How Much Does Seeing a Functional Medicine Doctor Cost?

Our specialists treat a wide range of conditions by focusing on their root causes, often linked to environmental and occupational factors. These conditions include:

• Exposure-Related Conditions: Our experts are skilled in treating health issues arising from exposure to toxins, heavy metals, or mold.

• Hormonal Imbalances: Our experts identify and manage hormone issues in general as well as those that can arise due to environmental exposures.

• Gastrointestinal Conditions: Concerns like irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease, which are often triggered by environmental factors, can be managed with the support of our specialists.

• Metabolic Conditions: Our specialists offer guidance on managing obesity, diabetes, insulin resistance, and high cholesterol.

• Skin Conditions: From acne to eczema and psoriasis, our team aims to uncover and address the underlying causes, rather than just managing the symptoms.

• Allergies and Respiratory Concerns: Personalized treatment plans are crafted for managing asthma, allergies, and other related conditions, often linked to occupational and environmental exposures.

• Other Chronic Conditions: Our specialists manage conditions like fibromyalgia, heart disease, chronic kidney disease, and COPD.

In certain cases, our functional medicine doctors, who are all M.D.’s (Medical Doctors) at COEM may prescribe medications. All efforts are exerted however to treat holistically and use diet, nutrition, IV therapy and supplementation where possible as a first line of treatment.

The treatments prescribed by our functional medicine doctors can range from conventional pharmaceuticals to therapies that are in line with the functional medicine approach. These could include bioidentical hormones, botanicals and supplements, anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, low dose naltrexone, etc…

Our functional medicine doctors are focused on addressing the underlying imbalances or dysfunctions that contribute to the patient’s symptoms. The goal of functional medicine treatment is to restore balance within the body, encourage self-healing, and decrease the need for long-term medication use. We believe in promoting balance and overall well-being, enabling the body to heal itself naturally, and reducing the need for long-term medication use.

Before your visit to COEM, we recommend you gather all your medical records, including previous diagnoses, treatments, and current medications. It would also be beneficial to note your symptoms, lifestyle habits, and health goals for a more comprehensive discussion with our medical team. You are expected to fill out the online medical history at least one day prior to your consultation.

You will have one hour uninterrupted with the physician to review your concerns. Presuming you completed your health history prior to your appointment, the doctor will have already reviewed it and prepared for the appointment. Based on verification of your concerns in person the doctor will order diagnostic testing including blood tests, stool tests, genetic testing, hormone testing, urine analysis, or specialized test kits specific to toxins and suspected viral or bacterial exposures.

At COEM, we believe in an active partnership between the patient and the doctor. We encourage our patients to take an active role in enhancing their wellness. The more transparent you are about your health history and lifestyle, the more effective your treatment plan will be.

Your journey with us begins with an initial consultation of one hour. In this session, our functional medicine doctor will delve deep into your health history, conduct a physical examination, and order relevant tests.

The frequency of your subsequent visits can vary greatly depending on several factors. These include the severity and complexity of your health issues, your responsiveness to treatment, and your availability. Typically, follow-up visits are scheduled 2 to 4 weeks initially, during which we monitor your progress, adjust medications or supplements, and provide continued support. After each appointment you will be given additional requests for lifestyle, diet, or exposure modifications as well as details on additional treatment protocols you should follow or those you should continue for a prescribe period of time.

As your health improves and symptoms resolve, your visits may become less frequent. If you’re dealing with chronic health conditions from occupational or environmental exposures, you might need to be in closer communication with our team until your condition improves.

At COEM, we believe in maintaining open and regular communication with our patients. In person visits, phone or online consultations are available to discuss test results, adjust treatment plans, or address new health concerns. Our patients can reach out to us through phone or email to address any inquiries or worries.

Here at COEM, an initial consultation for one-hour costs $600. This consultation includes a comprehensive medical history review, physical examination, and discussion of current concerns. This cost can be higher if the patient has complex health issues requiring additional time with one or more physicians. Depending on the functional medicine doctor’s evaluation, treatments will be recommended. You will always be given a written estimate of all costs and an explanation of how each suggested treatment correlates to a health concern you have. COEM believes in informed consent. You are always in the driver’s seat when it comes to how and when you are treated. You should expect to make an investment in your health in order to see results.

Subsequent appointments are $175 up to $450 per session for 15 minute up to 1 hour appointments. It’s essential to understand that these are only estimates, so your exact out-of-pocket costs may vary. Laboratory tests, such as bloodwork, stool analysis, and genetic testing, are essential parts of functional medicine and can increase the overall cost of your visit.

COEM is a fee for service practice. We do NOT accept insurance or medicare or Medicaid. We are an out of network non-participating provider and therefore we do NOT file insurance on your behalf. You may file with your insurance company using receipts from your appointments and depending on the type of coverage you have it is possible that some reimbursement may be received but COEM has no control over this. We do NOT perform prior authorizations or get involved with insurance in any way.  We serve patients from Charleston, Mt. Pleasant, Summerville, North Charleston SC, Ladson, SC, Hanahan SC, James Island SC, John’s Island SC, Daniel Island SC, and all of South Carolina, Nationally, and Internationally.