Policies & Expectations


Basic Information

Please change the following: Our goal at is to provide you with the highest level of personalized care. We are committed to helping you achieve optimal health.

Dr. Cooke sees patients in her clinic in Sacramento as well as online.

Appointment times are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 am to 4 pm PST. There are occasionally later or earlier appointments available, for special circumstances.

For an initial consultation please call the office at 916-241-0766.

You are REQUIRED to have a separate primary care doctor or at least a provider you can go to for urgent matters.

If you have a medical emergency, call 911 or go directly to the nearest emergency room.
 

Office Visit Charges

Please be aware that your scheduled appointment time includes time Dr. Cooke utilizes to review your chart, update chart notes, interpret labs and communicate on your behalf with other practitioners.

The New Patient consult includes 60 minutes of face-to-face interaction.

Dr. Cooke spends time after the appointment reviewing chart paperwork and preparing other forms directly related to your individual care.

If you are late for your scheduled appointment you will be seen for the remainder of your scheduled appointment time and billed for the entire appointment.

If your appointment extends beyond the scheduled time you will be billed for that time in 15 minute increments depending on the time actually used by the provider in coordinating your care.

Appointment Fees for Dr. Cooke:

  • New patients, 60 minutes: $495

  • First time follow-up, 60 minutes: $495

  • Established patients 60 minutes: $495

  • Established patients 45 minutes: $325

  • Established patients 30 minutes : $295

Established patients: 15 minutes (special circumstances only): $115

**Any additional time used past what is scheduled will be billed at 15 minute increments unless agreed upon during the appointment. If you use less time than what was scheduled, you will still be billed for the appointment time that was reserved. Please monitor your time accordingly. Please note that Dr. Cooke puts in a lot more time following the appointment to complete your recommendations, create lab orders, process prescriptions and when needed, do research. This time is built into your appointment fee though often can run as long as the appointment or longer. Payment is required at time of appointment.
 

Phone/Video Appointments

Dr. Cooke can see patients via phone or video consultations. Virtually all services that can be done in person can be done via phone or video consultation. Please note that your initial consultation has to be in person. Lab tests can be ordered that can be performed in your area, and we may also order medication from our vetted compounding pharmacies that can be shipped to you.

Nutritional therapy and laboratory/diagnostic testing are integral components of your treatment plan. Test results are used to design your personal health care program as well as uncover the root causes of your medical condition. Nutritional supplements are often recommended and we will help you select and find the highest quality products.
 

Cancellation Policy

Due to the overwhelming requests for new patient consultations, there is a 7-day cancellation policy, and your appointment must be confirmed at least 7 days prior to your scheduled consultation via patient portal email. For cancellation within a 48 hour window prior to the scheduled appointment, a fee of 50% of the appointment fee will be assessed for late cancellation the first time and for subsequent late cancellations, the full amount of the appointment will be charged.
 

Insurance Information

Dr Cooke does not accept insurance or Medicare and we cannot assure you that services (office visits, phone consultations or lab tests) will be reimbursed. You will be provided with diagnosis and procedure codes to assist you with possible insurance reimbursement.

Please note that we are not Medicare providers and are opted out of the Medicare program. Our services cannot be submitted to Medicare for reimbursement.

If you have an HSA (Health Savings Account), functional medicine consultations and prescribed supplements are allowable, tax-free expenditures. Health Savings Accounts are a new option for health insurance and they have two parts. The first part is a health insurance policy that covers large hospital bills. The second part of the Health Savings Account is an investment account or retirement account from which you can withdraw money tax-free for medical care. Unused money accumulates with tax-free interest until retirement, when you can withdraw for any purpose and pay normal income taxes.

We strongly urge you to look into an HSA as an alternative insurance choice. To find out more, please go to www.hsainsider.com.
 

New Patient Expectations

We strongly recommend that you fully commit to Dr Cooke’s medical approach in order to succeed. Working with multiple centers or physicians, other than your primary care physician, may create contradiction, confusion and frustration – ultimately delaying your progress.

  • A Partnership and a Process
    Some chronic illnesses can take weeks, months or even longer to improve. If you don’t see immediate results, don’t give up. Healing is based on a partnership and a process. It takes time, patience and persistence to find and treat the root causes of your illness. You will have to work hard, and so will we. Generally speaking, how effective the protocol is and how quickly results will be achieved is often reflective of the amount of time, attention and commitment you put in to the process.
     

  • Prescribed Changes
    Your commitment to comply with prescribed dietary changes, supplements, and medications, as well as other treatment recommendations, is the key to healing. If you don’t follow the plan with reasonable consistency, your progress will likely be stalled.
     

  • Patient / Physician Commitment
    Establishing and maintaining a good working relationship with Dr Cooke, is a key element in your success. Once treatment is initiated , it is important that you remain in her care and stay in regular communication with her.
     

  • Ongoing Support
    Functional medicine is a different approach from the existing health care model. Chronic illness can contribute to challenges with focus, cognition, energy and mood. Some of the changes that we ask of you may feel overwhelming at times. We urge every patient to find support at home.