Frequently Asked Questions
At BNHC, we do not bill insurance directly as many policies do not cover naturopathic care. We do provide superbills that you can submit to your insurance to request reimbursement. You may also use HSA or FSA funds. Medicare and Medicaid do not cover naturopathic care in Idaho.
Visit costs range from $295-350 for new patients and from $95-225 for follow up visits. Each visit is billed individually, with exception of the cancer package. Fees depend on the complexity & severity of issues. In addition to face-to-face time, the cost for your appointment also includes the time your naturopathic physician spends with visit preparation, editing treatment plans, lab & history review, coordination with other medical providers, and medication management. Visit fees do not cover labs or supplements recommended by your provider. See our Fees page for more information.
Naturopathic medicine is a healthcare discipline that emphasizes a holistic approach to health and incorporates a wide variety of treatment modalities to give patients the best possible outcomes.
To learn more about the 6 principles of naturopathic medicine: Read more about naturopathic medicine.
A naturopathic physician or naturopathic medical doctor (NMD) is a healthcare provider with a naturopathic medical degree from an accredited institution. NMDs are licensed as primary care providers in Idaho. NMDs might be confused with naturopathic doctors (ND) or naturopaths. In Idaho, these terms (ND and naturopath) are not regulated and do not require the same level of education.
An NMD may use treatment modalities including nutritional supplementation, herbal medicine, diet and lifestyle counseling, homeopathy, vitamin injections, or prescription medications. They can order advanced labs test and imaging as needed to investigate your concerns.
Read our article to learn how an NMD differs form an ND or functional medicine provider.
Naturopathic physicians complete a 4-year naturopathic medical education program after they have completed their bachelor’s degree. During their medical education, NMDs take classes in the basic sciences (anatomy and physiology, biochemistry, etc.), pathology, and treatment classes for both alternative/holistic therapies as well as conventional therapies/pharmaceuticals. They must then complete two rounds of board exams to demonstrate competency in these areas. Many NMDs also complete an additional residency program, including all the doctors at BNHC.
Yes! NMDs in Idaho can prescribe medications for most common prescriptions. They cannot prescribe controlled substances, other than testosterone.
Yes! NMDs have been licensed as primary care providers in Idaho since 2019.
During your first visit, your doctor will take a comprehensive medical history and allow you the opportunity to share your story. Because we look at the whole person, we often ask more questions, and our intake typically takes longer than what you may have experienced in the past with other types of providers. Depending on your concerns, your doctor may also need time to complete a physical exam. If your doctor does not need the full amount of time that you are scheduled for, you will only be charged for the time that is used.
The necessity for labs depends on your health concerns. For some issues, we don’t need any lab work and for others, your doctor might need to complete a very comprehensive workup. If you recently had labs done, we recommend that you bring a copy with you to your visit. If they are recent enough, your doctor will likely be able to gather some information from them, but they may also need to run additional tests.
This is different for every patient. If you have a relatively simple or acute concern, you will likely need far fewer visits than a complex patient with chronic concerns. We have patients that only need one visit and others that work with us for months or years.
No! New patients are welcome to come in for these treatments. We will ask you to complete some basic paperwork when you come in for the first time.
All of our doctors offer free 15-minute phone consults to see if we are a good fit. We also host open houses a few times per year for those that would like to come to the clinic and meet our doctors in person. Our doctors also occasionally teach classes on various topics. See our events page to learn more about our open houses and upcoming classes. You can also subscribe to our monthly newsletter and read past articles our doctors have written if you’d like to learn more.