FAQs

WHAT ARE YOUR HOURS?

Monday through Friday | 8:00AM–6:00PM

Appointments are scheduled between 8:30 and 4:30.

Emergency After-Hours Appointments Available.

WHAT INSURANCES DO YOU ACCEPT?

We are in-network with as many of the major insurance payers as we possibly can be. As of 11/2021, we file with Blue Cross Blue Shield plans (including the State, Federal, and Blue Choice plans, but not the Blue Essentials plans), Aetna, Healthy Connections MCD, Molina MCD, Absolute Total Care MCD, and Tricare (as a non-network Tricare certified provider). Please call us to confirm that we accept your insurance if you have any questions. 

WHAT IF I'M UNINSURED?

We believe everyone should have insurance. If you cannot afford coverage, we do offer a self-pay rate as published on the tab labeled “Membership.”

WHAT IF WE DON'T ACCEPT YOUR INSURANCE?

If we do not accept or are not in-network with your particular plan, we follow a few simple rules.

If we cannot be credentialed by your carrier (i.e. Medicare), we will offer you a self-pay rate in accordance with our office policies.

In all other events, we bill you our posted rate for insurance billing and then courtesy file with your carrier on your behalf. Depending on your policy, your insurance will then reimburse you directly.

HOW ABOUT HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS (HSA)?

We believe everyone should have insurance. An HSA is a great way to have catastrophic coverage as well as provide tax-free health savings. Current IRS rules do not, however, allow the use of an HSA to pay membership fees at any direct primary care office. For more information, please read the entirety of this page or call and we'll answer your questions as best we can.

WHAT IF I HAVE CHRONIC MEDICAL PROBLEMS LIKE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, DIABETES, AND HIGH CHOLESTEROL?

Please visit us. At South Carolina Center for Integrative Medicine, we know that if we work hard to control these chronic medical problems, we can provide you with a comfortable, healthy life. If you are worried about the cost, please come anyway and talk to one of the doctors. You may be pleasantly surprised.

HOW DO YOU ESTABLISH YOUR PRICING?

It is a long and complicated story using insurance industry words like charges, CPT codes, reimbursement, etc.

The short answer is that we do everything we possibly can to keep our prices low. The longer, more difficult answer is SCCIM fees are usual, customary, and reasonable according to professional industry standards, and, therefore, are covered up to the maximum allowance determined by each carrier.

In English, we base our fee structure on the allowable fees that are reimbursed by third-party payers (insurance companies). We like to think that we are providing a service above and beyond what many of us have experienced in our medical histories, but we strive to keep costs comparable to other providers.

DO YOU HAVE LAB X-RAY CAPABILITIES?

At this time no, but it is something we're striving for and look forward to being able to offer in the near future.

DO YOU TAKE APPOINTMENTS?

Yes. We would be happy to schedule your visit. When managing chronic diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes, we need to see you regularly.

DO YOU SEE WALK-INS?

No, but we will schedule you for a sick visit that day if your provider determines that you need to be seen. Please text your provider and wait for a reply before calling the office.

DO YOU SEE CHILDREN?

Yes. We see patients of all ages beginning at birth but do not perform routine immunizations.

We believe it is every parent's right to choose if they want immunizations for their family. Due to storage restrictions, upfront cost, and administration costs we do not keep any immunizations on hand in the office. The local Health Department has streamlined this process and we encourage patients to visit them for routine vaccines if so desired. For more information: South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.

HOW DO YOU HANDLE MEDICATION REFILLS?

Medication refills are handled during normal business hours. Please allow up to 5 business days for these requests to be processed. If you are taking long-term medications for blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, or more, an examination may be needed to verify that your medications are working and there are no unusual side effects.

DO YOU PERFORM PHYSICAL AND SPORTS EXAMS?

Yes. We are happy to offer employer and sports physicals and fill out the appropriate forms as required. Please contact our office to schedule an appointment if you need a physical.

WHAT IF I NEED TO BE REFERRED TO A SPECIALIST?

If the need arises for a referral to a specialist, we will be happy to arrange that referral. As your provider at South Carolina Center for Integrative Medicine, we will be your advocate and work with the specialist's office regarding your care.

WHAT IF I NEED TO BE ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL?

At South Carolina Center for Integrative Medicine, our goal is to keep you out of the hospital.

If your care requires hospitalization, we have made arrangements with area hospitals to provide your inpatient care. We will be in direct communication with them before, during, and after your hospitalization and will be able to continue your outpatient care upon release.

Although our training includes managing patients in the hospital, our focus is outpatient clinical medicine. Your care in the hospital will be handled by board-certified specialists in hospital medicine.

DO YOU PERFORM MINOR SURGICAL PROCEDURES?

Yes. We perform most skin procedures such as biopsies, laceration repairs, abscess drainage, ingrown toenail removal, and much more. If the condition requires more care than can be provided at our office, we will refer you appropriately to a dermatologist or plastic surgeon. Some procedures may incur additional charges at the discretion of the providers but we will continue to minimize your costs where possible.

DO YOU MANAGE CHRONIC PAIN?

No. Chronic pain is a very common and understandably frustrating medical problem. It is best treated by specialists who are trained specifically in this area of medicine. We do not treat chronic pain but are more than happy to help arrange a referral to a pain management specialist.

We do manage acute injuries, aches, and pains.

We do not have controlled pain medicines in the clinic and prescribe all medications electronically.