FAQs About The Program?
We will be your coach & cheerleader!
View our flipbook to determine if the value of the program fits for you.
What is Lifestyle Medicine?
Lifestyle medicine involves the use of evidence-based therapeutic approaches, such as a predominantly whole food, plant-based diet, regular physical activity, adequate sleep, stress management, and avoidance of risky substance use, to prevent, treat, and, oftentimes, reverse the chronic disease that’s all too prevalent
What is Functional Medicine?
Functional medicine focuses on optimal functioning of the body and its organs, through a holistic approach. Every client manifests imbalances and problems in a unique way, and Functional medicine figures out the root cause.
Functional medicine has evolved through the efforts of scientists and clinicians from the fields of clinical nutrition, molecular biology, biochemistry, physiology, conventional medicine, and a wide array of scientific disciplines. The specialty evaluates the body as a whole, with special attention to the relationship of one body system to another and the nutrient imbalances and toxic overload that may adversely affect these relationships. Your medical physician may or may not agree with the necessity for—or our interpretation of these tests.
Who would benefit from Lifestyle and Functional Medicine?
There are specific clients who would benefit from our program:
1. A client with multiple chronic diagnoses who is having a difficult time with sticking to lifestyle changes.
2. A client who is on multiple medications and would like help decreasing their prescription burden.
3. A client who does not feel their best and is frustrated because they have been told "everything is normal, all your tests are normal."
4. A client who is struggling with weight loss and would like to have a different perspective on how else their efforts can be focused.
5. A client who has symptoms that may be due to toxin exposure (i.e. workplace exposure, mold, BPA, etc.)
Are you a primary care provider (PCP)
No, Dr. Hopen is a LIfestyle and Functional medicine clinician, serving to complement your primary provider.
We require that all patients maintain their current primary care provider for acute visits. We partner with your PCP to foster a team that will help you achieve optimal health.
What conditions do you work on?
Here’s a number of chronic conditions that benefit from our approach:
Digestive Disorders (GERD, Heartburn, IBS, SIBO)
Autoimmune Conditions (IBD, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriasis, Multiple Sclerosis, Hashimoto’s Disease, Celiac, Crohn’s, Type-1 Diabetes)
Hormonal Imbalances (Feeling “tired & wired”, Hypothyroidism, Hyperthyroidism, PCOS, PMS, Hot Flashes, Painful Periods, Mood
Do you have a video that explains your program?
Yes! We have a free Teachable course called VIP guided tour. In it, you will
Calculate your "Health Grade" (Medical Symptoms Questionnaire) to see how you really feel
Spot areas of self-sabotage that get in the way of your health goals
Learn how functional medicine can bring new clarity to your health goals
Discover how your body is your temple, and understand the 5 stages of remodeling your functional home
Learn how to get the most out of your membership with Dr. Carina Hopen at Inspired Wellness, PLLC
Understand precisely how much this investment will be to reclaim your vibrancy (no hidden surprises or sneaky fees!)
What ages do you work with?
We work with clients 18 years or older.
How do I schedule an appointment?
All appointments are self-scheduled online. Go to the plans & pricing page and you will be directed to a questionnaire and scheduling link.
If you have questions, please submit your questions in the Contact Us section.
FAQs About Insurance
Do you accept insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare?
Insurance does not cover what we do, so we have opted out of participating with healthcare insurance plans. We we are considered as an "Out of Network" provider. This gives the greatest liberty to choose your best path to wellness without the restraint of insurance red tape.
We will provide you with a detailed billing summary (Superbill) that you may submit to your insurance for reimbursement. We are not able to submit a medical claim to your insurance. We cannot assist you with claim resolution for our services.
Additionally, also do not participate in any government ran programs like Medicaid, Medicare, VA Community Care or Tricare programs.
How do patients benefit when the practice does not accept insurance?
Our pricing is simple and transparent. You will always know exactly what everything costs upfront and can make decisions based on posted prices. We have streamlined our processes so that we can provide you the lowest costs for either Lifestyle Medicine or Functional Medicine specialty care. (Off island specialists charge much, much more than we do).
