BHRT FAQs
Scheduling & Visit FAQs
You are welcome to use your insurance for any bloodwork we order. However, many of the initial lab tests are done for screening purposes and therefore will not be covered on insurance (there is no diagnosis to justify it). Because of this, we encourage patients to take advantage of our significant cash-pay discounts, which are often substantially lower than what patients end up paying after insurance processing and deductibles.
Also, we do often use specialized functional medicine labs such as the DUTCH urine test, which are not covered by insurance. However, HSAs or FSAs can often be used to pay for them.
Most medications we prescribe are compounded bioidentical hormones, so they are custom-made by compounding pharmacies and are not covered by insurance. These compounded medications are considered “non-formulary” by virtually all insurance plans. However, HSAs and FSAs can often be used to pay for them.
For any medication prescribed to a typical commercial pharmacy (i.e. not compounded), you are welcome to use your insurance at the pharmacy.
Compounded bioidentical hormones and other custom medications are not available at standard retail pharmacies (such as CVS or Walgreens). They must be prepared by a specialized compounding pharmacy.
There are a number of compounding pharmacies in the greater Charlotte area, and we are happy to send your prescription to one that is convenient for you.
We also have longstanding relationships with several highly regarded nationwide compounding pharmacies that can ship your medication directly to your door for a modest shipping fee. These pharmacies often offer competitive pricing compared to local options. Our team will work with you to determine the most convenient and cost-effective option for your situation.
Our initial consultation process is intentionally structured as two visits. This approach allows us to gather thorough information, order the most appropriate testing, and avoid overwhelming you all at once.
Visit 1 (30 minutes):
You will meet with the provider for a detailed review of your current symptoms, full medical history, lifestyle habits, and family history. Based on this conversation, we will order a customized panel of laboratory tests tailored to your specific needs. For women, this typically includes DUTCH urine testing and blood work. For men, it usually involves blood work and a salivary cortisol test. Lab results generally take 2–3 weeks to return. Once they arrive, we will schedule Visit 2 (30 minutes) to review your results in detail, discuss findings, and outline personalized treatment options. If you decide to move forward with hormone therapy at that time, we will prescribe the necessary hormones, medications, and/or supplements, and you will begin the hormone membership program.
The total fee for the initial consultation (both visits) is $695 with the MD or $495 with the Nurse Practitioner. This single fee covers both the first and second appointments.
Yes. To secure your initial consultation, we collect a $100 deposit at the time of booking. This deposit is applied toward your total consultation fee, with the balance due at your first visit.
The Hormone Membership Program is designed for all patients who are on hormone therapy. It provides convenient, ongoing support and meaningful savings through a recurring monthly fee. Your membership includes:
- Regular provider visits to monitor therapy
- Discounts on compounded medications and laboratory testing
- Unlimited portal messaging with both clinical and administrative staff
- In-house phlebotomy (blood draws at our office)
- Free shipping on supplements
While the program is billed monthly for maximum flexibility, you can receive discounts by paying quarterly, semi-annually, or annually. This membership model allows us to deliver consistent monitoring and care so you can stay on track and feel your best — all while making hormone therapy more affordable and convenient long-term.
Yes, all patients who are actively on hormone therapy are required to participate in the Hormone Membership Program. We designed the membership this way to ensure every hormone therapy patient receives safe, consistent, and comprehensive care with the level of ongoing support that hormone balancing requires. Membership gives you reliable access to our providers’ specialized expertise — something that is often difficult to find in conventional medical settings — along with convenient portal messaging, discounted medications and labs, and structured follow-up care.
Fee-for-service (pay-per-visit) options are available only for patients who are being seen for more limited concerns, such as thyroid management, gut health, gout, functional coaching, or other non-hormone issues.
Hormone Membership pricing is straightforward and offers flexibility with multiple payment options. We offer two provider tiers:
Nurse Practitioner Care
- Monthly: $149
- Quarterly: $435
- 6 Months: $840
- Annual: $1,620
MD Care
- Monthly: $189
- Quarterly: $550
- 6 Months: $1,065
- Annual: $2,040
Membership is billed automatically on the schedule you choose. You may cancel at any time.
When you begin hormone therapy, your provider will typically schedule follow-up visits (in-person or virtual) every 6–8 weeks. These frequent check-ins help us closely monitor your symptoms, hormone levels, and response to treatment so we can fine-tune your regimen and help you feel your best as quickly as possible. Once your levels are stable and your symptoms are well-managed, most women are seen every 3 months and most men every 4 months.
We offer three distinct service paths to help you choose the one that best matches your needs:
- Hormone Therapy Program
This is our most comprehensive service. If you are experiencing symptoms such as cycle irregularity, mood swings, brain fog, poor sleep, changes in sexual health, fatigue, or other signs of hormone imbalance, we recommend starting with a full consultation and testing. This program is ideal for women in perimenopause or menopause, as well as men with low testosterone or other hormone concerns. It includes personalized bioidentical hormone support using functional medicine principles. - GLP-1 Weight Loss Program
If your primary concern is difficulty losing weight and you do not have significant hormone-related symptoms, our GLP-1 weight loss program may be the best starting point. This focused program is designed specifically for sustainable weight management. - Functional Coaching
If you prefer a natural, non-hormone approach or do not have hormone-related symptoms, functional coaching is an excellent option. You’ll work with our functional health coach to create a personalized plan using supplements, nutrition, and lifestyle changes to optimize your health.
Not sure which path is right for you? We’re happy to help you decide during a brief discovery call with our staff, or you can book a full initial consultation to receive personalized guidance and testing recommendations.
Functional coaching begins with a virtual consultation with one of our providers to review your symptoms, health history, and goals. If clinically indicated, appropriate laboratory testing will be ordered. You will then be paired with Monica Vaghela, ND, our experienced functional health coach who will work with you virtually for your convenience. Working closely with the provider, Monica develops a personalized health plan tailored to your needs. This plan typically includes targeted supplements, nutritional guidance, lifestyle recommendations, and other supportive strategies to help optimize your health and well-being.
Provider Intake Visit: $95 (this fee is applied toward your first coaching session)
Initial Coaching Visit (45 minutes with Monica Vaghela, ND): $275
Follow-up Visits:
- 15 minutes: $95
- 30 minutes: $185
If you are currently on hormone therapy or have been in the past, we welcome you to schedule a free discovery call with our team. This helps us understand your situation and determine the best way to support you.
During the call, please be prepared to share:
- Which hormones you are (or have been) taking
- Your current concerns or symptoms
- Details of your prescriptions and dosing
- Pellet therapy information (exact doses and date of last insertion, if applicable)
If you have recent lab results, we may be able to streamline the process into a single 60-minute consultation. Otherwise, we will follow our standard two-visit process with customized lab testing in between. We may also request records from your previous provider to ensure safe and seamless continuity of care.
Our goal is to make the transition as smooth as possible while providing you with the highest level of personalized support.
We appreciate you being proactive with your health and are happy to review any recent laboratory results you’ve had. However, our initial consultation typically requires a more comprehensive panel than standard testing, including specialized functional assessments (such as the DUTCH urine hormone test) that provide deeper insight into hormone metabolism and adrenal function not available through routine bloodwork.
We can usually incorporate recent metabolic labs that were completed within the past 3 months if the results are normal. Any abnormal or clinically relevant tests may need to be repeated.
Your provider will review your existing results during the initial consultation and let you know exactly what additional testing (if any) is recommended for a complete picture.
Yes, for patients located in North Carolina or South Carolina, our providers are happy to provide your care via telemedicine.
