FAQ

• What is the cost for care?

  The fee for appointments depends on the complexity of your case, time spent coordinating care, and extent of other services rendered. It does not include the cost of supplements, laboratory testing and imaging.  We do take insurance, offer substantial payment at time of service discounts and have a give back program for certain special populations (please see questions below for more information). 

  These are the fees for common services we provide:

  Service Description		Service CPT		Time of Service Rate		List Price (Amount Billed to Insurance)
  1 Hour First Office Visit		99205		$350		$470
  45 Minute Followup Visit		99214		$165		$273
  30 Minute Followup Visit		99213		$130		$194

  Please call for more detailed pricing information.
• I have insurance, do you take my insurance?

  We accept and bill insurance plans that offer fair compensation for naturopathic services provided by small independent practices.  Please note it’s our office policy that verification of insurance coverage is the patient's responsibility.

  Here are some general guidelines about insurance coverage for services at Oregon Naturopathic Clinic:

  
  

  In-Network Plans

  *MODA 

  *PacificSource (commercial plans only).

  If your plan includes coverage for naturopathic physician services, your visit will be billed at the in-network rate.

  We collect any copays or deductibles at the time of your appointment and submit claims to your insurance on your behalf.

  Please check your individual plan for details about your copays, deductibles, and coverage for labs or imaging that may be ordered during your care.

  
  

  Out of Network Plans

  *Providence 

  *Aetna

  *Regence BlueCross BlueShield 

  *Cigna 

  *UnitedHealthcare

  *Health Net.

  If your plan includes out-of-network coverage for naturopathic care. payment is collected at the time of service (see time of service rate in table / question above), and as a courtesy we will submit one claim to your insurance. If payment is received, we will refund the appropriate amount to you.

  If your insurance does not respond, we can provide an itemized invoice or CMS-1500 form so you can submit the claim directly.

  Please check your plan for details about copays, deductibles, and coverage for labs or imaging that may be ordered during your visit.

  If you have a different out-of-network plan with naturopathic coverage, contact us and we’ll help you review your billing options.

  
  

  Cost Sharing Plans

  Cost sharing plans such as Liberty, Medi-Share, and Samaritan may have coverage for services from Naturopathic Physicians.  We recommend that you call your plan to verify coverage.  We do not bill/submit claims to these plans however we can provide you with invoices for services rendered for you to submit to your own plan.  If your plan requires you to submit a CMS-1500 form for your services, and you would like us to prepare that form for you, we charge a small fee to preform that service.  

  
  

  Plans with No Coverage

  Medicaid/OHP/Trillium/Community Solutions insurance:  We are not contracted/in-network with these plans and they do not have out of network coverage.  We recommend you see if your plan covers services from Naturopathic Physicians, and if so use your carrier's provider finder to see who is currently taking these plans.  Some Naturopathic Physicians accept Medicaid / OHP / Trillium / Community Solutions insurance, but we do not at this time. 

  Kaiser: We are not contracted/in-network with these plans and our current understanding is that they do not have out of network coverage.  We recommend you see if your plan covers services from Naturopathic Physicians, and if so use your carrier's provider finder to see who is currently taking these plans. 

  Medicare: Unfortunately the federal government does not recognize Naturopathic Medicine and these plans have no coverage for Naturopathic Physicians.  However, there are some Medicare Advantage/supplemental plans that have coverage for services from Naturopathic Physicians.  If you have one of these plans please call your carrier to verify coverage.  Please note we are currently out-of-network with all Medicare Advantage plans (including Pacific Source Medicare Advantage) but some plans have out-of-network coverage and in that case we can bill according to our out-of-network policy.  

  VA Benefits: Unfortunately Veterans benefits do not cover services from Naturopathic Physicians.  If you have experienced combat/conflict in the line of duty please read the "Special Populations Discount" section in the "Do you see patients who don't have insurance?" question.   

  *Herbal and Nutritional Supplements are rarely, if ever, covered by any existing insurance plan and we do not bill for them.  You must pay for the full cost of supplements at the time of sale.  HSA/FSA accounts may be used to pay for supplements if they are prescribed by Dr. Kim for a specific medical condition in accordance with IRS Publication 502.  
• Do you see patients who don't have insurance?

