Insurance-Based Appointment
What You Need To Know
Most insurance carriers cover nutrition counseling for $0 copay!
To make things EVEN easier, we do the benefit verifications for our clients. To get started, we just a need a few pieces of information from you.
To get started, see the list below.
*Also helpful: Read the FAQ’s and General Insurance information on this page before you proceed.
Using Your Insurance - Just A Few Easy Steps
Click each “plus” below to review details.
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We will need you to provide your insurance information so that we can review benefits coverage on your behalf. Prior to submitting, please understand who your Primary and Secondary Insurance Carriers are. You have four options:
Phone: 208-278-6388. Call me and provide over the phone. Do not leave insurance or other details on voicemail.
Secure Fax: Send front/back copy of all active insurance cards: 208-601-6177.
Online Form: A secure form you can fill out. Go Here.
Online Portal: Can upload insurance cards once registered. This portal is where we will have secure access to chat and share any lab work or other documents between sessions: Go Here.
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We will review your insurance options with you by phone. This information can tell you how many hours or sessions your insurance allows for the year. This also tells us if we need an MD referral (which often is needed).
Even though we offer this service for our clients, we always recommend calling the number on the back of the insurance card yourself as well (hearing it from the horse’s mouth). If you have questions about copays or deductibles, they can provide greater details than your RD.
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Many Insurances require an MD referral (all California clients for example). Once your benefits are reviewed, we will know if you need an MD referral, or not.
I have an online referral option, and also a form you can download and send to your MD. Go HERE.
We cannot meet before this is obtained. Referrals are good for the calendar year.
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You did it! The hard part is over and now we can book your session. You can book on my portal using the button below. Or call/text me with your preferred day/time.
Insurance Plans I Accept
If your insurance is not listed here, please select the Self-Pay Appointment option.
FAQs
Please review fully before booking
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If you’re feeling overwhelmed by conflicting advice about kidney-friendly diets, you’re not alone. Many of my patients come to me after spending hours on Google, only to feel more confused and ready to throw in the towel.
As a Board-Certified Specialist in Renal Nutrition, I’ve dedicated my career to helping people with kidney disease, and make intentional efforts to keep up to date on the most current recommendations. I understand the unique challenges you face and am here to provide clarity and support.
With this personalized guidance, you’ll follow the most up-to-date recommendations tailored to your body’s unique needs—no more guessing or struggling with overly restrictive diets.
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For best results, most patients opt to meet with me at least 3 times: 1 Initial Appointment (75 minutes) and 2 Follow-Ups (30 minutes) over a period of 2-3 months (or however frequently they get blood work done).
I also have many patients that work with me long-term, for 6-12 months or longer.
At the end of our first appointment, we’ll discuss the type of support that best suits what you’re looking for.
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Absolutely! Your kidney nutrition plan should be personalized to YOUR unique needs, including your specific lab results. Without these, we’re in a sense, flying blind.
After booking your appointment, you’ll receive an invitation to join my Patient Portal. Through the portal, you’ll complete new patient paperwork and have the option to upload your lab results or any other documents for me to review before our meeting.
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Although my specialty is kidney diseases, I also work with clients facing other health concerns. My areas of interest include diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and heart health, plant-forward nutrition, and general healthy eating. Currently, I only work with individuals aged 18 and older.
If your primary nutrition concern falls outside my expertise (such as pediatric nutrition), I’d be happy to help you find a provider who is better suited to your specific needs. And I know many!
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Insurance does often cover the whole session, however, sometimes patients may still be responsible for out of pocket costs such as co-pays, co-insurance, and late cancellation/no-show fees.
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Yes I absolutely do!
A superbill is a detailed invoice that patients use to get reimbursed by their insurance for out-of-network health care services.
How it works
The patient pays the healthcare provider directly.
The provider gives the patient a superbill.
The patient submits the superbill to their insurance company.
The insurance company reviews the superbill and determines the reimbursement.
The patient may be reimbursed partially or entirely.
What's on a superbill?
Patient's name, address, phone number, and date of birth
Patient's insurance information
Date of visit
Procedure codes and descriptions
Diagnosis codes and descriptions
Modifiers
Units or minutes
Fees charged
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RESCHEDULES: Patients are asked to arrive 10 minutes before their scheduled appointment time in order to complete the check-in process (unless forms were signed online prior). Patients arriving more than 20 minutes late will be required to reschedule their appointment to the next available opening consistent with the type of appointment requested.
