Question 1

Can I cancel my membership?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can cancel your membership at any time, for any reason or no reason at all. I just ask for 30 days' written notice before your cancellation date. An open, honest relationship matters, and if there's ever something I could do better, I would love to hear it.

Question 2

Acute Care & Clinical Support

Accepted Answer

Timely visits for minor acute concerns and clinical guidance between appointments are included in your membership with no separate fee. See full details on the Membership page.

Question 3

Can Arete be my primary healthcare clinician?

Accepted Answer

Arete provides comprehensive women's health, menopause care, preventive care, medication management, and ongoing health oversight. Some services, such as imaging, procedures, and certain specialty care, still happen outside the practice. For that reason, I recommend maintaining a relationship with a local primary care if you choose.

Question 4

Can I be seen online, in person, or both?

Accepted Answer

Both. Visits are available in person at the Ridgway office (160 S Amelia St) or by secure telehealth anywhere in Colorado. You can switch between them based on what each visit needs.

Question 5

Do I need to be in menopause to become a patient?

Accepted Answer

No. Many women begin working with Arete before menopause because they're experiencing changes in energy, sleep, metabolism, recovery, mood, cycles, or overall health and want a more comprehensive evaluation.

Question 6

Do you coordinate care with other providers?

Accepted Answer

Yes, outside specialist notes, lab results, and OB/GYN care are reviewed and coordinated so your full picture stays connected. See full details on the Membership page.

Question 7

Do you offer in-person visits?

Accepted Answer

Yes. In-person visits are available at the Ridgway office, 160 S Amelia St. Telehealth is available anywhere in Colorado. Many patients combine both, for example an in-person initial exam and online follow-ups. Arete does not offer home visits.

Question 8

Do you order labs?

Accepted Answer

Lab ordering is included in your membership through Quest. I assess, order, and review labs as part of your ongoing care. See full details on the Membership page.

Question 9

Do you prescribe hormone replacement therapy (HRT)?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Hormone therapy is one of many tools I may consider when appropriate. Recommendations are individualized based on your symptoms, health history, goals, and current medical evidence.

Question 10

Insurance, FSA & HSA

Accepted Answer

Arete is cash-pay and does not bill insurance. Superbills are available for possible out-of-network reimbursement and HSA/FSA documentation. See full details on the Membership page.

Question 11

Messaging policy and response time

Accepted Answer

Secure messaging is available for questions, updates, and brief clinical check-ins. Messages and calls are typically returned within 24–48 hours. See full details on the Membership page.

Question 12

Preventive screening & care coordination

Accepted Answer

Preventive screening is integrated into your membership and coordinated through local providers and imaging centers. See full details on the Membership page.

Question 13

What is integrative and functional medicine?

Accepted Answer

Integrative medicine combines the best of conventional and alternative approaches: evidence-based prescribing, labs, and clinical rigor, alongside nutrition, lifestyle, and whole-body evaluation. Functional medicine goes a step further by asking why symptoms are happening in the first place. Rather than treating each symptom separately, it looks at how your hormones, metabolism, gut health, sleep, and energy interact and influence each other. Together, they offer something most standard care doesn't: a complete picture, and a plan built around it.

Question 14

Why choose a cash based membership?

Accepted Answer

Insurance based care is built around what insurers will reimburse, your care is filtered through a billing department and the relationship between you and your clinician becomes secondary. A cash based membership allows for a smaller patient panel so more personalized care is provided and visits are as long as they need to be. Visit length is determined by billing code with insurance-based care, versus determined by clinical need with Arete. Time with provider is typically 15 minutes with insurance-based care, versus 45–60 minutes with Arete. Visit cost is copay, coinsurance, or deductible per visit with insurance-based care, versus included in monthly membership with Arete. Sick visits are a separate visit and separate charge with insurance-based care, versus included with Arete. New patient wait time is weeks to months with insurance-based care, versus direct access with Arete. Clinician continuity rotates by availability with insurance-based care, versus one clinician always with Arete. Access between visits is by appointment only with insurance-based care, versus direct messaging included with Arete.

Answers to common questions.

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