Functional Medicine FAQ | The Functional MDs Carmel IN

Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions about our services or the functional medicine approach?

What is functional medicine?

Functional medicine is a root-cause approach to care that focuses on understanding why symptoms are happening — not just masking them. It looks at the body as one interconnected system, using clinical diagnostics and personalized strategies to support function, improve resilience, and optimize long-term health.

How is Functional Medicine Different from Conventional Medicine?

Conventional medicine often focuses on diagnosing and managing symptoms, typically through medication or procedures. Functional medicine takes a systems-based approach — looking deeper to identify root causes, including lifestyle, environment, and underlying biological imbalances. It emphasizes individualized care, long-term strategy, and clinical insight beyond symptom control.

For example, instead of simply prescribing medication for high blood pressure, a functional medicine approach may explore genetics, epigenetics, metabolomics, stress response, sleep patterns, gut health, and nutrition — recognizing how these systems interact and contribute to the condition.

What Conditions Do You Treat?

We work with a wide range of complex, chronic, and unresolved conditions. This includes hormone imbalances, gut dysfunction, autoimmune activity, fatigue, brain fog, metabolic issues, mold and toxin-related illness, and fertility challenges. Many of our patients come to us after not finding answers elsewhere.

What’s Included in My First Appointment?

The initial 60-minute consultation is a deep-dive with one of our board-certified MDs. We review your symptoms, health history, and goals, and begin evaluating potential root causes. You’ll also learn how our programs work, ask questions, and decide if our care model is the right fit.
No treatment or supplement plan begins at this stage — it is an assessment and decision-making visit only.

Do You Accept Insurance?

We do not accept insurance or bill it directly. Our clinic operates outside the insurance system to allow for longer appointments, deeper evaluations, and a level of care that isn’t possible in traditional models. Many patients use HSA or FSA cards for eligible services, but coverage depends on your plan.

How Long Does It Take to See Results with Functional Medicine?

Every case is different, depending on the complexity and how long symptoms have been present. Some patients begin noticing improvements within the first few weeks, while others may take several months. Our goal is lasting results — not quick fixes — and that takes time, consistency, and the right strategy.

How Is Your Clinic Different from Other Functional Medicine Practices?

The Functional MDs is not a wellness spa or “functional medicine lite” clinic. We don’t rely on trendy therapies, generic protocols, or expensive gimmicks that drive up cost without improving outcomes.

Our care is structured, rigorous, and built for people who need real answers. Patients start with a comprehensive diagnostic discovery process. From there, treatment is delivered through a phase-based model that includes medical oversight, health coaching, and nutrition — all integrated under one plan.

We intentionally keep our caseload small to provide individualized support, detailed follow-through, and the clinical depth needed to manage complex cases.

What Makes Your Approach Effective for Complex Cases?

Complex cases demand more than protocols — they require clinical expertise. Our care is led by board-certified physicians with advanced training and years of hands-on experience managing multi-system conditions.

What sets us apart is our ability to think critically, synthesize patterns, and make precise decisions that generic approaches simply can’t match. This is doctor-led medicine, grounded in depth, strategy, and results.

Do I Need to Live Locally to Become a Patient?

We currently see patients in the state of Indiana, both in-person and through secure virtual visits. If you're located in Indiana, you can access all aspects of our care — including consultations, coaching, and personalized treatment — from anywhere in the state.

What happens during the first visit?

Your initial consultation is a 60-minute, no-obligation session with a board-certified MD. It’s your chance to share your story, review your history, and understand how our care model works. No labs or treatment plans are started at this stage — it’s a diagnostic conversation, not a commitment.

How much does it cost to become a patient?

The initial consultation is $250. If you choose to move forward, functional medicine memberships range from $259 to $559/month, depending on the complexity of your case and the level of care required — as determined by your physician.

We also offer separate programs for hormone optimization and health coaching, starting at $99/month. These are standalone packages and do not include functional medicine physician visits.

What’s included in the monthly membership?

Membership includes unlimited MD visits, unlimited health coaching and nutrition counseling, personalized protocol development, direct physician access, and full coordination of your care — from diagnostics to lifestyle, supplements, and medications.

Are labs and supplements included?

Labs and supplements are not included in your membership. Routine labs may be billed to insurance. Some specialty functional tests may be partially reimbursed, but most are paid out of pocket depending on your insurance plan.

Do I have to sign a long-term contract?

No. Our memberships are billed monthly and can be canceled anytime with 30 days’ notice. We focus on long-term partnership — not lock-in contracts.

How is your approach different from other clinics offering functional medicine?

We are not a wellness spa or supplement-heavy protocol clinic. Our care is led by double board-certified MDs with deep training in functional, integrative, and precision medicine. Every decision is rooted in diagnostics, clinical judgment, and systems-based strategy — not guesswork or fads.

