Functional Medicine FAQs

How old do you have to be to receive functional medicine services?

The minimum age for our functional medicine services is 16 years old. Patients under 18 require parental consent.

What if I am on a budget?

There are a lot of things we can do that do not cost a lot. At the initial consultation, you will receive a lot of education and lifestyle recommendations. Your plan may only be labs which are $120-250 depending on your needs and your budget. Any Functional Medicine interventions can drastically impact your quality of life.

What kind of changes will I be asked to make?

Recommendations include eating organic foods, eating a variety of foods, drinking more water, drinking clean water, removing endocrine disruptors from your environment, practicing stress management techniques, increasing activity, creating a sleep routine, etc.

You may also be asked to eliminate certain things from your diet temporarily like gluten, dairy, alcohol, caffeine and sugar.

Functional Medicine requires a commitment. It can be a long process. We are healing your body and treating the root cause! This is not a pill for an ill.

How much are the supplements?

The goal is to use food first. We will always choose food as medicine before supplements. But most likely, you will be on a handful of supplements for 3-6 months. This is based on each person’s individual needs, so the cost does vary. It is recommended you budget for $300/month in supplements for 3-6 months.

Where do I complete the testing?

Labs or blood work will be completed at a Lab Corp site near you.

Other Functional Medicine tests such as hormone testing or a gut evaluation will be in the form of test kits mailed to your home.

What do you NOT treat?

Vital Functional Medicine does NOT use HRT or Hormone Replacement Therapy. If you are seeking HRT, we may not be the provider for you.

Vital Functional Medicine does not currently treat mold toxicity. We are always growing, but if this is a concern, we would recommend finding a provider proficient in mold toxicity.

Weight Loss FAQs

Can anyone start this program?

You must have a BMI of at least 26. Using this medication for BMI between 26-28 is considered “off label” which is something you must consent to prior to starting the program.

The only contraindications for this medication are a personal or immediate family history of medullary thyroid cancer. Or a personal history of pancreatitis.

Anyone taking warfarin and watching their INR will require at least weekly monitoring.

Anyone taking thyroid medication will need to recheck their levels with their primary care provider. As they lose weight, their dosage will change.

What do I need to do to get started?

You will need labs (kidney function and liver function) within 90 days of starting the medication. This can be from your primary care provider.

If you had not had labs, we could order for you. Vital Functional Medicine utilizes Lab Corp using their cash pay option.

Our full lab panel includes basic labs (CBC and CMP), Iron, Ferritin, B12, Folate, A1C or average blood sugar, fasting insulin, Lipid panel, Vitamin D, TSH, Free T3, Free T4 and thyroid antibodies. This full panel is $120! You pay upfront. You just need to find a Lab Corp near you.

Is there a membership? How do I pay?

You pay for the medication when you order. You are required to order 2 months at a time to reduce shipping costs. The membership is built into this price, along with shipping. The price you see is the ONLY price you pay.

For a full price list, contact us.

Which compounding pharmacies do you use?

For most states, we use Genesis Compounding Pharmacy in St. Louis, Missouri.

For Minnesota, Wyoming and Oregon, we use Empower Pharmacy which has multiple locations.

We only use compounding pharmacies that have the highest standard in safety and potency.

General FAQs

What states can Vital Functional Medicine serve?

Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Oregon & Wyoming.

Do you accept insurance? Do you accept FSA and HSA?

No. We are stepping outside of the insurance world. Without insurance, labs are inexpensive. Hospitals and clinics upcharge knowing insurance will pay, but when they are denied that cost goes to the patient. Vital Functional Medicine will not be part of this. Our prices are transparent. You know what you will pay BEFORE you get started.

You can use FSA and HSA for every service Vital Functional Medicine provides. You can even use it for your supplements!

Where do the supplements come from?

Almost all of the supplements will be sent from Fullscript. This company provides pharmacy grade supplements. They can only be sent to patients after being invited by a provider. This allows them to use the maximum beneficial dose! The dose that will actually help you (unlike over the counter supplements). You will also receive 15% off for being sent a supplement recommendation.

You will need to create a login and password. Orders and refills will be purchased directly from Fullscript. iPhones are able to download the Fullscript app.

What if I want to do both programs?

Yes! By utilizing both of these programs, we can completely transform your health!

You could start in the Weight Loss program. At any point, we can add a Functional Medicine consultation for $175.

You could also start in the Functional Medicine program. At any time, you could schedule a Weight Loss consultation at no charge. You only pay for the medication when you order.