I completely understand there are a wide variety of experiences with chiropractic care. It is a  diverse profession which is amazing but also sometimes confusing for people to understand how an individual doctor may practice. Before any treatment is rendered I will explain the plan of care and why we are doing it.  I will present you with a variety of options for treatment and the risks, benefits and alternatives for each. My care is gentle and problem focused, I pride myself on taking the time to make clients comfortable, whether they’ve had prior chiropractic care or not, to ensure  a positive experience.  

Infant chiropractic care looks nothing like adult chiropractic care - the techniques are gentle, non-force movements, with no popping, twisting or fast movements.  The most common side effect for infants after receiving a treatment is the desire to sleep, similar to wanting to go home and  nap after a great massage.

Yes. We will modify your care plan based on your unique issues. My decision to become a Chiropractor came after running out of treatment options for chronic pain due to a neck fracture, I was told to never see a Chiropractor but had exhausted all other non-surgical options. My first Chiropractor modified my treatment to work for and with my injury which led me to fully regain my quality of life. Having this direct personal experience I understand how fragile and vulnerable being in pain can feel, I also understand the desire for non-surgical treatment. I will spend the time necessary reviewing imaging and consulting with your other providers to build a treatment plan for you.

Yes, your body is definitely more mobile during pregnancy. However, chiropractic care during pregnancy focuses less on popping and more on balanced motion to support carrying your child. Treatment during pregnancy concentrates on flexibility and stability, often combining adjustments with stability exercises and movement modifications. And….it feels really incredible to face down on the specially designed pregnancy pillow, often my clients favorite part of the visit : )

You will need to fill out initial paperwork online before your first appointment.  Please take your time and complete the paperwork as this information is important for Dr. Gerbi to tailor your visit and treatment to your specific problem.  Once the doctor has reviewed your intake form, you will sit together and discuss your presenting problem as well as your past health issues in depth.   After this information is gathered, the doctor will perform an examination on the area of complaint and related structures.  This exam may involve some of the tests you are used to at a doctor’s office, such as blood pressure and reflexes.  There are many other manual tests that will be performed to give the doctor insight into the nature of your problem.  If we are focusing on infant feeding issues and lactation, I will watch the baby eat so we can observe his or latch and record how much milk he or she is transferring. At the end of the exam, the doctor will discuss the findings and talk to you about treatment options. We will explore goals of care as well as answer any questions you may have. Depending on the findings, treatment may occur on the first day. The whole process will take about an hour for your first visit.

My goal is to work together with you to provide ways for you to continue your own care outside of the clinic so you do not need to continue seeing me. Typically visits for acute issues can be resolved in 4-8 visits, and lactation support in 2-3 visits. Complex cases, such as preterm infants, injured infants, or an older infant not yet to birth weight will range anywhere from 2-6 visits. Treatments for issues requiring additional support such as bedrest, cesarean section, mastitis while having lactation issues may all require multiple weekly visits for a few weeks, 10-12 visits. Typical postpartum care is 2-4 visits postpartum and then again at 3-6 months postpartum for any underlying residual pregnancy and labor body trauma. 

Every breastfeeding issue has a related biomechanical issue.  If your baby was delivered sunny side up, had a stuck shoulder or required a vacuum assisted delivery, they may have tight neck or jaw muscles.  This will affect the babies ability to extend his or her neck and open the jaw wide enough for a deep latch.  If you notice that your baby prefers to look one direction over the other, or just seems uncomfortable in his or her body, then gentle care can help.  As a chiropractor, I have a deep background in neurology, which provides  a unique perspective on lactation.  Feeding is based on reflexes and nerve function.  It is a coordinated effort of a lot of different nerve pathways to get all of the tongue movements, breathing patterns and sucking reflexes to all come together.  A lot of my advice and home care is based in infant neurology rather than trying to manipulate the mother’s breast to fit deeper into the baby's mouth.  Also, as a chiropractic physician, I can order lab work for a deeper look at milk supply issues, such as hypothyroidism, and prescribe a wide variety of nutritional interventions and supplements for both mom or baby as needed.

In 15 years of practice the paper pushing has increased while reimbursements have diminished. As an international board certified lactation consultant and chiropractor, I have a multi-faceted approach to care that simply does not fit into the box of the health insurance system.  As someone whose undergraduate studies focused on biomedical ethics and public health; health care equity, justice and the ability to use the insurance (you pay so much for) has been deeply important to me.  However, due to the specific needs of my clients and the narrowing parameters dictated by the computer algorithms of health insurance companies, I simply can not continue to bill for service.  The medicine I practice is about using all of my skills to help you as much as I can in the time we have together, regardless of the dictates of an insurance policy. 

