FAQ

· We are willing and able to help anyone struggling with weight through our comprehensive approach.· Patients with a BMI of over 25 are considered candidates for treatments to help reduce weight. We practice evidence-based medicine, and medications are generally indicated for patients with a BMI of 27 or higher in the setting of an additional risk factor. Some medications might be approved for a BMI of 25. We will help you choose the proper medication as well as lifestyle and nutrition modifications that will work for you.· BMI calculator can be found here.· We also have experience treating mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety and would be able to evaluate and treat you irrespective of your weight.

· It is essential to understand that significant, sustainable lifestyle change and weight loss is often a one to two-year process.· We utilize in-person and telehealth services to provide care and will collaborate to determine which option(s) works best for you.· Intake Process for Weight Management: Your initial consultation will take approximately 45 to 75 minutes. We take an in-depth history, focusing on determining and addressing any underlying causes leading to excess weight, and review/order any necessary testing. Please understand that this in-person first visit consists entirely of data gathering. We will review your health history, measure your resting metabolic rate (RMR), take body measurements, and perform a physical exam. Additionally, you will undergo a complete bioimpedance assessment to determine your body mass components. We use all of this information to determine your individualized treatment plan, which will include nutrition, exercise, behavioral analysis, and medications as indicated. It is not until the second visit that we review medications and together form a treatment plan. We do not provide medication prescriptions on your first visit. · Initial Weight Management Follow-Up: The first follow-up will take approximately 45 minutes to one hour. During this time, we work together to prescribe your customized plan. We thoroughly discuss the weight loss plan, including options for medications, nutrition, physical activity, and behavioral modification. We send you home with resources to contemplate which modifications work best for your lifestyle. We prescribe medication as indicated during this visit and begin counseling for nutrition and physical activity. · We will see patients routinely on a bimonthly/monthly basis until patients reach a maintenance state and feel comfortable sustaining the plan. After which, we move towards every 3-month appointments.· Intake Process for Perimenopause/Menopause: Your initial consultation will take approximately 45 to 75 minutes. During this visit, we take an in-depth history and discuss your current symptoms, health concerns, medical history, and personal goals for treatment. We review the current evidence regarding perimenopause and menopause care, including the benefits, risks, and safe use of hormone therapy and non-hormonal treatment options.Our goal is to provide evidence-based, individualized care rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. Together, we will determine which treatment options are appropriate for you based on your symptoms, medical history, risk factors, preferences, and goals. Any necessary laboratory testing or additional evaluation will be discussed and ordered when indicated.Unlike our weight-management intake process, treatment recommendations are made during this initial menopause consultation. When appropriate, medications, including hormone therapy, may be prescribed at this visit as part of your individualized treatment plan.

· Yes, we accept most major insurances. It is your responsibility to verify if our physicians are in-network. We will also ask you for your insurance information prior to booking your first appointment.

· Our physicians are licensed in Illinois and Indiana and can provide telehealth services in either state.

· Yes. We prescribe medications as clinically indicated. We will help determine if these medications are covered through your insurance.

· Credit card authorizations must be on file with our office prior to your first appointment. If you cancel less than 48 hours before your FIRST scheduled appointment, you will be charged $50. For follow-up appointments we charge $25 for cancellations less than 24 hours. No-show appointments will result in a $50 charge.

· For commercial insurance, this will depend on whether your employer has chosen a plan that covers weight loss medications. For Medicare, if you meet criteria, these medications are covered under your Part D plan or through the Medicare Bridge program.· We will work with your insurance company to determine which medications are covered and find the most effective and affordable option for you. Many new drugs are now available, including some with weight loss results similar to sleeve gastrectomy.

· The timeline for each insurance company is different. Most health plans approve medications within one to two weeks.

· Yes. Please call your insurance company at the customer service number provided on your card to confirm that we are in your network. Our practice provides a financial transparency document when you become a member of our practice. Also, please let us know if you change jobs or health plans because your coverage may change.

· We have a variety of options. Individual nutritional and behavioral counseling is available. We also provide health coaching.

· Remote monitoring allows us to oversee your progress in real time. This allows for personalized treatment plans based on individual patient data, including age, medical history, and lifestyle home monitoring of weight. Studies have shown this practice results in more prosperous, sustained weight loss.

As physicians, our first priority is our patient's safety. As such, we do not provide or prescribe 'compounded medications'. Please see the latest FDA update: HERE.

Our practice is intentionally designed to provide more time, access, and individualized attention than is typically possible in a high-volume medical practice. In many traditional practices, follow-up visits may be scheduled at a pace of three to four patients per hour, with relatively limited time available for each patient.We have chosen a different model. Our appointments are designed to be unrushed, allowing time to review your progress, discuss questions and concerns, adjust treatment when needed, and focus on the details that matter to your care. We also maintain smaller provider-patient panels so that our team can remain accessible between visits and offer timely follow-up when concerns arise.The practice fee helps support this model of care, including personalized attention, weekday text staff support, and the ability to offer follow-up appointments within approximately 48 to 72 hours when medically appropriate.The fee is $15 per month or $120 annually and applies to both insurance-based and cash-pay patients. Patients with Medicaid insurance are not charged a practice fee.