Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I’ve never seen a Naturopathic doctor or an Acupuncturist, how do I know if it is right for me?
A: I offer a free 15-minute consultation aimed at seeing if this is a good fit for you both personally and professionally. Call 503-477-5167 to set up a consultation.
Q: Do you accept insurance?
A: Yes, I am in-network with most of the major carriers in the state of Oregon including Care Oregon. If your plan offers alternative health care benefits for Naturopathic medicine or Acupuncture, we can bill through insurance. At the time you schedule your first appointment, the front desk staff will request your insurance information so that we can verify the exact details of your coverage as a courtesy service to you. You are always encouraged to check your plan benefits ahead of time to guarantee coverage.
Q: What type of training does a Naturopathic Physician receive?
A: Training requires 4 years of medical education from one of six recognized schools in North America. This includes 3500 classroom hours covering basic health sciences, clinical specialties such as gastroenterology, cardiology and endocrinology, and naturopathic modalities such as homeopathy, botanical medicine and clinical nutrition. 1200 hours is spent in the teaching clinic treating patients under the supervision of licensed naturopathic physicians and 300 hours is spent observing private practice doctors in their offices.
Q: How is Naturopathic Medicine regulated?
A: Currently, 15 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have licensing laws for Naturopathic physicians. Oregon is one of these 15 states. In these states, Naturopathic physicians are required to graduate from a four year, residential naturopathic medical school and pass extensive postdoctoral board examination in order to receive a license. Licensed Naturopathic physicians must fulfill state mandated continuing education requirements annually, and have specific scope of practice defined by their state’s law.
Q: Will you work with my other healthcare providers?
A: Absolutely. I believe that a treatment team is the best way to support patients. Naturopathic medicine works well in conjunction with conventional care; in fact, it often helps improve the results and reduce the side-effects of treatments you are receiving. If you would like me to work with any other physicians, please bring the contact information for these physicians you are working with to your appointment. Please also bring along any recent lab or imaging results.
Q: Does Dr. Melissa order labs?
A: Yes, labs can be ordered if necessary and may be covered by insurance depending on your coverage. If you have already had previous lab work done, please bring a copy with you to your first visit. Depending on your particular health concerns, we might request tests that are more specific and provide other types of information. Some examples of these tests include food intolerance testing, digestive health evaluation, adrenal and other hormone testing, and others. These will be discussed in more detail during your visits with us.
A: I offer a free 15-minute consultation aimed at seeing if this is a good fit for you both personally and professionally. Call 503-477-5167 to set up a consultation.
Q: Do you accept insurance?
A: Yes, I am in-network with most of the major carriers in the state of Oregon including Care Oregon. If your plan offers alternative health care benefits for Naturopathic medicine or Acupuncture, we can bill through insurance. At the time you schedule your first appointment, the front desk staff will request your insurance information so that we can verify the exact details of your coverage as a courtesy service to you. You are always encouraged to check your plan benefits ahead of time to guarantee coverage.
Q: What type of training does a Naturopathic Physician receive?
A: Training requires 4 years of medical education from one of six recognized schools in North America. This includes 3500 classroom hours covering basic health sciences, clinical specialties such as gastroenterology, cardiology and endocrinology, and naturopathic modalities such as homeopathy, botanical medicine and clinical nutrition. 1200 hours is spent in the teaching clinic treating patients under the supervision of licensed naturopathic physicians and 300 hours is spent observing private practice doctors in their offices.
Q: How is Naturopathic Medicine regulated?
A: Currently, 15 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have licensing laws for Naturopathic physicians. Oregon is one of these 15 states. In these states, Naturopathic physicians are required to graduate from a four year, residential naturopathic medical school and pass extensive postdoctoral board examination in order to receive a license. Licensed Naturopathic physicians must fulfill state mandated continuing education requirements annually, and have specific scope of practice defined by their state’s law.
Q: Will you work with my other healthcare providers?
A: Absolutely. I believe that a treatment team is the best way to support patients. Naturopathic medicine works well in conjunction with conventional care; in fact, it often helps improve the results and reduce the side-effects of treatments you are receiving. If you would like me to work with any other physicians, please bring the contact information for these physicians you are working with to your appointment. Please also bring along any recent lab or imaging results.
Q: Does Dr. Melissa order labs?
A: Yes, labs can be ordered if necessary and may be covered by insurance depending on your coverage. If you have already had previous lab work done, please bring a copy with you to your first visit. Depending on your particular health concerns, we might request tests that are more specific and provide other types of information. Some examples of these tests include food intolerance testing, digestive health evaluation, adrenal and other hormone testing, and others. These will be discussed in more detail during your visits with us.