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How do visits with Western Colorado Weight Care work?
Being a 'click-and-mortar' practice, visits are offered both in person and virtually. Generally, 75% of our visits are completed virtually - these virtual appointments can be accessed by phone, tablet, or laptop. Depending on your treatment plan, an in-person visit may be required. In-person visits will be conducted in our office, located at 551 Grand Avenue S-302, Grand Junction, Colorado 81501.
What are the expected time and cost requirements?
We know that more frequent appointments at the beginning of treatment result in greater weight reduction and successful lifestyle changes. For this reason, appointments should be scheduled every 2-4 weeks for the first 6 months. Once treatment and weight loss are stable, appointments should be scheduled every 2-3 months. Patients receiving prescription medications are seen at least every 3 months to ensure the safety and success of treatment. Your first new patient visit will be 1 hour and cost $250. Each additional visit will be 30 minutes at the cost of $150. For more information, visit our services and fees page.
How does Western Colorado Weight Care compare to a traditional family practice?
We want our patients to have a very personalized healthcare experience. Most family practice clinicians will have over 2000 patients. To provide a truly unique, individualized experience for each of our patients, we intentionally limit our practice to less than 300 patients.
What do I need to do before my first appointment?
When you join as a new patient, you will receive an invitation to join our medical record system via email. You must create an account through this system before your first visit.
How can I contact my practitioner?
At Western Colorado Weight Care we believe patients should have access to their practitioner between appointments. Patients are able to communicate directly with our office through an electronic medical record system (EMR).
Do you take insurance?
We are still working towards being able to bill some insurance directly. If we are not contracted with your specific insurance, you will be provided with a receipt which can be submitted to your insurance for reimbursement. This does not apply to Medicare or Medicaid as they do not allow for reimbursement in this way.
Can you complete prior authorization for my insurance?
Our office will complete prior authorization to your insurance on a case-by-case basis. Prior authorization will not be completed for insurance companies that exclude coverage for certain treatments or medications. We recommend you check with your insurance carrier to ask which anti-obesity medications are covered before your first visit.
How are payments processed?
Payments are processed through OpenEdge Payment Processing, a secure online system that accepts credit, debit, and health savings cards (HSA). Payment will be collected at the time of service.
What are my options for anti-obesity medications?
We offer a variety of anti-obesity medications which treat different obesity-related symptoms and vary in price. You can find a table containing these medications, the symptoms they treat, possible negative side effects, expected weight loss, and cost here.
What is the difference between FDA-approved anti-obesity medication and FDA-approved medications used off-label for obesity treatment?
The FDA specifically approves FDA-approved anti-obesity medications after they have been studied in clinical trials and have demonstrated effectiveness and safety for the purpose of treating obesity. On the other hand, there are FDA-approved medications that have been studied and approved for uses other than weight loss but have additional benefits of treating obesity. When a these medications are prescribed to treat obesity, it is considered off-label use. Off-label medication usage does not imply a higher risk. In fact, many medications are prescribed off-label based on clinician experience, clinical judgment and evidence supporting the effectiveness of the medication.
What is the difference between FDA-approved semaglutide and compounded semaglutide?
FDA-approved semaglutide is a patented molecule only produced by Novo Nordisk in the forms of Ozempic and Wegovy. The semaglutide base used by Novo Nordisk is not available to compounding pharmacies, so they use a different but similar molecule, a semaglutide salt. For this reason, compounded semaglutide will not contain the same active ingredient as that in Ozempic or Wegovy. It is essential to note that semaglutide salts used in compounded medications are not FDA-approved. In fact, the FDA advises against using compounded semaglutide due to the lack of regulatory oversight.