Frequently Asked Questions

Functional medicine, rather than targeting individual symptoms, focuses on the optimal functioning of the entire body and its organs. It addresses the underlying causes of disease, using a systems-oriented approach in partnership with understanding the conditions and history in which the disease manifested. Genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors all have a direct influence of long-term health and chronic health issues.

Functional medicine, because it treats systems and targets the entire body, can help treat many chronic conditions.  Some examples of health conditions that can be treated with functional medicine are: autoimmunity, hormone imbalances, subfertility and infertility from non-mechanical reasons, gut disorders (IBS, IBD), chronic fatigue, and neurodegenerative disorders.

What is important to note is that various conditions can be treated and improved upon, but the extent of improvement very much depends on each individual’s circumstances. Oftentimes, functional medicine offers a treatment course, where other medical modalities do not. This is possible because the goal of functional medicine is root cause resolution, as opposed to symptomatic management, and we find that there are almost always modifiable factors at the root level.

Results vary by each person. Some people feel dramatic improvement within the first month, others may take a bit longer. Our standard programs are for a minimum of 6-months. Remember, your body didn’t fail overnight. Years of stress and illness takes its toll and it takes a proper amount of time to restore. On average it takes one month of repair for each year you’ve suffered from a specific problem.

Re-testing is required often, in the setting of certain treatment.  Thyroid, if medicated, should be monitored closely in the first period. For other conditions, it is recommended that a client retest at the latest, at 6-month mark to measure improvement and adjust protocols if needed. Once a client has achieved their desired health results, we recommend annual testing to ensure your body systems continue functioning at their best.

Our software will allow for appointment scheduling requests, but it is up to our administrative staff to finalize and confirm the request.

Please note, there is a $150 non-refundable “placeholder” fee upon confirmation of your appointment. If you are not sure about scheduling, then contact us at the time that you are sure about scheduling, as the $150 placeholder fee in non-refundable.

If you are unable to keep your scheduled appointment, please notify our office a minimum of 48 hours before your scheduled time or by Friday at noon if you have a Monday morning appointment. You may be charged for that appointment if you are not able to notify us in time.

Of note, the $150 placeholder fee we charge your card upon making your appointment request, is non-refundable. Consultations may be charged in full if the cancellation policy is not followed. Our providers’ patients may be waiting a month to be seen, and a missed appointment takes time away from someone else. As a courtesy, our office will email/text you to confirm your appointment 3 days in advance.

We open 10 am- 6:30 pm Monday -Thursday and 10 am-6 pm on Friday.

Yes, Dr. Rahav is a medical doctor. She is board certified in both internal medicine and hospice and palliative care. Her integrative and functional medicine training and experience precede her formal medical training. Dr. Rahav is a general practitioner and is not a pediatrician, a neurologist, a gastroenterologist, or a gynecologist. It is important to mention here that functional medicine offers avenues for understanding and treating conditions that may fall under other medical subspecialties, but that Dr. Rahav is not advertising herself as an expert in those subspecialties, but rather as a functional medicine physician, internist and palliative specialist only.

Our providers are happy to answer brief questions via email you may have about your protocol or symptoms. If it is a complex question which requires further back and forth communication, our providers will recommend scheduling a 15 minute consult.

We completely understand that many times, prioritizing a wellness plan requires major life changes. Our advice is to start low and go slow, even if one intervention or product at a time, and take one day at a time. Often keeping a health journal allows one to stay on track and also shows the progression that we often forget, when we need a little inspiration.

We do not bill insurance companies for consultations, IV therapies, nutrition consultation, colonics, or IV nutrition or ozone; it is up to each individual to determine whether their insurance plan provides reimbursement for our various clinical services. With labs we help facilitate the lab company billing the patient’s insurance. If there are any issues with the billing, it is the patients’ responsibility to contact the lab to address the matter.

Per your request, we will provide a superbill to you that lists CPT and diagnosis codes that you may submit to your insurance company. Our superbills provide the codes for consultations and lab tests/ procedures if applicable. Most insurance companies will not reimburse for supplements. Please note that we cannot guarantee reimbursement. This will depend on your individual plan.

Refill Policy: Thyroid Medication
Initial thyroid management may require frequent adjustments that will be decided with your doctor at the time of your appointment. Once on stable dose, you will need a monitoring (follow-up appointment with your doctor and blood work) every three to six months. Your doctor will prescribe enough medication to last until your next appointment. For refills requests outside of your scheduled appointment, there is a $25 fee.

Refill Policy: Bioidentical Hormones
Initial Bioidentical Hormone management may require frequent adjustments that will be decided with your doctor at the time of your appointment. Once on stable dose, you will need a monitoring (follow-up appointment with your doctor and blood work) every three to six months. Your doctor will prescribe enough medication to last until your next appointment. For refills requests outside of your scheduled appointment, there is a $25 fee.

Controlled Substances:
All controlled substances require face to face appointments for evaluation, management, monitoring, and refill. No exceptions.
All patients receiving Testosterone will require routine PSA and Testosterone level monitoring.