Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT SHOULD I NEED TO DO PRIOR TO MY APPOINTMENT? Please fill out your intake form & diet diary online after signing up for the patient portal, and upload any recent or relevant lab work or imaging as a document in the portal (please "share" with the doctor, or we can't see it!). Collect any supplements and medications you are currently taking or have questions about and have them near you for the appointment. Check your internet, zoom connection, speaker and camera to make sure they are working, and find a private place to be, where the light is in front of you, not behind you. Also, you will need to submit a copy of your insurance card (front and back) and expect to keep a credit card on file (this will be charged for missed appointments and non-covered medical costs with your permission.)
WHAT IS NATUROPATHY? Naturopathy combines centuries-old, natural, non-toxic therapies with current advances in medicine, covering all aspects of health, from prenatal to geriatric care. Naturopathic medicine is tailored to the individual patient, as we look for patterns, underlying causes and your whole health picture, rather than focusing solely on symptomatic treatment. NDs also emphasize prevention and self-care to ensure recovery and prevent recurrences.
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT FROM AN APPOINTMENT? Your first appointment will be one hour , and will cover your medical history in depth.. You will usually receive a treatment plan at that first visit , which may include supplement recommendations, pharmaceutical prescriptions or lab requisitions.. Follow up appointments will be shorter, and will be a chance for you to ask questions and give an update on your condition, and for the doctor to adjust her recommendations to further advance your health.
WILL INSURANCE COVER MY VISIT? Doctor Anne is credentialed with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont and CBA Blue, so if you have that insurance you would be covered except for your insurance mandated copay and deductible. We also accept Vermont Medicaid, but have a limited panel and sometimes are at capacity and can't accept new Medicaid patients. We provide superbills to patients wishing to submit them to their insurance companies or HSA for reimbursement.
All insurance companies and policies are different; if you want exact information about cost, you should speak directly with your insurance company. Many labs are covered as well, although coverage for specialty labs may vary, and again, will be between you, the lab and your insurance company. Some patients use a Health Savings Account to pay for their care and sometimes for supplements.
WHAT ARE YOUR RATES IF MY INSURANCE DOESN'T COVER? Our self pay rates include a 20% time of service discount, so are $387 for the first appointment (1 hr) and $193.50 for follow ups (30 mins). Seniors receive a 25% discount, so $362.41 for the first visit and $181.40 for follow ups. Note that these are time of service discounts - if your credit card on file is not current or there are other reasons your bill is not paid on the day of service, we can no longer honor this discount and you will be charged in full.
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DO YOU DO PHONE OR VIDEO VISITS? This is mostly what we are doing. As long as you are located in Vermont, New Hampshire or Massachusetts at the time of the visit, we can do video visits, and these are often covered by insurance. Insurance companies do not reimburse fully for phone calls, and we find that they are less comprehensive and informative, so we prefer you use video.
ARE YOU A HOMEOPATHIC DOCTOR? "Homeopathy" can be a confusing term, often confused with the concept of "home remedies". I am a naturopathic doctor, and include homeopathy in my practice. Homeopathy is a system of medicine that uses minute amounts of a substance to trigger the body's own healing response, under the principle of "like cures like". However, homeopathy is just one of the modalities I can use to help you feel better - I may also recommend pharmaceuticals, herbal formulas, nutritional interventions, hydrotherapy, lifestyle changes and supplements in your customized plan. I have studied homeopathy extensively, and attend biannual clinical case weekends with Drs. Paul Herscu and Amy Rothenberg of the New England School of Homeopathy
WHAT KIND OF TRAINING DO NATUROPATHS HAVE? NDs are trained to be primary care physicians with an emphasis on holistic health, nutrition and prevention. Our training includes all aspects of diagnosis using blood work, imaging and physical exam as well as pharmacology, minor surgery, IV therapy, chiropractic-type manipulation, nutrition, herbal medicine, homeopathy, hydrotherapy and counseling. Naturopathic medical training differs from conventional medical school in the following ways: (much) more time studying nutrition, physical medicine, botanical medicine, homeopathy, nutritional supplements and less time in pharmacology. Additionally electives can be taken in Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, sports medicine, advanced botanical medicine. Doctor Anne did additional electives in women's health, pediatrics, autism spectrum disorders, and gastroenterology. She continues to study and learn, through mentorships and professional conferences on tick borne disease, mold toxicity, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, hypermobility syndromes, SIBO, PANS/PANDAS and other chronic complex illness. Dr. Jenna maintains expertise in bioidentical hormones, infertility, diabetes and gastrointestinal disorders as well as tick borne disease and mold illness. NDs are considered experts in complementary and alternative medicine as well as drug/nutrient and drug/botanical interactions.
Training in anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, histology, laboratory medicine, microbiology, pathology, physical and clinical diagnosis and radiology is virtually the same as conventional medical school. See below for a comparison chart of MD and ND trainings.
ARE YOU A LICENSED DOCTOR?
