help identify the root cause of any complaints.

Should I bring anything with me to the appointment?

We ask that you bring any pertinent medical records, supplements, medications and lab test results with you. If you are not the financial decision maker, we ask that you bring that individual with you to the appointment. We also recommend bringing a notepad and pencil.

Do I need to arrive early to my appointment?

It is not necessary to arrive more than 10 minutes before your scheduled time as long as all new patient forms and assessments are completed via the Patient Portal ahead of time. New patient forms and assessments can be found under the “Questionnaires” section on the Patient Portal. Please call the office with any questions.

Is Dr. Sievert accepting new patients?

Dr. Sievert is accepting new patients at this time. Appointments for new patients are currently being scheduled 2-3 weeks out.

Do you accept my insurance?

We do not bill insurance. Dr. Sievert is not contracted with any health insurance providers meaning he is considered an out-of-network provider. Patients are expected to pay out-of-pocket for our services. Members submit payment at the time of enrollment and fee-for-service patients are expected to pay at the time of service. Please read “An Explanation of Our Financial Policy” for more information on why we do not bill insurance.

While Dr. Sievert does not bill insurance, we can provide an itemized bill on request that patients can use to submit a reimbursement request to their insurance provider. Submitting a reimbursement request does not guarantee reimbursement, we recommend calling your provider beforehand to find out what will or will not be reimbursed and if you need a referral from your PCP.

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR MEDICARE PATIENTS:

Due to their billing guidelines, appointments at the Thrive Clinic cannot be submitted to Medicare for reimbursement. This includes the secondary insurance as that will only apply if a claim to Medicare was submitted first. Please read “Why Can’t I Submit to Medicare for Reimbursement?” for more information.”

Can I use my HSA or FSA account?

Yes. However, we recommend checking with your HR department to be sure.

Are lab fees included in the membership fee?

The labs Dr. Sievert recommends are not performed at The Thrive Clinic and are not included in your fees to The Thrive Clinic. Standard labs orders can be sent to an in-network lab of your choosing, but more extensive testing may be recommended that could be completed by a lab out-of-network with your insurance provider. Patients can submit reimbursement requests for out-of-network lab fees to their insurance provider. Submitting a reimbursement request does not guarantee reimbursement, we recommend calling your provider beforehand to find out what will or will not be reimbursed and if you need a referral from your PCP.

Does your office offer single lab tests or a-la-carte testing?

We do not offer a-la-carte testing since this goes against the paradigm of functional medicine. If we are going to address the root cause of your health issues, we will need to take a more comprehensive approach.

Can I meet with Dr. Sievert before I make a membership commitment?

This is an understandable request. A brief meet-and-greet is possible on a case-by-case basis. However, these meetings are limited as we prioritize appointments for current patients. Alternatively, we do offer patients to pay fee-for-service for an initial appointment, then if they decide they wish to become a member by their second appointment, they can retroactively apply their original payment towards a membership.

Can Dr. Sievert be my PCP (primary care provider)?

We recommend that you continue to consult with a primary care provider in addition to the care you receive from The Thrive Clinic. Dr. Sievert does offer primary care on request, but his practice is now focused on chronic disease reversal, in particular for autoimmune disorders. This includes, but is not limited to, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Graves’ disease, Psoriasis, Inflammatory bowel disease, and Celiac disease.

We offer a few different membership options to fit all of our patient’s needs. Click below to see which Membership program is best for you.