Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is a naturopathic doctor?
A naturopathic doctor (ND) is a primary care physician with additional training in natural therapies.  Just like a medical doctor (MD), an ND graduates from a 4-year accredited medical school with the same clinical science and diagnostic education. The key difference is the approach to treatment:  Naturopaths are trained to treat the whole person and are very interested in determining the underlying cause of a patient’s symptoms, whereas MDs tend to focus on treating symptoms in isolation.

Can you prescribe medication?
Yes, as a Washington State Licensed Naturopathic Physician, Dr. Morford has prescriptive rights. She prefers to use natural and botanical medicines whenever possible, but can have a pharmacy fill drug prescriptions as needed.  She can also write referrals to specialists in other fields.

What is Homeopathy?
Homeopathy is a safe, effective and proven system of medicine that has been in use for over 200 years and is widely accepted in Europe. Homeopathic remedies are derived from plant, mineral and animal sources, and are recognized as drugs by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Homeopathic pharmacies prepare these medicines in accordance with FDA approved guidelines.

Dr. Morford has specialized training in homeopathic medicine and finds that healing often happens faster and is more long-lasting when homeopathy is integrated into a patient’s treatment plan.

What happens during my first visit?
First, you will fill out a brief health history form.  Then, she will spend 1.5 hours exploring your health history and the nature of what brings you in for a visit.  She will perform a physical exam as relevant to your case, and discuss your treatment options.  If any nutritional medications or homeopathic remedies seem appropriate, you can buy them directly from her office dispensary at the time of your visit.

How many visits will I need?
The frequency and duration of your treatment will depend on the nature of your condition.  Some patients receive all they need for acute care in one visit; others will choose to come in on a periodic basis for fine-tuning.

What type of tests do you use?
In addition to standard lab testing that looks for disease, Dr. Morford uses an array of tests that reveal imbalances and deficiencies before they turn into full- blown disease states. Typically, these tests examine blood, urine, stool, and/or saliva. Some of the tests are conducted in outside labs, while others are take-home tests you can do on your own. These tests may include:

What are your appointment fees?
All appointments are charged by the hour at $250 per hour.  Initial visits usually last 1 ½ hours and cost $450 and follow-up visits last 45 minutes to one hour.

When do I pay for appointments and lab tests?
Appointments and lab tests are billed separately.  Payment for visits is due at the time of service. I accept cash, check, Visa and MasterCard.  Fees for lab tests that are performed in the lab (e.g., blood draws) are paid directly to the lab, and fees for take-home tests should be sent to the lab with the specimen.

Do you take insurance?
No, but you may be able to get reimbursed. In order to provide you with better service, Dr. Morford does not contract with any insurance programs; She operates as an “out-of-network” provider.  However, she can provide you with a “superbill” that has all the necessary coding for your insurance carrier. You can submit this form to them and they will reimburse you directly, according to your plan provisions. Call your insurance company to confirm that you have out-of-network benefits.

The reason Dr. Morford is not a "participating provider" is that insurance company contracts generally incent shorter visits, and she prefers to offer more time with patients to learn their histories and educate them about their health. That's why typical doctor visits are often only 5-10 minutes – a quantity strategy to serve as many patients as possible. Dr. Morford has chosen a quality strategy, and this helps her focus on patient health as the top priority, over insurance company rules.

How do I find out if I’m covered for my treatment?
Contact your insurance provider and ask specific questions such as:
What is my coverage for out-of-network Naturopathic care?
Do I have a deductible to cover?
Do I have coverage for lab testing? For natural medicines?