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| - I went here as part of my search to find a new Naturopathic/Western Medicine solution for my health care. I set an intake appointment and was urged to choose Dr. Chinwah. My friend's recommendation had been for Dr. Levitt, but I wanted to be open minded, so I thought I'd give it a try.
My first impression on walking into the waiting room was good. The front office person was polite and the waiting room feels spacious and inviting at the same time. It did have a feel of a larger office, and I am used to smaller naturopathic offices. I just was willing to go through the change, as I thought the combination of both types of modalities would be a good direction for me.
The first person to take my information was the physician's assistant, and she was great. I had brought in, as requested on the web site, all the vitamins and supplements I took and we went over them. Then I waited for the Dr. who finally came. He was quite abrupt and combative with me. He claimed I did not need my thyroid medication initially (that I've been on for years and do actually need) until he looked further done my test results and saw the rest of the results. Then he agreed to give me my prescription as long as I would get my labs redone, and abruptly ended the session before allowing me to go over all my other health concerns. I had thought it was an intake appointment, and I am used to going to naturopaths who treat the whole person. The practice is listed as having a strong natural medicine component as well as Western medicine, so I was surprised that the doctor did not take the time to do the full intake, but relieved to have my thyroid prescribed, since without it I get sick.
I left and the front office promised to submit to my insurance. I emphasized that I would pay if the insurance did not pay (we have this new type of ACA insurance that is preventative only) but she wouldn't take my money then, preferring to submit first.
After submitting the claim it came back denied. Again I was going to pay, but the front office asked me to call the insurance company and find out why it was denied. I called the insurance office and they told me the claim needed to be marked as preventive and it was not. They told me to have the doctor resubmit the claim as preventative and they would pay it. The insurance company felt the intake appointment was definitely preventative care. When I called the front office they assured me they would submit with the requested code. However, the backoffice later called my WORK phone (not my cell phone which is my primary contact) and left a huffy message that the appointment was NOT preventative and they would NOT resubmit for payment, as if I were trying to do something illegal or unethical.
Actually I had offered to pay out of pocket several times, and was only resubmitting due to the request of both the insurance company AND the front office. So I called the front office, who graciously took a small discount off the entire cost especially as seeing the doctor did not do a full intake, and I paid my bill. I got my retest at the labs and got my thyroid renewed, but continued looking for a new doctor's office to try. I have found a new doctor.
I would guess that this doctor's office is a mixed bag and your mileage may vary. You might like this office if you get the right doctor and your insurance is the right type for the back office. My experience wasn't so good, so I just wanted the doctor's office to know they have a few areas they do well and a few that could be improved.
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