We are here to serve you, not the insurance company. Clinicians who are confined by the insurance umbrella spend hours every day pecking away at the computer to attempt to meet the billing and coding requirements. Instead of spending hours a day to meet the requirements of the bean counters, our physician can dedicate her time to researching the latest medical data and apply cutting-edge science to help her patients.
Can I use my FSA/HSA?
Yes, you can use your HSA/FSA funds to cover our services. We will provide you with a detailed billing summary (Superbill).
FAQs About The Membership
We will be your coach & cheerleader!
Why are the membership fees so high?
Compared to other Lifestyle & Functional Medicine practices (which are mostly off Whidbey Island), we have streamlined our processes so that we can offer the lowest fees possible. In addition, you will work with a certified health coach who is not only dual boarded in Family Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine, she is a licensed nutritionist, certified mindfulness teacher, a HeartMath practitioner, and she has studied culinary coaching as well.
If you look at the health insurance industry, many plans have an annual-out-of-pocket maximum that you will have to pay anyway, so you might as well consider putting that hard earned money towards a program that will provide you personalized care. When you look at the membership fees from this perspective, your out-of-pocket expense is an investment that will get you dedicated time with a physician coach who will listen to your story and to help you get on the path to healing.
View our flipbook to determine if the value of the program fits for you.
Is a membership required?
A membership is not required, but highly encouraged for several reasons:
Your symptoms likely have been ongoing for quite some time. It may take a couple of visits to understand what processes are happening to your body.
The memberships offer 4 hours a month of physician education and group support in the form of Open Office Hours. When was the last time you had that kind of opportunity to touch bases with your doctor?
As a member, you get priority booking for follow-up visit.
The membership also offers free access to on-demand online courses that otherwise would cost a monetary fee.
The packages are more cost effective. See "plans & pricing" section for details.
Lab work is NOT included in the membership fees.
What if I just want a one-time consultation to see what areas I can work on?
Inspired Wellness, PLLC is more than happy to meet with you for 60 minutes to listen to your health journey and advise you of some areas to work on. Lab work is not a part of the initial consult.
The initial consult fee is $399. If you decide that you would like to follow-up for an additional visit, but you don't want to be a member, the follow-up visit fees are:
$499 for a 60-minute visit
$249 for a 30-minute visit
Non-members do not have priority booking
These fees do not include access to Open Office Hours or On-Demand Online courses
3x4 Genetics consultation fee is $489 and includes a total of 60-minutes consultation plus other perks (see Plans & Pricing for more information)
Does the membership fee include lab work?
No, lab work is an out of pocket expense. We encourage lab work because it gives us a better idea of what your body's physiology is doing. We advise on testing and not guessing.
However, Inspired Wellness, PLLC understands that finances may not be flexible for lab work that is not traditionally ordered in the primary care setting. Inspired Wellness, PLLC will never pressure you into getting lab testing done. Clients who opt-in for lab work pay the lab company directly. Inspired Wellness, PLLC does not profit from any lab work completed.
If your PCP is willing to order a CMP, CBC, TSH/FT4, vitamin D, vitamin B12 & folate, A1c, fasting insulin and CRP, the results will be of great help, and it's preferable that they were completed in the last 3-4 months.
Our physician can order labs from LabCorp and Quest, as well, but the client will be responsible for any out of pocket expense for labs not covered by their insurance.
What is the time commitment for being a member?
The road to healing can take time. Our client agreement contract requires a 3-month membership commitment. You can cancel anytime after the 3-month commitment.
Inspired Wellness, PLLC strives towards "graduation" from the program. We will make sure that you have the tools you need to keep you thriving even after you have completed the membership.
How long does it take to heal?
There are many factors involved in determining how long it will take for an individual to heal, such as your level of participation and commitment, your individual health issues, and your current state of vitality. It’s important to understand that it’s not reasonable to expect to undo decades of damage in just a few weeks. We do not believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to healing, because we’re all unique individuals with different histories, abilities, lifestyles, and needs. This means the healing process will be as unique as you and we like to allow it to unfold naturally as your body permits. No matter how long it takes, our team is here to support you throughout your healing journey.
What is open office hours?
Each membership plan includes bimonthly (minimum) physician education in the form of Zoom (30-minute live) webinar that are recorded. It is a chance to learn as a community about a new topic.
How can I start working with you?