CANCELLATIONS: The full session fee is charged for no shows and cancellations with less than 24-hour notice. In order for us to provide the best care, it is recommended that follow up appointments be kept.
As a courtesy to both your provider and other families, we ask that you cancel any scheduled appointment 24 hours in advance so that others may utilize this time. Failure to attend an appointment without a 24 hour cancellation is considered a NO SHOW.
NO SHOWS are charged the full amount for the session they booked. If you are charged the full cost of an appointment for not showing up or canceling in time, your insurance will not be billed. Your card on file will be billed.
Book Your Appointment
If you do not have Medicare, Blue Cross, Cigna, United Healthcare, or Aetna, please select the self-pay option.
Please note: a credit card on file is required to book ANY appointment type.
For insurance appointments, you will not be charged any fees at booking.
For self-pay appointments, you must pay at the time of booking.
Insurance FAQ’s by Company
Information below is not comprehensive, but simply based on knowledge and experience. Since you are still responsible for payment, it is still recommended to call the number on the back of your insurance card to verify yourself as plans can differ by location.
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MEDICARE PART B
Nutrition therapy is covered in full with no cost to you, however ONLY with a diagnosis of diabetes, kidney disease (pre-dialysis CKD), or 36 months post kidney transplant. Medicare does not cover pre-diabetes or any other diagnoses.
A referral from your Medicare doctor (MD or DO) is always required, and a new referral must be obtained each calendar year. Have your doctor's office fax it to us at 208-601-6177.
Medicare initially allows 3 hours the first calendar year you receive nutrition therapy whether it was provided by us, another dietitian or a combination of both. Subsequent calendar years they cover 2 hours. However, additional unlimited visits are covered when there is a change in your condition and your doctor sends us a second referral in the same calendar year.
MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS (a.k.a. Medicare Part C)...These are Medicare plans administered by insurance companies. We bill the insurance company, not Medicare.
Often the same coverage and requirements as Medicare Part B, but some do cover additional diagnoses.
Aetna Medicare Advantage plans - Standard Medicare coverage & requirements apply.
MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT PLANS (a.k.a. MediGap)...These plans don't provide any extra coverage for nutrition therapy. If Medicare part B won't cover it, a Medicare Supplement won't either. These plans only help cover copays, which don't apply to nutrition therapy anyway.
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Aetna limits visits to 55 minutes, however our initial visits are standardly 75 minutes. Let us know if you'd like to self-pay for the extra time, or keep the initial visit to what Aetna allows.
PPO plans: No referral required. Typically covers 10 nutrition visits as a Preventive benefit (meaning no cost to you), and an additional 16 for people who are "overweight" or "obese" (BMI 25+).
Aetna also covers nutrition counseling as a Medical benefit for many other conditions, but deductible/copay/coinsurance may apply.
For Medical coverage, we often need to receive diagnosis codes from your physician.
Note that Aetna does NOT cover ADHD, asthma, or chronic fatigue.
EPO plans: We may be considered out-of network
Medicare Advantage plans: Same benefits as regular Medicare Part B. A physician's referral with a diagnosis of diabetes or chronic kidney disease is required, with another referral after the first 2 or 3 hours of care. Clients without a referral or covered diagnosis must self-pay at the time of service.
Self-funded plans, including unions and trusts, can have more limited coverage... please be sure to check your benefits in advance for these plans.
Here's the link to Aetna's Nutritional Counseling Policy.
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We are considered in-network for out-of-state BCBS PPO plans, such as BCBS Federal, Anthem, BCBS of Illinois, CareFirst, and many more.
BCBS plans generally cover nutrition visits in full as preventive, no referral required, however there are countless different plans throughout the country and they each have their nuances.
While we always recommend calling your insurance to check benefits for nutrition counseling, it is especially important with these plans since we are less familiar with them.
If your plan only covers certain diagnoses, ensure your doctor sends us documentation of them so that we may use them to bill.
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At least 3 preventive visits are covered in full each year, with many plans covering unlimited.
Additional visits are typically covered for eating disorders and diabetes. If this applies to you, please have your doctor fax the appropriate ICD-10 diagnosis code(s) to us at 208-601-6177 so that we may use it for billing.