Functional Medicine & Wellness
Functional Medicine in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Natural Balance Wellness Medical Center offers specialized programs for any number of minor health imbalances or pre-clinical conditions.
Also, this program is attractive to prevention-minded patients seeking individualized guidance regarding diet, lifestyle, and supplement recommendations as well.
Note: The Functional & Wellness program is not for patients struggling with challenging and complex symptoms. For these individuals we recommend the more extensive testing and genetic susceptibility assessments offered in our precision health and genomics program.
Program Details (click the arrow next to each title below)
Prior to your meeting you’ll be asked to watch our introductory videos and complete our online New Patient Questionnaire. We will initiate coordination of your care based on your specific goals and medical needs.
All of the following visits and items are including in the New Patient Bundle:
- Video Consult / Planning Meeting (40 min): this is an opportunity for our Providers to hear your story, review your new patient questionnaire, offer their initial thoughts on your case, and choose appropriate diagnostic tests.
- Phone intake with Leslie Goss, MHE (Masters Health Educator) (60 min): At this point you will have completed all our new patient paperwork and consent forms. The purpose of this intake will be to undergo a complete medical history and to build your chart fully, as well as get you started on initial labs (some labs take up to 8 weeks to process, so it's ideal to start the lab submissions as soon as possible).
- In-Office Blood Draw and Lab Processing: our phlebotomist will conduct a quick blood collection for lab testing, providing essential insights into your health. We will also measure and document your vital signs.
- In-Office Physical Exam with Dr. Boggess (30 min): This visit includes doing a complete physical exam and review of the in-office assessments noted above.
- Post-Lab Review coaching visit #1 with Leslie, MHE (40 min): this appointment marks the last pre-paid visit in the New Patient bundle, intended to reiterate information reviewed during the first Lab Review, explain treatment plans, and answer any final questions you may have before you begin the recommended multi-step rehab protocols. We will also use this time to create a comprehensive, individualized symptom tracking system which we will update at each visit to track your progress.
Please Note: The total time with our team for the new patient appointments with the Functional Program is typically a little over 3.5 hours when you combine all the visits. However, depending on your specific situation the doctor might need to schedule additional time to finalize your New Patient intake. The extra time will be charged at our typical rates, prorated to the amount of additional time needed.
Our Brain Health Center is well known for assessing and treating brain- and mood-related conditions from a holistic perspective. We use HIRREM (high-resolution, relational, resonance-based, electroencephalic mirroring) to look at the brain’s electrical activity. This study allows us to evaluate the brain’s ability to relax and balance and helps to determine if you are a candidate for certain protocols we offer.
Once you have completed the New Patient Process and your tests are completed, our doctors and clinical team will be teaching you how to interpret your labs and will develop a plan specific to your needs. The results will be fully explained, summarized, and dictated, and you will be given a copy of all reports and impressions. The doctors will also develop, in partnership with you, a fully outlined treatment plan, including logical ordering of protocols, estimated time frames, etc. By the time you have finished your Lab Review session(s), you will have a full understanding of your labs, current state of health, and the clinical process that lies ahead.
The one-on-one Lab Review sessions for this program typically take 1.5 to 2 hours in total, over the course of 2 visits, depending on the situation and how many labs are being reviewed. Those appointments are billed at $450/hr prorated to the time of the appointment.
Please watch this abbreviated video of Dr. Boggess with a patient during a one-on-one Lab Review to better understand the process.
After completing all lab and genomics reviews, the time frame and hourly rates switch to our standard follow-up fee schedule. The standard fee schedule for these visits range from $65 to $250 per visit, based on the type of visit: doctor, physician assistant (PA-C) or health educator (MHE).
These visits are generally 20-30 minutes every 3-12 weeks, depending on the protocol. This is to ensure that you are tolerating all of the supplements, to discuss any problems you may be having, and to provide guidance and coaching. Once we have successfully finished all pre-planned protocols, you will be taken off supplements in a structured manner. We will meet one more time to see how you are doing and provide long-term discharge instructions, including dietary and lifestyle modifications and periodic supplementation protocols if indicated for your genetics and long-term preventative strategy.
