Q: What Insurances are accepted? How much will my out-of-pocket cost be?
Our apologies, but MHW no longer accepts new Medicare or out-of-pocket patients. This includes traditional Medicare, as well as any form of commercial Medicare Advantage plans. We are currently accepting the following insurance coverages:
- Aetna
- BlueCross BlueShield (actual name varies by state, so please verify our clinic is listed as “in network” on your carrier’s website)
- BridgeSpan Health (NOT the OHSU PPO plan)
- Cigna
- First Choice Health
- Health Net
- HMA
- Moda (ONLY Connexus, Synergy, and Tier 2 of the OHSU PPO plan)
- Oregon Health Plan (ONLY CareOregon CCO; if you have a different OHP plan, including Open Card, please contact OHP and ask to be switched to CareOregon)
- Pacific Source
- Providence Health Plan (NOT the Caregiver or Connect plans)
- Tricare (ONLY as secondary coverage)
- UMR
- United Healthcare
If your insurance is not listed above, we may not accept your coverage. Please email Ryan (ryan@merritthw.com) to find out.
An office visit at MHW is the same as seeing your primary care provider. Services are billed under the underlying causes and symptoms which insurances allow payment. MHW works in conjunction with all health providers involved in your health.
Coverage depends on your insurance; it is up to you to know your deductibles and co-pays. If you don’t have a family medical provider or PCP, MHW can become your Primary Care Provider and provide many similar services.
Q: How do I Make or Cancel an appointment?
A: Make your appointments online HERE. For same day/urgent appointments that are not listed email ryan@merritthw.com. We may not always be able to accommodate same day appointments.
A: There are a few ways to cancel or modify an appointment, and please keep in mind that there is a $50 fee for late cancelling (within 24 hrs of appt) or not showing up.
- Our preference is that you use the link in the appointment confirmation email you received when you made the appointment.
- Second option is to go to timetap.com.
- If the first two options do not work then call the clinic number (971-258-1120) and leave a message.
- Lastly, we ask that you only email ryan@merritthw.com if the first two options do not work so that we can control the amount of administrative time.
A: We have made a video about how to get the most out of our website and clinic flow.
Please view HOW TO USE OUR WEBSITE HERE.
A: When it comes to communicating with your medical provider please follow the guidelines below:
- Please make an appointment HERE for all medical advice.
- When you email or call your provider for medical advice depending on the complexity of the request it may result in a telehealth bill through your insurance company. Your benefits may vary. When in doubt please make an office visit to discuss any medical issues. www.merritthw.com.
- HOWEVER, a brief, billable, email exchange is at the provider’s discretion of appropriateness for such, and does not replace the need for consideration of making a regular appointment first, nor is the standard of care.
- Charges via Telehealth
Because telehealth medicine has increased, patients should be aware health care systems, including MHW, are charging and billing insurances for certain patient-initiated messages. These messages have to be medical in nature and typically take more than five minutes of a provider’s time. Such messages require a deep review of records or further clinical diagnosis and may involve:
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New symptoms or issues that require assessment or referral.
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Adjustments to medications.
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Chronic disease check-in and management.
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A change in a chronic or long-term condition.
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Request to fill out a form.
What’s Not Charged
Most messages will remain free. The following types of messages will remain non-billable:
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Scheduling an appointment, ALWAYS SCHEDULE ONLINE FIRST HERE.
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Prescription refills, ALWAYS CONTACT THE PHARMACY FIRST.
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Questions resulting in an appointment.
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Quick updates that do not need a response.
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At this time, Merritt Health and Wellness is making efforts to minimize exposure and reduce transmission of the Coronavirus (COVID19). It is important to stay home if you are sick to prevent spreading the virus. Please help us protect our vulnerable patient population by asking yourself these questions before coming in for your appointment:
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Do you have symptoms?
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Cough
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Fever (temperature above 100.4 degrees)
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Shortness of breath, or lower respiratory infection symptoms
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Have you had potential exposure?
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Have you had contact with anyone with a laboratory confirmed case of Covid-19 (Coronavirus)?
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Refer to the CDC and OHA website for updates regarding the Coronavirus, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
How to Protect Yourself and Your Family
Coronavirus is similar to a common cold and/or flu. It is spread from person to person through droplets in the air usually from a sneeze or cough. The most effective way to protect yourself and your family is to avoid exposure. Some effective measures include:
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Wash your hands often using soap and water for no less than 20 seconds
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Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available
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Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
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Avoid close contact with people who are sick
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Stay home when you are sick
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Cover your cough or sneeze with a mask or tissue
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Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as door nobs, handles, phones, etc.