What kinds of tests do you offer?

We use a wide range of diagnostics — including blood, stool, urine, saliva, and genetic testing — depending on your symptoms and clinical needs. These may include gut microbiome panels, hormone and adrenal rhythm testing, toxin and mold screening, nutrient analysis, food sensitivity markers, and advanced inflammatory and metabolic panels.

Do I need all of these tests to start care?

No. Testing is recommended strategically — based on your history, clinical presentation, and response capacity. We never order large panels without clear reasoning or use “data dumping” as a substitute for judgment.

Are these tests covered by insurance?

Routine labs may be submitted to insurance. Some specialty functional tests may be covered by your insurance plan, depending on provider agreements and benefits. Regardless of coverage, most out-of-pocket testing costs are eligible for payment using HSA or FSA funds.

Will my doctor explain the results to me?

Yes. All results are reviewed in a dedicated visit with your physician. You’ll receive clinical interpretation, not just raw numbers — and a clear plan tied to what we find.

Do you test for food sensitivities, mold, or heavy metals?

We do — when clinically appropriate. These are not “screening panels” but tools we use to investigate deeper layers of dysfunction when symptoms or history support the need.

Can I bring lab results from another provider?

Absolutely. We’re happy to review previous labs and may be able to reduce testing duplication if those results are clinically useful and current.

What is functional health coaching?

Functional health coaching supports real-life implementation of your care plan — including nutrition, sleep, stress, movement, and behavior change. It’s not generic motivation or lifestyle tips. It’s guided, phase-based coaching that works hand-in-hand with your clinical strategy.

Is coaching included in my membership?

Yes. All functional medicine membership tiers include unlimited health coaching and lifestyle medicine support — integrated with your physician’s protocol.

How often will I meet with my coach?

You’ll have regular one-on-one sessions based on your needs and phase of care. There are no limits on how often you can meet — and all sessions are coordinated with your MD’s guidance.

How is this different from other coaching programs?

Our coaches don’t operate independently. Every strategy is informed by your labs, medical plan, and wearable data — and delivered within our clinic’s collaborative EMR platform. It’s fully connected care.

What kind of results should I expect from coaching?

That depends on your goals and consistency — but most patients find coaching helps with clarity, accountability, and habit formation. It’s the link between knowing what to do and actually doing it — with expert support at every step.

What types of hormones do you prescribe?

We use bioidentical hormones only — including estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, pregnenolone, and others — depending on clinical need. All prescriptions are customized and monitored.

Do you offer pellet therapy?

We evaluate all available routes, including transdermal, injectable, oral, and pellet therapies. However, we only recommend pellet therapy when clinically appropriate and with proper oversight. We do not believe in aggressive or unmonitored dosing.

How do you monitor safety with hormone replacement therapy (HRT)?

We perform baseline labs, regular follow-ups, and ongoing evaluation of liver, lipid, and hormone metabolism markers. Hormones are never prescribed without continuous clinical oversight.

Will I automatically be placed on hormone therapy?

No. Hormone therapy is never automatic. “Hormone optimization” in our model includes a wide range of strategies — from nutrition, lifestyle, and stress regulation to nutraceuticals, peptide support, and, when appropriate, bioidentical hormones. If HRT is considered, it’s only after thorough testing and clinical evaluation. Many patients benefit from non-hormonal strategies alone.

Will I have to be on hormones forever?

Not necessarily. For some, HRT is a temporary phase in recovery. For others — especially postmenopausal women or men with hypogonadism — it may be a long-term strategy. We evaluate your case and goals carefully.

Do you work with patients who have thyroid conditions like Hashimoto’s or subclinical hypothyroidism?

Yes — when appropriate. Our team frequently evaluates thyroid function as part of a broader hormonal and metabolic picture. We assess markers such as Free T3, Free T4, reverse T3, TPO antibodies, and conversion dynamics — especially when symptoms persist despite “normal” lab results. Any treatment approach is personalized and based on your clinical findings, history, and goals.

What kind of wearable data can be integrated?

We currently integrate Oura, smart watches (like apple watch, samsung watch etc), Garmin, Fitbit, and other major platforms into our EMR. This allows your care team to monitor trends in sleep, HRV, heart rate, and activity recovery in real time.

How is care coordinated across the team?

All team members — including your physician, health coach, and nutritionist — operate within a shared EMR and communicate regularly. That means no gaps, no repeated explanations, and no misaligned plans.

How often will I hear from my doctor?

You’ll have regular visits and direct messaging access. Frequency varies by case, but most patients have multiple physician touchpoints monthly — with as-needed responsiveness in between.

What happens if something changes in my labs or symptoms?

We adjust. That’s the value of ongoing oversight. Your plan isn’t static — it evolves based on your physiology, recovery, and feedback. Every phase is monitored and refined accordingly.

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