Doctor in NYC

(Gabe “No Dogma, Only Science Please!” ) #1

Guys I’m going out of my mind trying to find a doctor in New York City who’ll be comfortable ordering “exotic” tests like fasting insulin, NMR, etc. Do you have any suggestions?

(Melissa Marie) #2

@JGL has a Dr in NYC who is open to Keto and willing to learn more. Im sure having another patient would surely help that along.

(Gabe “No Dogma, Only Science Please!” ) #3

Would love to know his/her name @jgl and I am open to further suggestions for a physician

(Janet) #4

start with one of the many lists of Keto or Low Carb doctors. Here’s one https://ketogenic.com/tools/keto-clinicians-finder/ Search New York for results.
The Obesity Medicine organization also has a Clinician finder. Not all are keto doctors, but often dealing with obese and ordering fasting insulin. https://obesitymedicine.org/find-obesity-treatment/

(JGL) #5

Hey @gabe and @Eclecticenigma

I see a nurse practitioner named Kimberly Dy at Westside Family Medical at West 70th, but they have offices on W 110th and I think E 86th where she also holds office hours. As an NP, she can do anything you would need from an MD. For insurance coding, they’d likely have you list Bertie Bregman as your primary care provider, but it is Kimberly you’d work with consistently.

I just saw her yesterday, in fact. Honestly, guys, she couldn’t be more amazing and supportive. She honors my requests and respects my self-knowledge and research in ways that are such a gift to find in a clinician. For example, she supports the fact that I do not wish to factor weight into my process because of the psychological baggage attached. She asked if she could weigh me at 4 months in, without telling me the results, purely for calibrating my medication dosages. She did that yesterday in such a supportive, respectful way and make sure to zero out the scale so I wouldn’t even see anything by accident. I was deeply touched by her care and respect.

She has seen all of the incredible results I’ve created over the last 4 months, including reversing all my markers of PCOS and is only more and more interested in the science of ketogenic lifestyles. I thanked her yesterday for her constant support (she answers my questions on the office secure email portal rapidly and thoroughly, even on weekends) and said I wouldn’t have felt this empowered in reframing my approach to health without her guidance and she replied, very simply “You’re the one who has done all the work here.”

She is a model of what I think contemporary clinical care should look like. I cannot recommend her highly enough. She has helped me feel medically, emotionally, intellectually and scientifically supported in one of the most profound processes of change I have ever embarked upon.

http://wfmnyc.com/

#6

Do you guys not have things like Quest and LabCorp? Can just walk in and tell them to do them. With the exception of Functional Health Doc’s many will have no clue what your asking for and most likely won’t order them for fear of pushback by ins. Also, with the fasting insulin, it’s a cheap test, don’t try to run that thru ins, if the results suck you don’t won’t that on the record.

(Melissa Marie) #7

I do have both where I live, however it is a lot cheaper to have your insurance cover the testing (because the doctor requested it) if possible. Out of pocket this stuff adds up. My doctor just requested basically anything I asked for including a full thyroid panel and hormone panel all being processed through Quest because that is who my insurance deals with at a discount. Whether or not she is successful at substantiating it to the insurance is a whole other issue, however I am prepared to go back and get it properly substantiated (for health reasons) in the event it isn’t properly coded. She even advised me she would order a CAC when I was ready to do it and we were both aware that most likely the insurance won’t cover that. In the end, what comes out of pocket vs what insurance will cover is the issue for me - as I am already looking at a medical expense I know my insurance isn’t going to cover and one that it does that will still cost me 100 a month. Many of us here have health issues to begin with which is why we are following this WOE, so anything that is going to bring down those associated costs I personally am going to advocate for.

#8

I agree, but I’ve found many times over the years, tests that are relatively cheap are often CHEAPER if you just pay for them. You may have a Cadillac plan with zero out of pocket expenses so your only hurdle is convincing a doctor but like I said if you have copays, or coinsurance or both as many people do paying for a $60 test is CHEAPER than paying a copay plus possible coinsurance for the test. Those rates get cranked up many times when it’s a Doctor ordering them, and if you have a % your responsible for it can easily go over the cash price. No always, but it’s happened to me a couple times over the years. Then there’s also the possibility of an A1C coming back bad, which you don’t want on your file if you have a choice. MANY Doc’s won’t un-diagnose you once it’s there. My Wife got REAL lucky with her’s as do others but that can follow you, effect things like life ins rates etc. Just something to think about.

(Melissa Marie) #9

I just had an experience with a prescription that is sold retail for cheaper than my co pay through insurance. So I will look into the cost comparison in the future. It is entirely possible I will be paying more for some tests through insurance however I know I am fully covered for anything that is considered preventative with no cost out of pocket to me. Either way worth looking into.

(Gabe “No Dogma, Only Science Please!” ) #10

The cost of these tests are in the hundreds if not thousands. I wouldn’t order them without insurance. My annual physical is free, family doctor appointments cost $5 copay, $0 coinsurance.

#11

Completely agree with you about negative results having an impact on future life insurance. New York and New Jersey are both states that prohibit self ordered tests. The closest state is Connecticut. The problem is driving or taking a train an hour to take a blood test may skew the results. Plus I believe you cannot even put down an address in the prohibited state. One of the companies that has this service does tell you how to do the testing anonymously. I have not tried. I would imagine it would require you not to give a name, to use a visa gift card paid for in cash. Would be quite a procedure

Interestingly my insurance does their testing through LabCorp. My kids have had a bunch of tests recently (nothing serious) which they claim costs thousands but through the contacted rate I pay nothing and neither does my insurance. I have relatively crappy insurance so this is amazing

#12

No dude, they are ABSOLUTELY not!

Fasting Insulin $25
A1C $24 I think
DEXA $125
NMR $75

Those are what I’ve paid using LabCorp and Online test ordering which typically winds up sending me to LabCorp anyways. Dexa I went to a hospital imaging center and got it with an online discount. Keep this crap in mind when you vote!

I’m sorry you live in the people’s republic of NYC, but where you live is not real life. Depending on where you live, it could very well still be worth hitting CT for the day and having a bunch of tests set up if you can’t work around that. Depending on your insurance even if you do find a doc to order them.

EDIT: Just noticed you addressed the co-insurance, but some plans that won’t apply to specialists, maybe yours does. In any case, be a cheap skate and try to find the best deals.

(Gabe “No Dogma, Only Science Please!” ) #14

Well the A1c and insulin my doctor ordered. The NMR I’ve had before; doctor wouldn’t order it this time, but frankly I didn’t find it very useful last time. So I don’t see the need to pay out of pocket when I’m paying a fortune for my insurance premiums as it is. My copay was $0.

I would do a DEXA for $125, but when I called up the local hospitals, their prices were outrageous. Nothing like $125. I was stunned because back home in Sydney it’s like $60 for a dexa and there’s just no need for a doctor to order it, you just do it yourself. Amazed that it’s not something you can just walk in for in NYC.

#15

Completely insane how they crank up the insurance rates in the Northeast vs the rest of the country. When I move from Boston to Richmond our rates literally dropped in half with the SAME insurance company! Different plan but still. WAY more medical access down here as the state doesn’t regulate it to death so all the health providers compete like real businesses. The Northeast (and we know who politically, we’ll leave it at that) don’t believe in free markets, business or competition, only bankrupting people like us who want good health care at a reasonable / fair price. I use mdsave.com when I do my DEXA, takes like 60% off of it. I just buy it online then go to the imaging center and they do it for the mdsave price. Not sure if NY screws that up or not but worth a shot, I’d check first but literally running out the door now.