Q: What is Functional Medicine?
A: The easiest way for our staff is if you are able to schedule yourself online at https://www.merritthw.com/schedule-appointment.
Here is a video about how to do it. Click Here.
An alternative would be to call 971-258-1120 to leave a message for a return call to help assist you in scheduling an appointment, Ryan will call you back.
Q: Where and how can I save money on supplements?
There are 2 websites MHW partners with to set discounts on supplements for our patients. Fullscript and Dr. Supplement Store. They each have hundreds of different brands and types of supplements. Here are the links to access these websites and get a discount on your order:
— Dr. Supplement Store order website:
www.DSSOrders.com/MerrittHW
Registration Code
SM1319
Q: What kind of food products are you selling?
A: None, MHW strives to educate about what foods found at the grocery store can facilitate weight loss, lower blood sugars, lower inflammation and lower cholesterol. Prepackaged food products provide temporary help but MHW tries to setup long term success and lifestyle change, which means more education and less processed foods. If you wish to use a product vendor for quick and easy food products that is fine, MHW can give you the assistance necessary while you are losing weight and we can work together to solve your weight loss plateau.puf
Q: Do I need a referral from my primary care provider?
A: Yes if you have an insurance that requires a referral and you do not want MHW to be your PCP. You can get a referral from your primary care but it is not always needed, MHW is also recognized as a primary care facility but we hope to work with your existing health care providers to augment the care they already provide.
Q: What about weight management for children and teens?
A: MHW is well equipped to work with children and teens, although the strategy is much different. We focus on nutrition, activity and healthy eating and not just weight as the primary indicator of success.
Q: How is MHW any different than Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, Nutrisystem, etc?
A: If you have tried to lose weight before but couldn’t keep the weight off maybe its because you haven’t had an obesity medicine specialist’s help. Most programs do not have the support and medical knowledge about how to help maintenance weight loss. Also these programs are unsuccessful and expensive because you are buying food through the program, but there is no education about what foods cause the weight gain and what foods help our body lose weight. MHW specializes in a whole foods approach to a healthy food routine individualized for your healthcare needs.
Q: What is a Nurse Practitioner?
A: Nurse Practitioners are medical providers who completed graduate-level education (either a Master of nursing or Doctor of Nursing Practice degree). Nurse Practitioners treat both physical and mental conditions similar to doctors and physician assistants through comprehensive history taking, physical exams, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests. NPs can then diagnose the disease and then provide appropriate treatment for the patients, including prescribing medications.NPs can serve as a patient’s primary health care provider, and see patients of all ages depending on their specialty (family, pediatrics, geriatrics, etc.). The core philosophy of the field is individualized care that focuses on patients’ conditions as well as the effects of illness on the lives of the patients and their families. NPs make prevention, wellness, and patient education priorities. In addition to health care services, NPs conduct research and are often active in patient advocacy activities. To become licensed/certified to practice, Nurse Practitioners hold national board certification in an area of specialty (such as family, women’s health, pediatrics, adult, acute care, etc.), and are licensed through the state nursing boards.
Q: What is an Obesity Specialist?
A: An obesity medicine specialist is a medical provider who receives specialized training in the treatment of overweight and obese patients. Medical supervision is beneficial to detect and treat weight-related medical conditions. A weight loss treatment program supervised by a medical provider who is a member of ASBP (American Society of Bariatric Physicians) and who completes specialized training in obesity medicine offers a comprehensive and effective approach to maximizing overall health and reversing co-morbidities. Seth Merritt is 1 of 4 medical providers in the state who has a board recognized obesity specialty.
Q: What is a Clinical Lipid Specialist?
A: A Clinical Lipid Specialist is a medical provider who has specialized with advanced knowledge in treatment of dyslipidemia (high cholesterol) and other related cardiometabolic conditions (diabetes, dysmetabolic syndrome, obesity, hypothyroidism, coronary artery disease, etc.). With advanced testing and knowledge we can help reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes, other cardiometabolic issues and premature death. Seth Merritt is 1 of 5 medical providers in Portland with a board recognized lipid specialty.