Memberships
Health, Hope, and Healing.
Our Membership Program gives you full control over your health. Unlike some conventional medicine providers, we don’t take your concerns lightly, tell you we can’t help, or write you a prescription without hearing your full story. We don’t triple-book appointments, leaving you sitting in the waiting room for an hour (who has time for that?).
Our Membership Program provides many benefits including:
Your first visit
A full 75-minute intake visit where we review your complete history, previous testing, and discuss initial recommendations and functional workup.
Your second visit
We review your labs with you in detail answering questions and explaining optimal ranges. We also devise a personalized, functional medicine plan including items such as nutrition guidance, stress management techniques, movement prescriptions, supplement recommendations and future roadmap recommendations.
Continued support.
Your care doesn’t stop at the end of your visit. We are here to support you on this journey and you are free to reach out with any questions.
More benefits…
Including extended visit times (that are not covered by traditional insurance plans), discounts on supplements, invitations to members-only wellness events, and more. See a full list of membership benefits.
What can you expect when working with SHIFT?
Throw all of your fears and anxieties about coming to the doctor out the window. We’re your partners in health, not just an “expert” who tells you what to do.
We Get Back to You
You can schedule appointments through our Membership portal – no more waiting on hold. If you need an immediate appointment, you can message us and we’ll fit you in as soon as we can. We are committed to accommodating your needs.
We Listen to You
We’re not going to dismiss you. It’s your body, and you know it best – so if something feels wrong, tell us. Ask us questions. We promise to ask you questions, too. We learn from our patients every day!
We’re Transparent
We’re open and honest with you about financials, since this is an important aspect of most patient’s lives. We don’t have hidden costs. We don’t have surprise fees. You’ll know exactly what you’re paying for.
We’re Online and We’re Available
We have a safe, secure online portal where you can access your records and schedule appointments 24/7. We respond to your questions, and if you need a last-minute appointment, you can message us directly. We’ll do our best to see you as soon as we can.
Membership FAQ’s
What is the purpose of membership?
We value providing holistic care which requires longer visit times and additional work outside of office visits. The monthly membership fee covers these essentials that are not reimbursed by insurance companies.
What is the process to become a member?
We want to be sure we are the right fit for you! We will chat with you and our office manager will answer questions about the membership, our providers and our practice. Once a mutual decision is made to proceed, we will schedule your first appointment and send you a link to register for membership and our patient portal. Once you are in our online secure patient portal you will complete New Patient Questionnaires. We will review this in detail so that we can hit the ground running together at our first appointment!
What is a micro-practice?
A micro-practice is a practice that operates with minimal or reduced overhead expenses.
Since functional medicine practices do not see the quantity of patients seen in a conventional medicine clinic (5-7 vs. 25-30 per day), it is essential to keep business operating expenses down.
Does my membership fee cover services or office visits?
No. Office visits are billed separately from monthly membership fees. We bill office visits to insurance companies we are in network with. If we are an out of network provider with your insurance company, we do offer prompt pay discounted pricing.
Do I have to become a member?
We have found that to provide the highest level of service, a client membership program is necessary. Currently nearing patient capacity limits, we are sensitive to the level of service delivered. With the membership plan, we commit to providing the best care to members, including last minute appointments. Check out all of the membership benefits.
Who is membership for?
Membership is ideal for patients dedicated to working closely with us seeking assured care and timely appointments. When patient capacity is reached and we restrict our practice to new or non-member patients to ensure you won’t have to worry about a lengthy wait to make an appointment. Our membership program is focused on providing community support with educational health events, online support, and longer office visit times.
What will my membership cover?
For a list of benefits, head to our Membership Program page and Membership Benefits page. One of the benefits that our patients most value is that they have access to longer appointment times, so we can really delve into their issues without the time limits of conventional medicine office visits.
Will my insurance cover my monthly membership fee?
No, this is a cash pay service not covered by insurance. Some insurance companies will allow you to use your FSA or HSA card to pay for your monthly fee. You should consult directly with your insurance for detailed coverage options.
Why a membership fee in addition to my insurance responsibility and premium?
Much preparation time and effort goes into your visit outside of the actual appointment. This includes portal messaging, refilling prescriptions, referrals, etc. This all to ensure a thorough wellness plan for you. For a full list of benefits see the Membership Benefits page.
How are the visits with us billed?
If we are “in network/contracted with” your insurance plan, our office will verify benefits coverage prior to your visit. Per our billing guidelines, we will do the following:
• Collect your “patient responsibility” at the time of service. This includes co-pays, deductibles, coinsurance and past due account balances.
• Submit a claim to your insurance company for reimbursement.
If you have an insurance plan we are not contracted with, we require an “at the time of service” payment. You will receive a discounted office visit charge with a receipt to submit to your insurance.
• Collect your “patient responsibility” at the time of service. This includes co-pays, deductibles, coinsurance and past due account balances.
• Submit a claim to your insurance company for reimbursement.
If you have an insurance plan we are not contracted with, we require an “at the time of service” payment. You will receive a discounted office visit charge with a receipt to submit to your insurance.
How do I register for membership?
From our website membership page, click “Yes I am interested! I want to apply!” link. From here we will assist you to complete the membership process.
How do I pay for monthly membership?
Upon membership enrollment, you will enter your credit or debit card information. Monthly billing on this card will occur the 15th or 25th depending on enrollment date. As a security measure, you will need to portal message our office the transaction amounts so we can verify your account and activate your membership.
What if I live out of town and cannot make it to the office?
We offer “telehealth” visits. Using an online meeting room, you can log-in to see each other via your computer cameras/screens. If you do not have access to a computer, the consult can be done via the phone. Oregon law and our office policy require an annual face-to-face visit in the office but the remainder of visits can be done via telehealth. There is a trend for insurance companies to cover telehealth visits. Sometimes our office cannot verify this benefit so we encourage patients to check with their insurance about this coverage options.
What if I am a member and need an urgent appointment and cannot find a time on the portal schedule?
Please send a portal message to our office manager indicating your medical concerns and urgency. We will do her best to see you as these types of needs arise.
How do I cancel my membership contract?
Our membership agreement requires a 30 day notice to cancel your membership. This request must come in writing via portal message or email: office@shiftfunctionalmed.com