If you are interested in a one-time consultation, go to the "plans & pricing" page to complete a questionnaire and schedule your visit.
If you are interested in membership, please schedule a screening call so that we can make sure our program is the right fit for you. If it is a good fit, we will email you a link to schedule your intake visit. If the program is not a good fit, you will receive a personalized email with loads of information.
The screening call has a non-refundable fee is $5 which we will donate to one of the many charities in the Oak Harbor area.
Do you offer workshops?
Yes, we offer corporate wellness workshops.
Presentations - up to 60 minutes
2-5 participants, $50/pp
6-10 participants, $45/pp
11+ participants, Flat fee $500
FAQs About Your Initial Visit
What do I need to do to prepare for my first appointment?
1. Online intake forms must be completed at least two business days before the initial visit. This will allow our specialist to review all of your information.
2. Additional paperwork to include: Terms and Agreement, HIPAA privacy form, and the release of information with any family members (if desired).
3. Sending any pertinent labs (done in the last 3 months) or imaging studies (done in the last 2 years) can also be reviewed.
4. If possible, please email a picture of yourself that we may use in your medical record.
What should I expect for my first appointment?
Expect to spend some time with us as we want to get to know you! You will have a one-hour consultation with a physician health coach. Please bring all of your supplements and medications you are currently taking. Lab work is not necessary prior to your first visit, nor will lab work be taken at the initial visit. You are NOT required to fast prior to your first visit.
Our physician will organize your health story using the Functional Matrix, and this allows her to identify key areas of dysfunction and imbalance that can be corrected. After the visit, you will be provided with an action plan and you will also receive an email invitation to enroll in the membership program and join the client portal.
Why do you ask for payment for the initial consultation prior to the day of service?
Payment for your initial consultation goes towards an extensive review of your intake forms and medical history by our physician, which happens days before your visit. She aims to know your health history well before your visit and she can use her expertise to help you arrive at an initial treatment plan that is in alignment with your needs.
FAQs About Everything Else
How do I get into my client portal?
After your initial screen, you will receive an email invitation to join the portal. Further instructions will be provided in the email.
If you are an active member, the “Client Portal” button is located at the upper right corner of the website.
Can we work together remotely?
Yes! We require initial visits to be in person, but follow-up visits can be completed virtually.
When will I get my lab results and how can I view them?
Membership clients will receive a link to a video interpretation of labs (this does not apply to the 3x4 Genetics testing). Lab work panels are reviewed when received in their entirety at our clinic. Partial results do not give a full picture, so we wait for a complete panel to return to interpret. This may take several weeks, depending on the tests ordered. Kit testing can take up to 4-6 weeks to result, depending on the laboratory ordered. Simple blood draws have a quicker turnaround time.
Why is that some lab work does not show up in my patient portal?
Labs that are performed at facilities besides Quest and LabCorp do not feed into the lab portal because they need to be scanned into your chart.
What kind of specialty testing does Inspired Wellness, PLLC offer?
We will explain the labs you’ve already acquired with your primary care doctor in detail. If you need specialty functional testing to help reach your goals, we have contracted with some amazing companies (Doctor’s Data, Great Plains Laboratory, ZRT labs, RealTime, and Labrix) to provide Organic Amino Acid testing, Comprehensive Stool Evaluation, and salivary measurements of cortisol and hormones. (These are just a few examples.) These types of testing don't require blood work, so they are done in the comfort of your own home, with the convenience of FedEx shipping labels and containers.
If we decide that blood work may be helpful, those tests can be done locally at either a LabCorp or Quest testing center.
How important are vitamins and supplements in the treatment plan?
We will clarify exactly which vitamins or supplements you need (or don’t need). While much of your treatment momentum can be gained with customized instructions on food sources and lifestyle changes, many individuals could benefit from temporary (or long-term) supplementation based on their unique genetic limitations, digestion inefficiencies, or micronutrient deficiencies.
We understand that purchasing supplements may be an issue, and you are not required to purchase them. However, if your finances are flexible, we will provide you access to prescription quality supplements through my FullScript dispensary which offers only the highest purity and 3rd party quality certification. Since you are ordering them from my recommended prescription service, you will get discounted pricing from MRSP. You may want to budget $200-300 for the cost of supplements during the first few months of recovery.
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