Frequently Asked Questions
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If you’re feeling unheard, frustrated, and disenchanted with traditional medicine, you’re not alone. Many people come to functional medicine after years of struggling with unexplained symptoms, chronic conditions, or being told, “everything looks normal” when they don’t feel normal at all.
Functional medicine seeks to understand the “Why” and the upstream dynamics that might be at play. It is different from allopathic medicine in its approach to understanding the root causes that promote a state of dis-ease instead of only targeting and managing symptoms. Functional medicine practitioners work as medical detectives partnering with patients to understand historical, nutritional, genetic and environmental factors that may be overlooked and gaining insight into what might be too much (ie: stress, toxins) or too little (ie; sleep, nutrients) in their lives.
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You’re Heard & Understood – Your story matters. Instead of rushing through a quick visit, we take the time to listen to your full health history, your experiences, and your concerns. You are an active participant in your healing journey.
Root Cause Approach – Instead of masking symptoms with medications alone, functional medicine focuses on why you’re experiencing issues in the first place—whether it’s gut health, inflammation, stress, toxins, or nutrient imbalances. By identifying and addressing these root causes, we create lasting solutions rather than temporary fixes.
Personalized & Holistic Care – No one-size-fits-all treatments. Your body is unique, and so is your care plan. We look at nutrition, lifestyle, environment, and genetics to create a tailored strategy just for you. This precision-based approach ensures that every aspect of your well-being is considered.
A Partnership in Healing – You won’t feel dismissed or left without answers. Functional medicine is about empowering you with knowledge, practical solutions, and ongoing support so you can take charge of your well-being. We work together to restore balance and vitality, so you can reclaim the life you deserve.
True, Lasting Wellness – It’s not just about managing disease—it’s about optimizing your health so you can feel vibrant, energized, and in control of your body again. Functional medicine helps you go beyond symptom relief to achieve sustainable, long-term wellness.
Prevention & Proactive Health – Instead of waiting for illness to take hold, functional medicine emphasizes prevention. By addressing potential issues before they become major problems, we help you build resilience and longevity, allowing you to enjoy a higher quality of life.
If you’ve been searching for answers and feel like no one is listening, functional medicine offers a new way forward. You deserve to feel better, and I’m here to help.
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Balanced Body Medicine is a non insurance practice and is considered an out of network network provider. Patients can opt to use their insurance including Medicare for lab work, imaging and other diagnostic testing that has been ordered by the provider and are billed separately by the third-party facility.
Balanced Body Medicine will happily provide itemized receipts or superbills so patients can seek reimbursement for services rendered from their HSA or private insurance (Medicare is an exception- no consultation services provided by Balanced Body Medicine can be reimbursed as we have opted out of network with Medicare). Patients are responsible for understanding their insurance benefits- we do not assist with insurance claims and billing.
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Affordable & Transparent Pricing – Without the overhead and restrictions of insurance, we offer clear, upfront pricing without hidden fees. This allows for better value and access to care that truly meets your needs.
Individualized, Unrushed Care – Insurance-based models often limit time with patients. In our practice, we focus on quality over quantity, ensuring that you get the time and attention necessary for real healing.
Freedom from Restrictions – Insurance companies dictate what treatments are covered, often leaving out preventative and holistic options. In a non-insurance model, we have the freedom to use the best therapies for you—without limitations.
Direct Relationship with Your Provider – No middlemen. No unnecessary paperwork. Just personalized care and direct communication with your provider, ensuring a smooth and stress-free healthcare experience.
Comprehensive, Whole-Person Health Solutions – With the flexibility of a non-insurance model, we can integrate functional medicine, nutrition, lifestyle coaching, and alternative therapies to give you a truly comprehensive approach to health.
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Our practice does not accept insurance, however patients can pay with blue fin through the patient portal which accepts credit/debit, ACH and digital wallets such as google pay. Blue fin offers point to point encryption for enhanced security.
We also gladly accept HSA and FSA debit cards as a form of payment. Your card must be linked to a valid HSA/FSA account. We recommend verifying that your HSA/FSA provider allows card payments for functional medicine services.
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If you need to cancel an appointment or reach Balanced Body Medicine for other concerns, please call during business hours. Leave a message and your call will be returned promptly within 24 hours. This is not an emergency service. For any urgent or emergent situation please call 911 or go to the closest emergency room.
Please consider email for any questions or concerns related to billing, scheduling or administrative issues to info@balancedbodymedicine.com. Please allow for up to 72 hours for a response especially over the weekend.
The patient portal is available to established patients and can be used to communicate concerns regarding supplements, symptoms or clinical questions. If messages become too frequent or require more than a simple response, you will be asked to make a follow up appointment to discuss. The portal is not for emergencies or urgent situations. Allow for 24-72 hours for a response.
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Schedule a discovery call- Your journey begins with a complimentary consultation with the provider to discuss your health concerns, ask questions about the functional medicine approach and how it might help to accomplish your treatment goals. You will schedule your first visit at this time as well as receive intake forms to be completed at least 48 hours prior to your appointment. This is an essential step that will help the provider to fully prepare for your first visit.
Comprehensive Initial Consultation– The first appointment is a 90 minute in-depth visit, where we take the time to understand your full health history, lifestyle, and goals. This longer appointment allows us to uncover root causes and create an individualized care plan. After your consultation, we develop a tailored roadmap for your health, incorporating nutrition, movement, stress management, sleep optimization, and supplementation as needed. We will also discuss laboratory testing that may be of benefit in performing our root cause analysis.
Follow-up visits - are scheduled for every 4-6 weeks and are designed to track progress, adjust your plan as needed, and ensure lasting improvements. This will also be an opportunity to review and discuss lab results that might also influence your treatment plan.
Health Coaching for Extra Support – Achieving real change takes more than just advice—it takes guidance and accountability. Our health coaching program helps you implement lifestyle changes step by step, providing motivation and education along the way. Sessions are available through both Balanced Body Medicine and Mel Soto Coaching.
Group Medical Visits & Education (Coming soon!) – We offer group visits and educational workshops to help you connect with a supportive community while gaining valuable knowledge on key health topics. These sessions enhance learning, provide inspiration, and allow for a more interactive healing experience.
Empowered, Ongoing Wellness– Functional medicine is not just about treatment—it’s about building lifelong health. With continuous education, proactive care, and a dedicated team by your side, you’ll gain the tools to maintain your well-being long-term.
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When a provider opts out of Medicare:
They have signed an official agreement with Medicare stating they will not bill Medicare for any services.
Medicare will not reimburse the patient or the provider for visits or treatments provided by that practitioner.
Patients must pay the provider directly and sign a private contract acknowledging this.
This only applies to services provided directly by the opted-out provider (like office visits or consultations
What You Can Still Use Insurance For:
Even though we do not bill Medicare for visits, we can still order labs, imaging, and other diagnostic services. Here's how that works:
Labs and imaging services ordered by our provider can be performed at third-party facilities that do accept Medicare or other insurance.
Those facilities can bill Medicare or your private insurance directly, which may result in partial or full coverage, depending on your plan.
You are responsible for confirming coverage details with your insurance provider.
If you have additional questions that were not answered or if you would like to schedule a consultation, please feel free to reach out.