Frequently Asked Questions
This FAQ addresses common questions about Dr. Kara Wada's integrative and functional medicine practice, including services, insurance, and the Immune Confident Approach.
General Practice Questions
Q: What is integrative medicine?
A: Integrative medicine combines the best of conventional medicine with evidence-based complementary therapies, addressing the whole person – mind, body, and spirit. It emphasizes patient partnership and focuses on restoring balance and promoting self-healing.
Q: What is functional medicine?
A: Functional medicine seeks to identify and address the root causes of disease, looking beyond symptoms to understand the underlying imbalances and dysfunctions in the body. It emphasizes personalized care and lifestyle changes to restore optimal health.
Q: What is the Immune Confident Approach?
A: The Immune Confident Approach is Dr. Wada's unique blend of conventional allergy and immunology, integrative medicine, and functional medicine. It's designed to empower you to understand and take control of your immune health, moving beyond simply managing symptoms to experiencing lasting relief and improved well-being.
Q: What conditions do you treat?
A: I specialize in treating a wide range of allergic, autoimmune, and chronic inflammatory conditions, including environmental and food allergies, Sjögren's Disease, mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), asthma, eczema, and other chronic immune system disorders. For a comprehensive list, please visit the Conditions I Treat page.
Q: What can I expect during my first appointment?
A: Your first appointment is a comprehensive consultation where I will take a detailed medical history, discuss your current symptoms and concerns, and begin to develop a personalized plan for your care. This may involve ordering additional testing, discussing lifestyle changes, and exploring various treatment options.
Q: Do you see children?
A: Yes, I offer comprehensive allergy, immunology, and functional medicine services for both adults and children.
Dr. Kara generally sees patients ages 4 and up but is happy to discuss care for younger patients on a case-by-case basis. If you have a child under 4 and are interested in a consultation, please reach out to discuss options.
Q: Where do you offer telehealth services?
A: Dr. Kara provides ongoing care for patients in Maryland, Colorado, Ohio, Florida, Texas, Indiana, Illinois, Washington, Alabama, or Michigan, Wisconsin, Utah, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania, with plans to expand to additional states soon.
Insurance & Payment
Q: Do you accept insurance?
A: My practice is out-of-network with all insurance providers. This allows me to offer highly personalized care tailored to your unique needs, without the constraints often imposed by insurance plans.
While I don't bill insurance directly, I'm happy to provide you with a superbill that you can submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement.
Important Note about Medicare and Medicaid:
Medicare: I welcome Medicare patients, but unfortunately, Medicare does not allow reimbursement for out-of-network services. Therefore, you would be responsible for the full cost of your care.
Medicaid: I am unable to accept Medicaid at this time.
Q: What are your fees?
A: I offer transparent pricing for all my services. You can find detailed information about fees on the individual Service pages (New Patient Packages, Continuing Care, etc.). I also offer flexible payment plans. Please contact my office to discuss options.
Q: What payment methods do you accept?
A: I accept all major credit cards, HSA/FSA cards, and personal checks.
Immunotherapy
Q: What is intralymphatic immunotherapy (ILIT)?
A: ILIT is an innovative allergy treatment where small doses of allergens are injected directly into your lymph nodes using ultrasound guidance. This targeted approach is designed to reduce the number of injections and provide faster relief compared to traditional allergy shots.
Q: What is sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT)?
A: SLIT, or allergy drops, involves administering small doses of allergens under the tongue daily. This gradually desensitizes your immune system over time, reducing allergy symptoms. SLIT is a convenient, needle-free alternative to allergy shots.
Q: What are the benefits of immunotherapy?
A: Immunotherapy (both ILIT and SLIT) helps your body build tolerance to specific allergens, reducing allergy symptoms and the need for medications over time. ILIT provides much faster symptom relief.
Q: What are the risks of immunotherapy?
A: Although rare, the main risk associated with immunotherapy is an allergic reaction (including anaphylaxis) from the allergen exposure. I will review the necessary precautions and instructions to take in case you have an adverse reaction during treatment.
Q: Is immunotherapy covered by insurance?
A: ILIT is typically not covered by insurance at this time. Coverage for SLIT varies depending on the insurance plan. Please contact your insurance provider to verify coverage.
Other
Q: Do you offer telehealth appointments?
A: Yes, I offer convenient telehealth consultations for established patients and follow up appointments. Please reach out to discuss availability.
Q: Where do you offer telehealth services?
A: Dr. Kara is currently licensed to see patients via telehealth in Ohio, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Texas, and Florida. If you’re in another state, check back soon as we continue expanding our reach.
Q: How do I schedule an appointment?
A: To schedule a consultation or appointment, please email us at [email protected] or give me a call and leave a message at 740-954-MAST (6278).
Q: Do you have a cancellation policy?
A: Yes, I have a 24-hour cancellation policy. Please contact us directly to reschedule or cancel your appointment.
Note
This FAQ is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional for any health concerns.
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