Natural Balance Wellness Medical Center is out-of-network for ALL insurances. We are happy to provide you with an itemized superbill for qualified encounter with the appropriate codes to submit to your insurance for reimbursement to you directly. However, please understand that we have literally given up trying to figure out the whims of insurance and cannot guarantee you will be reimbursed. For your reference, we have included the codes and pricing we use for the New Patient appointment, follow-up visits, phone consults, etc. to assist you with checking with your insurance company ahead of time if you wish.
A Note Regarding Visits: The times below for follow-up visits include preparation and post-counseling with the clinical assistants, as well as direct collaboration with our clinicians. At Natural Balance, we bill based on decisions, complexity and relative value (RVU) rather than "time."
Your supper-bills will have the following codes.
New Patient - Functional Medicine Program ($1,500):
Code | Description | Amount |
99203 | New Patient Visit (Planning Video - 40 min) | $325 |
98968, 98966 | Health Educator (Chart Review/Discussing Testing - 40 min) | $100 |
99214 | Physical Exam (30 min) | $250 |
36415 | Phlebotomy | $65 |
98968, 98968 | Health Educator (Post Lab - 40 min) | $100 |
Please note, this initial investment DOES NOT include any Testing or Visits to Review Labs.
Medical Office Visit to review lab (example of a 90-minute lab review appointment)
Code | Description | Amount |
99215 | Comprehensive Lab Review | $450 |
99417 | Comprehensive Lab Review -extra time. | $250 |
A typical appointment to review labs with the Functional Medicine Program is anywhere between 40 min to 2 hrs, depending on the complexity of your case and how many labs we are ordering.
Follow up visits for established patients (in-office appointment)
Code | Description | Amount |
99215, 99417 | Comprehensive Planning or Lab Visit, Level 5 | $450 |
99215 | Extended Planning or Lab Visit, Level 5 | $325 |
99214 | Basic Planning or Lab Visit, Level 4 | $250 |
99213 | Follow Up, Level 3 | $180 |
99212 | Simple, Level 2 | $125 |
Remember that a follow up is typically only 20 to 30 min.
Follow up visit (over the phone appointment)
Code | Description | Amount |
99443, 99417 | Comprehensive Planning or Lab Visit, Level 5 | $450 |
99443, 99417 | Extended Planning or Lab Visit, Level 5 | $325 |
99443 | Basic Planning or Lab Visit, Level 4 | $250 |
99442 | Follow Up, Level 3 | $180 |
99441 | Simple, Level 2 | $125 |
Billing Process: As a medical center, it is our sincere intention that your visit be recognized by insurance AND qualify for reimbursement based on your out-of-network benefits. Our clinic’s ability to provide superbills for your visit and utilize insurance for testing is why we are able to save patients thousands of dollars compared to other practices run by limited license clinicians such as chiropractors, naturopathic doctors, acupuncturists, etc. That said, we are unable to guarantee that your insurance will reimburse your visits, nor can we project how much reimbursement you might receive. Please consult with your insurance company directly.
Visit Description |
“Simple” Check-up on a particular protocol without further instructions or decisions. Patient or staff requested a simple visit to solve a problem that cannot be solved by a clinical assistant without a doctor. This also included DBS follow up visits. |
“Follow up”: Review response to existing protocol, troubleshoot if needed, update Review of Systems (ROS), provide and explain next steps, answer questions. |
“Basic Planning or Lab Visit”: Multilevel decision making required. Creating a new ROS. If re-testing, 1 or 2 simple labs are reviewed, explained and documented. Wrapping up a previous protocol, establishing and explaining a new protocol, etc. |
“Extended Planning or Lab Visit”: Same as Level 4, but more extended / higher complexity. If re-testing, 1 complex, multi-page lab OR multiple simple labs reviewed, explained and documented. |
“Extensive Planning or Lab Visit”: Same as Level 5 Extended Planning or Lab Visit, but more extensive / higher complexity / more time spent. Typically used when reviewing and documenting multiple labs OR re-establishing care. This level of visit is rare for an established patient undergoing follow up visits or lab reviews. |
Understanding Our Clinic Policies
Our clinic policies include important information about working with our clinic, refund policies, payment information, cancellation policies, etc. We request that all new patients review this material prior to enrolling with our clinic.
We Are Here to Help You! On behalf of the Natural Balance team, we hope you have found this information helpful. If you have any questions, or to schedule your new patient appointment, please call us at (734) 929-2696, extension 11. You can also request a call through our online system. We look forward to speaking with you soon!