Dr. Van Couvering is a licensed Naturopathic Physicians in Vermont, where NDs are considered primary care doctor, and have the scope of practice that any PCP would have. She is also licensed in New Hampshire, where the scope is similar and in Massachusetts where prescription rights are not available Dr. Van Couvering attended the National College of Natural Medicine, now known as the National University of Natural Medicine.
WHAT IS NATUROPATHY? Naturopathy combines centuries-old, natural, non-toxic therapies with current advances in medicine, covering all aspects of health, from prenatal to geriatric care. Naturopathic medicine is tailored to the individual patient, as we look for patterns, underlying causes and your whole health picture, rather than focusing solely on symptomatic treatment. NDs also emphasize prevention and self-care to ensure recovery and prevent recurrences.
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT FROM AN APPOINTMENT? Your first appointment will be one hour , and will cover your medical history in depth.. You will usually receive a treatment plan at that first visit , which may include supplement recommendations, pharmaceutical prescriptions or lab requisitions.. Follow up appointments will be shorter, and will be a chance for you to ask questions and give an update on your condition, and for the doctor to adjust her recommendations to further advance your health.
WILL INSURANCE COVER MY VISIT? Doctor Anne is credentialed with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont and CBA Blue, so if you have that insurance you would be covered except for your insurance mandated copay and deductible. We also accept Vermont Medicaid, but have a limited panel and sometimes are at capacity and can't accept new Medicaid patients. We provide superbills to patients wishing to submit them to their insurance companies or HSA for reimbursement.
All insurance companies and policies are different; if you want exact information about cost, you should speak directly with your insurance company. Many labs are covered as well, although coverage for specialty labs may vary, and again, will be between you, the lab and your insurance company. Some patients use a Health Savings Account to pay for their care and sometimes for supplements.
WHAT ARE YOUR RATES IF MY INSURANCE DOESN'T COVER? Our self pay rates include a 20% time of service discount, so are $387 for the first appointment (1 hr) and $193.50 for follow ups (30 mins). Seniors receive a 25% discount, so $362.41 for the first visit and $181.40 for follow ups. Note that these are time of service discounts - if your credit card on file is not current or there are other reasons your bill is not paid on the day of service, we can no longer honor this discount and you will be charged in full.
.
DO YOU DO PHONE OR VIDEO VISITS? This is mostly what we are doing. As long as you are located in Vermont, New Hampshire or Massachusetts at the time of the visit, we can do video visits, and these are often covered by insurance. Insurance companies do not reimburse fully for phone calls, and we find that they are less comprehensive and informative, so we prefer you use video.
ARE YOU A HOMEOPATHIC DOCTOR? "Homeopathy" can be a confusing term, often confused with the concept of "home remedies". I am a naturopathic doctor, and include homeopathy in my practice. Homeopathy is a system of medicine that uses minute amounts of a substance to trigger the body's own healing response, under the principle of "like cures like". However, homeopathy is just one of the modalities I can use to help you feel better - I may also recommend pharmaceuticals, herbal formulas, nutritional interventions, hydrotherapy, lifestyle changes and supplements in your customized plan. I have studied homeopathy extensively, and attend biannual clinical case weekends with Drs. Paul Herscu and Amy Rothenberg of the New England School of Homeopathy
WHAT KIND OF TRAINING DO NATUROPATHS HAVE? NDs are trained to be primary care physicians with an emphasis on holistic health, nutrition and prevention. Our training includes all aspects of diagnosis using blood work, imaging and physical exam as well as pharmacology, minor surgery, IV therapy, chiropractic-type manipulation, nutrition, herbal medicine, homeopathy, hydrotherapy and counseling. Naturopathic medical training differs from conventional medical school in the following ways: (much) more time studying nutrition, physical medicine, botanical medicine, homeopathy, nutritional supplements and less time in pharmacology. Additionally electives can be taken in Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, sports medicine, advanced botanical medicine. Doctor Anne did additional electives in women's health, pediatrics, autism spectrum disorders, and gastroenterology. She continues to study and learn, through mentorships and professional conferences on tick borne disease, mold toxicity, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, hypermobility syndromes, SIBO, PANS/PANDAS and other chronic complex illness. Dr. Jenna maintains expertise in bioidentical hormones, infertility, diabetes and gastrointestinal disorders as well as tick borne disease and mold illness. NDs are considered experts in complementary and alternative medicine as well as drug/nutrient and drug/botanical interactions.
Training in anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, histology, laboratory medicine, microbiology, pathology, physical and clinical diagnosis and radiology is virtually the same as conventional medical school. See below for a comparison chart of MD and ND trainings.
ARE YOU A LICENSED DOCTOR?
Dr. Van Couvering is a licensed Naturopathic Physicians in Vermont, where NDs are considered primary care doctor, and have the scope of practice that any PCP would have. She is also licensed in New Hampshire, where the scope is similar and in Massachusetts where prescription rights are not available Dr. Van Couvering attended the National College of Natural Medicine, now known as the National University of Natural Medicine.