See below.

Yes! Most of the time this process is very simple and we are able to run your card just like any other card. Some FSA/HSAs require pre-approval in which case you are responsible for arranging  prior to payment.

We are happy to provide flexible payment plans to help make care more affordable.  There are also a limited number of partial scholarships for clients experiencing a true financial hardship. The clinic offers flexible payment plans to help make care possible. A limited number of partial scholarships for clients experiencing true financial hardships are available. Scholarship does require a direct referral from the client's primary care provider. Please inquire directly for information.

• After seeing a physician or specialist who requires payment at the time of service, you will be expected to pay by cash, personal check, or personal credit card or HSA/FSA card. A superbill is a form completed by a medical practitioner that allows you to be reimbursed directly by your health insurance company for the healthcare services for which you paid out of pocket. 
• A superbill does not guarantee that an insurance provider will pay for the services provided. Each insurance plan is different. It is your responsibility to contact your insurance provider and find out exactly what will be covered.
• Note that superbills cannot be used if you have Medicare, Medicaid, or TriCare insurance. You will pay entirely out of pocket if you wish to seek care outside of these insurance systems.

• The main reason Dr. Gerbi is not billing insurance is my commitment to providing excellent care.  The insurance world is continuing to dictate how much care doctors can provide and is increasing the hoops providers need to jump through to get paid. While the paperwork and administrative burden has increased significantly,  reimbursements have decreased significantly as well.  I want to take my time with people and deliver the care that I think best meets a clients needs and not have to follow an algorithm designed by a  cost cutting algorithm at an insurance company. 

   

   

• The only way to know for sure what your insurance company will pay is to ask them directly. Prior to starting work with a clinician who uses superbills, you should contact your insurance company to gather information. (Note: Do not bother calling and asking if you have Medicare, Medicaid, or Tricare. Superbills can NOT be submitted to these programs.) 

  After seeing a physician or specialist who requires payment at the time of service, you will be expected to pay by cash, personal check, or personal credit card or HSA/FSA card. A superbill is a form completed by a medical practitioner that allows you to be reimbursed directly by your health insurance company for the healthcare services for which you paid out of pocket. 

  A superbill does not guarantee that an insurance provider will pay for the services provided. Each insurance plan is different. It is your responsibility to contact your insurance provider and find out exactly what will be covered.

(Again, no Medicare, Medicaid, or TriCare) 

1. Call the customer service phone number listed on your health insurance card. Keep your insurance card handy.
   
   
2. Ask, "I want to work with an out-of-network provider. How much will you cover?" The benefit is usually expressed as a percentage, such at 70% of the cost of the visit. 
   
   
3. Ask if you have to reach a deductible before they’ll cover out of network office visits.
   
   
4. Ask, “Where should I mail or fax my superbills?” They might tell you it’s best to have the
   doctor submit the superbill electronically it for you. Insist on getting a physical mailing address. Emphasize that you will be mailing in the claim yourself. (Our office will not submit claims electronically.)
   
   
5. Be sure that your benefits are clear to you. If anything is confusing, don’t be afraid to ask the same question two or three times.  If the person you are speaking with seems confused or is clearly reading off a script, do yourself a favor and call back again and repeat the process again.  It is amazing how often you will get an entirely different set of information. Make a note of the date you called, who you spoke with, any ID number they will give you to reference the call.

Should you choose to submit a superbill, you are waiving some of your rights to privacy and confidentiality. It is standard for your insurance company to request and keep a record of your diagnosis as part of your permanent medical file.  This policy is no different than when a doctor bills insurance for you. If anything, we find we get fewer requests as an out-of-network clinic.

When you mail or fax in your superbills yourself, be sure to include the following: 

1. The superbill provided at the end of each office visit. We suggest writing something like “Paid in full at time of service – reimburse patient directly” on it, to make sure the insurance mails the check to you, and not to us.
   
   
2. A photocopy of your insurance ID card, front and back
   
   

* Keep a photocopy of all the documents you send in for your records 

It takes about 30 days to receive your check in the mail. If your check accidentally is sent to the office, we will sign it over to you and mail it to your address on file.