  Yes, many of our patients don’t have any insurance, or have insurance that doesn’t cover our services.  For those in this situation 2 discount programs are available: 

  Payment at Time of Service Discount  

  For those who are able to pay in full at the time of service.  Please read the "Time of Service Rate" column in the "What is the cost for care?" question above.  Please call for more detailed pricing information.  

  Special Populations Discount  

  As a way of giving back to our community we are committed to making care accessible to these special populations:

  1. Foster care trauma survivors 

  2. Veterans who have experienced conflict/combat in the line of duty (with proof by DD-214 paperwork)

  If you are a member of one of these special populations we can refer you to a nonprofit program where you can receive care from Dr. Kim at a more steep discount than our 'payment at time of service' discount.

  If you have additional questions about our discount programs Doctor Kim can answer them during your free 15 minute phone consultation. 
• What payment forms are accepted?

  Insurance (please see question above), Cash, Check, Credit Card and Paypal. Many Health Care Savings Accounts (HSA) also cover our services (please check the details from your provider / plan). Payment is due at time of service.

  Patients can pay their bill using PayPal at this web address: www.paypal.me/oregonnaturopathic
• How many treatments do I need and what kind of results can I expect?

  Many of our patients notice improvement with their first treatment session and have continued improvement with each following session. The total number of treatments it will take to reach your health goals will depend on a number of factors, including how many health concerns you have, the severity of your condition, how pervasive your condition is, and how receptive and compliant your body is to the treatment. After a thorough evaluation in your first treatment session, we will give you an estimate of how fast you will improve and how often you need to get treated. Our goal is to get you better in as few treatments as possible. We think you will be pleased with your results.
• How long do appointments last?

  Your 1st appointment is scheduled for 60 minutes or 75 minutes if you also want cranial sacral therapy. During your first appointment we will spend a considerable amount of time getting to know you and your health status so we can formulate the best treatment plan for you. We will evaluate your health condition by asking you in depth and detailed questions about your health history, doing a targeted physical exam, and if necessary ordering lab tests or imaging. Once we have gained an understanding of your health status we will formulate a custom treatment plan for you and then spend the remaining time treating you in the office and/or educating you how to perform treatments at home.

  Follow up appointments are typically scheduled for 30 minutes or 45 minutes if you also want cranial sacral therapy. During your followup appointment(s) we will touch base with you to see how you are doing, adjust treatment as necessary, and continue to work towards progress.

  Please note that the above appointment descriptions only act as a guideline and are not a guarantee of what is included in your appointment(s).
• Does Dr. Kim Provide Primary Care?

  While Dr. Kim focuses on holistic care for chronic health conditions she does not currently provide primary care. Dr. Kim recommends that all of her patients have a primary care provider for certain essential services that are not offered by our clinic. For some patients who have complex needs, Dr. Kim requires that they have a PCP at all times or be in diligent search of one if they are to continue to get care from Oregon Naturopathic Clinic
• Will you work with my current provider?

  Absolutely! We’re happy to collaborate with your existing healthcare providers and can fax medical records with them whenever needed—just let us know.

  We believe the best care comes from a team approach. No single provider can do everything, which is why we encourage patients to work with specialists across different areas of medicine for comprehensive support.
• What is your privacy policy?

  We take your privacy very seriously. All of your information is held in strict confidentiality. We do not share your information except where required to by law and when coordinating care with your other health care practitioners. We comply with all current HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) regulations. Please see our privacy practice policies on our Forms page
• What is Naturopathic Medicine?

  Naturopathic Medicine is a distinct method of primary health care that combines centuries old natural, common-sense therapies with current advances in biomedical and diagnostic sciences covering all aspects of health, from prenatal to geriatric care.

  Training: A Naturopathic Physician’s training includes a 4 year, doctoral-level accredited residential naturopathic medical school and is educated in all of the same basic sciences as an MD, but also studies holistic and nontoxic approaches to therapy with a strong emphasis on disease prevention and optimizing wellness. To be licensed in Oregon they must pass an extensive postdoctoral board examination (NPLEX) in order to receive a license by the Oregon Board of Naturopathic Examiners.

