Frequently Asked Questions

Chiropractors offer a drug-free, personal hands-on approach to healthcare. Doctors of Chiropractic (D.C.) must earn an undergraduate degree in addition to 3 years post-graduate education to obtain their degree. They are extremely well-trained in the area of neuro-musculoskeletal diagnosis and treatment of related conditions.  Their 4,400+ coursework hours mirror traditional medical school, but have more hours in anatomy, physiology, chemistry, radiology and diagnosis and far less in pharmacology.

During a spinal or extremity adjustment, a doctor applies a small amount of force in a specialized manner to a joint, to restore motion which was restricted. This adjustment reduces pressure on accompanying nerve roots. Adjustments sometimes produce a “popping” sound which is simply nitrogen gas releasing from the synovial capsule within the joint itself. Adjustments often result in immediate pain relief.

Absolutely! Chiropractic adjustments are safe for all ages, from infants to elderly. Manipulations vary according to medical history, age,  and conditions.

Spinal manipulation is one of the most common complementary health approaches used by adults and children in the U.S. (National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).  Among U.S. adults who used chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation, about 67 percent used it to treat a specific health condition, and 53 percent used it for wellness, the NHIS found.

Your body has “memory”.  So after adjustments it has a tendency to want to revert back to the posture/position it is used to.  Our doctors are helping create new memory with proper alignment and proper function.  Absence of pain does not automatically mean your problem is solved.  Pain is like the red light coming on in your engine.  The problem started long before the red light appeared.  If we don’t correct the source, the pain or “red light” will return. As your body gets stronger, it will maintain function and alignment for longer and longer periods of time and visits become less frequent.

Maintenance care is much like your regular dental checkups.  If you stay on top of things, you prevent greater problems and costs down the road.  Our doctors recommend patients get maintenance check-ups every 2-3 months depending on the health of your body and how active you are.  A functioning spine and body supports overall immune function and vitality.  Check-ups are a tiny investment in your most important asset – your health!

Your first visit is the beginning of a new relationship between you and your team of OM Center providers whose goal is to help you feel your best.  This requires we take time to know you, your lifestyle and work to understand what caused the condition that brought you to our practice.  This is a process.

1. Paperwork: First, we will need you to complete a detailed health history intake, pain questionnaires and any other information required to administer care. We will also take your insurance information including driver’s license and a copy of your insurance card, for our billing records. The majority of this paperwork should be completed electronically prior to your visit.
2. Consultation: Next, you will have a consultation reviewing your medical history and describing your main complaint and details of the event(s) leading you to your present condition. This will allow the doctors to determine how Chiropractic might benefit you.  You will also have an opportunity to ask questions.
3. Physical Exam: The consultation is followed by a detailed physical examination. This will include a review of bodily systems which may be affected by your condition, orthopedic and neurological tests, evaluation of range of motion, neurologic tests, chiropractic exam/palpation, and other diagnostic testing as may be required.
4. Diagnosis & Treatment: When the exam is complete, the doctor will explain his findings, review your diagnosis and his recommended treatment plan. When your questions are answered you will have completed, you will have your first treatment. This may include spinal manipulative therapy, electro muscular stimulation (STIM) , therapeutic exercises & stretching, or other therapies. Treatment varies according to your unique history and diagnosis.  Each individual patient is different, and therefore each treatment and plan is unique to every patient.
5. Professional Recommendations: After your first treatment session is complete, the doctor will give you some extra tips concerning your care. This may include, but is not limited to: home care prescription, work restrictions, home therapies, and further testing.

We will submit for you, just as we would if you were in network.

As an OUT OF NETWORK PROVIDER, we will submit claims for all services rendered to your insurer.  You will be responsible to pay the amount applying to your out of network deductible. (This deductible is typically, but not always, higher than your IN-NETWORK DEDUCTIBLE.)  Until you meet your deductible, we will collect $60 at the time of service toward the amount due for the visit.  This is not the entire fee.  As the claims come through, we will bill you monthly for the balance due after the insurance has processed your claim. This amount will be in addition to the $60 collected at the time of service. Once your deductible is met, you will not pay at the time of service and will be billed monthly for your coinsurance.

SELF PAY OPTION

If you have a high deductible which you feel you will not meet, you have the option of using our Self-Pay rates, which would be 15% lower.  In this case you would pay the fees for service at the time of your appointment and we would not be billing your insurance.  We are legally permitted to discount insurance rates because: 1. We don’t have the administration fees of submitting to insurance. 2. The patient pays at the time of service.

CAN I USE MY HSA OR MEDICAL SAVINGS ACCOUNT?

Yes!  Whether we bill your insurance or you use our Self-pay rates you are able to pay using a Health Savings or Medical Savings account for ALL services at the OM Center except for Reiki or Hypnotherapy which are not yet billable to insurance.  You may also use your HSA card for all durable medical equipment (ice packs, foam rolls, cbd products, etc.).

First of all- who is at fault? Did someone hit you?

If someone else was at fault, your best-case scenario is typically the following:

We submit to all of the following entities:

1. Your Health Insurance – you are responsible for any copays or deductibles at the time of service.
2. Your Personal Auto policy (you were not at fault so your premium cannot be increased) (when you call they will often advise you to bill the third party, to which you should say I pay for my coverage and I understand it is my right to submit for payment) We can have them pay you directly, this will cover your deductible and or copay and any remaining money goes in your pocket.
3. The third-party insurance of the person that hit you. (They will settle with you at the end of care and will pay you directly). If your health and auto paid your claims at our office ALL this goes in your pocket.

 

When would someone opt to NOT bill their health insurance?

(If they are out of network with a large deductible.  *UHC, Cigna – Cigna has additional restrictions that may not pay for all their care.  If it is the beginning or near beginning of the year and they use their health insurance for chiro regularly, they may want to save their benefit)

If you are injured on the job, it is important you report your injury to your employer as quickly as possible.  Your employer’s authorized company representative must provide you a list of caregivers within (3) working days.  If no panel is provided, you may choose any doctor you like.

The first “treating” doctor for any injury – be it the Primary Care, an Orthopedist, or one of our doctors – becomes the Doctor of Record and will be the Employee’s Doctor of Record who will manage all aspects of the patient’s care, including referrals.

Our goal is to get you back to your pre-injury health as quickly as possible, enabling you to get back to work and back to life.