Frequently Asked Questions

Please review the frequently asked questions below. If you don’t find the answer to your question, feel free to contact our patient coordinator via email, or set up a consultation.

Scheduling & Visits

What Are The Restrictions On Virtual Doctor's Visits?
If you are NOT a New York resident, your initial visit at Functional Medicine Clinics must be in person. After the first visit, all follow up visits can be conducted by phone or virtually using our secure video channel if you choose.
Email Etiquette
Members have unlimited email contact with their provider team through the patient portal. However, if an email question or request is deemed by one of our staff to be too complicated or involved for a response via email they may, at their discretion, require that the member schedule a phone, telemedicine or in person visit instead of responding via email.
Scheduling & Cancellations
There is a 24-hour cancellation policy for all appointments with a Functional Medicine Clinics doctor, any health coach, or team member. Canceling within 24-hours will result in a $50 charge to the credit card on file.

No-shows: If you do not show up to a phone, video/telemedicine or in person appointment without notifying the specific person you have an appointment with either via email or by changing the appointment using the online scheduling tool on the patient portal, you will be charged $100 to the card on file.

Billing & Insurance

We are not an insurance plan and do not take the place of an insurance plan.
We advise all members to maintain a separate health insurance plan of their choosing. You should also note that the Affordable Care Act includes a general requirement that all U.S. citizens purchase health insurance. A FMC membership does not meet this requirement.
We Are Not A Conventional Primary Care Physician.
Because you can message us online during business hours we are often able to take care of urgent request, such as a prescription refill.

It is important to note the following however:

1. We do not fulfill an insurance company’s requirement for an in network primary care physician as we are not in-network with any insurance plan.

2. We are not available for same-day emergency appointments.

3. We do not have a 24 hour answering service and do not take calls on weekends. If you need to be seen urgently or have a medical emergency you would need to visit an ER or urgent care center.

We Are Not Specialists.
If you need to see an OBGYN, a surgeon, or a cardiologist, for example, you will be referred appropriately. The costs associated with the services provided by specialists or any other health care provider outside of Functional Medicine Clinics are not covered by your membership.
We are not an emergency or urgent care center and we are not available 24-hours per day.
Our availability is during normal working hours and your ability to reach us or access our services at any given time may be limited. If you require urgent care you should immediately call 911 or contact an emergency care provider such as a local hospital or emergency room. The costs associated with emergency care services are not covered by your membership.

Take The First Step Today On Your Journey Back To Health

Maybe you have some questions you’d like to ask before you make a decision on becoming a patient. Our patient coordinator is standing by, happy to answer any questions you have to see whether or not Functional Medicine Clinics is right for you.

Schedule a Consultation