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Frequently Asked Questions

We’d love to be your partner along your journey towards vibrant health! Please review frequently asked questions listed below and feel free to contact our staff for any other questions via email or phone.

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Scheduling & Visits

What's the cost for the initial consultation?

The initial consultation is US $400

If you are NOT an in-state resident, your initial visit at The Real Gut Doctor must be in person. After the first visit, all follow up visits can be conducted by phone or virtually using our secure video channel if you choose.

Patients have unlimited email access with The Real Gut Doctor provider team. However, if an email question or request is deemed by one of our staff to be too complicated or involved for a response via email they may, at their discretion, require that the patient schedule a phone, telemedicine or in person visit instead of responding via email.

There is a 48-hour business hours cancellation policy for all appointments with an The Real Gut Doctor doctor, health coach, or team member. Canceling within 48-business hours will result in a $50 charge to the credit card on file.

No-shows: If you do not show up to a phone, video/telemedicine or in person appointment without notifying the specific person you have an appointment with either by phone or via email (adhering to our office policy) you will be charged $100 to the card on file.

Billing & Insurance

We Are Not A Conventional Primary Care Physician

For many of our patients, we can take the place of a primary care physician. Because you can message us online during business hours, we are often able to take care of acute requests. For example, prescribing an antibiotic for a minor infection such as a sinus infection.

It is important to note the following however:

  • We do not fulfill an insurance company’s requirement for an in network primary care physician as we are not in-network with any insurance plan.
  • We will make every effort to make you fully aware of any additional lab fees that may be incurred and to give you the opportunity to choose which lab tests you feel comfortable paying for.
  • We do not have a 24-hour answering service and do not take calls on weekends. If you need to be seen urgently or have a medical emergency you would need to visit an ER or urgent care center.

Any services provided by The Real Gut Doctor that aren’t already included in the program fee will be billed to patients directly.

The Real Gut Doctor medical expenses, such as lab tests and prescription medications, may be covered by a patient’s health insurance plan (per that plan’s rules).

The Real Gut Doctor will not submit a medical claim to insurance on your behalf. We cannot assist you with claim resolution for our services.

We will provide you with a detailed billing summary that you may submit to your insurance for reimbursement. There may be procedures or lab tests that are not covered depending on your plan’s rules.

  • Most lab tests ordered by The Real Gut Doctor physician will be billed directly to your insurance by the lab.
  • Some lab tests we offer as part of our functional medicine testing program may not be covered by insurance. In these cases you will be charged a fee for a particular test by the lab or through The Real Gut Doctor.
  • The specific tests ordered will be personalized to you based on your initial evaluation with The Real Gut Doctor and may include blood, saliva, urine or stool testing.
  • We will make every effort to make you fully aware of any additional lab fees that may be incurred and to give you the opportunity to choose which lab tests you feel comfortable paying for.
  • You are under no obligation to purchase any specialty testing.
  • Should any lab results indicate you may need further testing through your insurance with authorization you will be directed to continue with your primary care physician or a relevant specialist, or should you choose you may continue to work with The Real Gut Doctor physician team.
  • At home test kits: If a lab test kit is mailed to you by The Real Gut Doctor, you will be charged the same day.
  • The Real Gut Doctor is not responsible for any 3rd party lab testing and any of their associated lab testing delays.
  • If your particular insurance company only pays for blood work done at a particular lab facility like LabCorp or Quest, you must inform us of this in advance of having blood work done. Most insurance plans cover labs done by major national labs – however, your lab coverage is strictly between you and your insurance company. We cannot bill or assist you with lab claim resolution for our services