  Principles of Naturopathic Medicine:

  The following principles are the foundation of naturopathic medical practice:

  1. The Healing Power of Nature (Vis Medicatrix Naturae): Naturopathic medicine recognizes an inherent self-healing process in people that is ordered and intelligent. Naturopathic physicians act to identify and remove obstacles to healing and recovery, and to facilitate and augment this inherent self-healing process.

  2. Identify and Treat the Causes (Tolle Causam): The naturopathic physician seeks to identify and remove the underlying causes of illness rather than to merely eliminate or suppress symptoms.

  3. First Do No Harm (Primum Non Nocere): Naturopathic physicians follow three guidelines to avoid harming the patient: Utilize methods and medicinal substances which minimize the risk of harmful side effects, using the least force necessary to diagnose and treat; Avoid when possible the harmful suppression of symptoms; and Acknowledge, respect, and work with individuals’ self-healing process.

  5. Doctor as Teacher (Docere): Naturopathic physicians educate their patients and encourage self-responsibility for health. They also recognize and employ the therapeutic potential of the doctor-patient relationship.

  6. Treat the Whole Person: Naturopathic physicians treat each patient by taking into account individual physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social, and other factors. Since total health also includes spiritual health, naturopathic physicians encourage individuals to pursue their personal spiritual development.

  7. Prevention: Naturopathic physicians emphasize the prevention of disease by assessing risk factors, heredity and susceptibility to disease, and by making appropriate interventions in partnership with their patients to prevent illness.

  Therapeutic Order:

  The therapeutic order is the approach that naturopathic physicians use to guide patients to wellness. They start with the least force and move to more invasive measures as necessary.

  1. Re-establish the basis for health. Remove obstacles to healing by establishing a healthy regimen.

  2. Stimulate the healing power of nature. Use low-force methods such as hydrotherapy, nutrition, homeopathy and to stimulate the inherent healing ability of the body.

  3. Tonify weakened systems. Use modalities to strengthen the immune system, decrease toxicity, normalize inflammatory function, optimize metabolic function, balance regulatory systems, enhance regeneration and harmonize life forces.

  4. Correct structural integrity. Use therapeutic exercise, massage, craniosacral therapy and spinal manipulation to optimize structural function.

  5. Prescribe specific natural substances for pathology. Use vitamins, minerals and herbs to promote health.

  6. Prescribe pharmacological substances for pathology. Use pharmacological drugs to return to health.

  7. Use higher Force Interventions such as surgery or suppressive drugs. Use aggressive therapies to attempt to maintain health.
• How do NDs compare to other providers?

  To help you choose the best provider for your individual needs, here's a breakdown in professional training differences between NDs and 2 other common provider types.

  Subject Hour Breakdown Comparison (Approximate Training Hours)

  Subject Area	Naturopathic Doctor (ND)	Medical Doctor (MD/DO)	Nurse Practitioner (NP)
  Total Classroom/Didactic	~2,000–4,000+ hours	~2,600 hours	~600-1,000+ hours
  Total Clinical Training	~1,200–1,500 hours (additional hours can be obtained in optional residency and in private clinical practice after licensure)	~12,000–16,000 hours (including required residency)	~500–1,000 hours
  Nutrition	141–155+ hours	~19.6 hours (avg)	10–19 hours (majority)
  Herbal Medicine	130–150+ hours	Minimal/None	Minimal/None
  Physical Medicine / Structural Alignment Therapies	100+ hours	Low (except DOs/Physiatry)	Minimal
  Counseling/Mind-Body Medicine	150+ hours	Variable (mostly psychiatric)	High (nursing focus)
  Pharmacology	100+ hours	100+ hours	~50 hours

  If you don't mind us making a recommendation, if you need a life saving procedure / surgery or true emergency care please choose a medical doctor or osteopathic doctor (MD/DO) for your care, clearly they have much more required clinical hour training than we naturopathic physicians do (at least when comparing right after coming out of school / residency).  However, if you're needing functional / holistic / natural support (such as herbal medicine, nutrition or mind body medicine) for your chronic health conditions, we believe you're better off choosing a naturopathic physician (ND).