Practice Policies

CIM Practice Policies

Treatment Philosophy

Our philosophy is “do what works." We dive deep and keep digging to help you find what works for you, personally. This is not the same for everyone, and we will take personal factors into account when custom designing your treatment plan.

1. We are a specialty hormone and thyroid balancing practice. All our patients are required to maintain a relationship with a primary care physician for routine health maintenance and screening.

2. We will want to keep in touch with your primary care physician, GYN, psychiatrist, pain management or other physicians of record that you currently see. Collaboration with other docs always improves outcomes of care provided.

3. It is very likely we will be asking you to take supplements that are different than your current ones. The average cost of these is currently about $120.00 per month in addition to prescription medications. 

4. It is likely we will be asking you to change prescription medications as well, including the timing of those medications. We will make every effort to keep these costs as economical as possible, though sometimes generics are not appropriate. We will make attempts to get your medications covered, but insurance prior authorization requirements are time consuming – we reserve the right to charge for time spent in this endeavor.

5. We do not recommend hormone replacement above physiologic levels, and we do not offer pellets.

6. Although getting hormones in balance can frequently result in weight loss, we are not a weight loss clinic. As such we do not recommend or prescribe Mounjaro, Wegovy or other weight loss medications.

7. Please understand that no one gets well with medications and supplements alone. We expect you to make a committed effort at wellness, with recommended lifestyle changes including sleep, diet, exercise among others. In order to maximize these efforts, referrals may be made to other specialists, health coaches, nutritionists or other non-physician practitioners.

8. Repeat labs and follow up appointments will be required every 8-12 weeks until we agree optimum results have been achieved.

7. Primary Care Physician - Since Consultants In Metabolism offers specialty care, we expect each patient to maintain a primary care physician and follow all recommendations for routine general medical care per that physician. Health screening labs, mammograms, ultrasounds, colonoscopies are required as recommended per guidelines in order to continue with Hormone replacement.

Appointment Scheduling

1. Appointments can be requested by:                            

  i.    Registering through the MD-HQ Patient Portal (https://consultantsinmetabolism.md-hq.com) preferred 

ii.   Calling our office during business hours (817-784-7086), leave a message if no one is available to take your call and we will reply at our earliest opportunity.

2. We strive to accommodate patients in a timely manner, but please understand that unforeseen circumstances may cause delays.

3. Payment for the initial package is due at the time of appointment confirmation. Please see financial policy for pricing and details. Once the fee is received, the initial and lab review appointments will be scheduled a few weeks apart to make sure we have time to receive and review lab results.

4. Initial appointment scheduling requires the return of some extended questionnaires and review by the doctor. This is important so we can verify that the practice offerings will be a good fit for you before scheduling.

5. While we can see anyone covered by Medicare or a Medicare Advantage Plan, we do not accept any insurance and those persons will be required to attest that they will not attempt to bill or collect any funds from Medicare programs for the provides services. 

Cancellation and Rescheduling

1. If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, please notify us at least 72 hours in advance.

2. Failure to provide sufficient notice may result in forfeiture of your appointment confirmation fee if collected.

Insurance

We do not participate in any insurance plans. We will be happy to provide medical records and itemized invoices that can be submitted to insurance for claiming of out-of-network benefits.

Financial Policy

1. Please see the Price Sheet below for complete and updated Payment information.

2. Payment for services is expected in advance of appointments, at the time of scheduling.

3. A $100 no show or late cancellation fee will be assessed if you miss your appointment or cancel less than 72 hours prior.

4. We require a credit card on file to cover Client Bill labs or other incidental expenses.

5. We accept cash, credit/debit cards, and Health Savings Plan cards.

6. Current introductory New Patient package pricing includes two Comprehensive patient visits and an initial lab set.  We reserve the right to raise this price at any time.

7. Pricing for follow up appointments and more detailed labs are based on the amount of time and extent of labs and treatment needed. We will make every effort to be transparent about these costs if they are over and above the standard labs that are included in the package price.

8. We have an arrangement for cash pay labs with Labcorp.  It is frequently the case that I can get the recommended labs done for you on a cash price basis at a substantial discount even over your insurance copay, but this has to be arranged in advance at the time the order is submitted.

9. At this time we do not sell supplements. It is expected that we will be able to offer discounted supplements in the near future.

Price Sheet

• New Patient Comprehensive workup package - $1200.00 includes 2 visits: new and follow up Comprehensive visits up to 90 minutes and 90 minutes. More details in the FAQ section on the main page.

• All in One membership pricing is available that covers all CIM provided services on a 6 month renewal basis. Membership pricing includes all needed visits including extended time visits, unlimited texting or calls with the doctor during business hours, access to concurrent live or recorded courses, access to discounted supplement pricing through Fullscripts. Your membership fee will not increase as long as you maintain your membership. Please contact us for current membership rates.

• Standard Follow up appointment $375.00 includes follow up questionnaire review, lab ordering, review, moderate follow up visit and plan management. This is for recommended 8 or 12 week follow up and lab sets.

• Comprehensive Follow up appointment $500.00 includes follow up questionnaire review, lab ordering, review, comprehensive follow up visit and plan management. This is for recommended 8 or 12 week follow up and lab sets.

• Focused Follow up appointment: $275.00 for single diagnosis only follow up patients

We reserve the right to raise rates at any time.

Medical Records

1. Your medical records are confidential and will only be shared with your consent or as required by law.

2. You may request copies of your medical records at any time. Please understand that it may take up to 10 days before receiving your medical records. Some of your records will be available to you for immediate viewing on the patient portal.

Patient Conduct

1. We expect all patients to treat our staff and fellow patients with respect and courtesy.

2. Any disruptive, abusive or threatening behavior may result in termination of services. 

Second Opinions

Patients have the right to seek a second opinion before undergoing any recommended treatment.

Informed Consent

1. Before any procedure or major treatment change, our medical professionals will provide a detailed explanation of the nature of the treatment or procedure, including its purpose, benefits, and potential risks or complications.

2. You will have the opportunity to ask questions and seek clarification regarding the proposed treatment or procedure.

3. Informed consent will be obtained before proceeding with any intervention. 

Emergency Situations

1. In case of a medical emergency, please call emergency services or go to the nearest emergency room immediately.

2. Please know Consultants In Metabolism is not set up to provide urgent or after hours care. Messages to the patient portal will be answered on the next business day if possible, and as soon as the physician is available otherwise. 

Feedback and Concerns

1. We value patient feedback and strive to continuously improve our services. If you have any concerns or suggestions, please let us know.

2. You can provide feedback through our portal, by phone, or in person. 

Privacy and Data Security

1. We adhere to strict privacy and data security protocols to protect your personal information.

2. Our practice complies with all applicable laws and regulations, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Hate Statement for Our Medical Practice

At Consultants In Metabolism, we are committed to fostering an environment of inclusivity, respect, and equality. We firmly stand against racism, discrimination, and hate in all forms. Our goal is to provide exceptional medical care while upholding the principles of justice, fairness, and compassion. We believe that every patient deserves to be treated with dignity and without prejudice. We strive to create a safe space for all people, and we welcome individuals of every race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation and socioeconomic status. We acknowledge that systemic racism and discrimination exists within healthcare systems, and we are dedicated to actively challenging and dismantling these barriers.