FAQs

What Makes Balance Functional Medicine Different?

Balance Functional Medicine provides personalized, relationship-centered Functional Medicine care with a focus on understanding the factors contributing to your health—not simply treating individual symptoms.

Because we intentionally maintain a smaller practice, appointments are unrushed and allow time to explore your health history, concerns, lifestyle, and goals. We combine conventional medical care with a Functional Medicine approach to develop an individualized plan designed to identify and address underlying contributors to illness, improve health, and support long-term wellness.

Balance Functional Medicine is a 100% virtual specialty practice. We do not provide primary care services and do not replace your primary care provider.

Why Do You Offer a Membership Model?

Our membership model allows us to maintain a smaller patient population and provide greater continuity, accessibility, and personalized attention.

Rather than relying on high-volume, insurance-based visits, membership supports an ongoing professional relationship with a healthcare provider who becomes familiar with your health history, medications, concerns, and goals.

Membership fees and medical visit fees are separate. Virtual medical visits are scheduled as needed and billed directly to the patient.

What Does Membership Include?

Your membership supports an ongoing relationship with Balance Functional Medicine and provides convenient access to personalized Functional Medicine services between scheduled visits.

Membership benefits include:

• Direct Communication — Convenient communication with your healthcare provider for appropriate questions and follow-up between visits.
• Prescription & Refill Management — Ongoing management of prescriptions and routine refill requests when a medical visit is not required.
• Care Coordination — Coordination with your primary care provider, specialists, physical therapists, pharmacies, laboratories, imaging facilities, and other healthcare professionals when needed.
• Lab & Diagnostic Ordering — Laboratory testing, diagnostic imaging, and other appropriate studies may be ordered as part of your Functional Medicine care.
• Insurance & Cash-Pay Lab Options — Use your insurance for laboratory and radiology services when appropriate, or choose discounted cash-pay laboratory options when available.
• Functional Medicine Resources — Access to carefully selected educational resources and recommendations to help you better understand and participate in your healthcare.
• Continuity of Care — An ongoing relationship with a healthcare professional who becomes familiar with your history, medications, health goals, and treatment plan.
• Personalized Guidance — Recommendations tailored to your individual health needs and goals.
• Convenient Virtual Care — Access to Functional Medicine services without routine travel to a medical office.

When a concern requires a more comprehensive medical evaluation, treatment decision, medication adjustment, or dedicated consultation, a virtual medical visit can be scheduled.

How Much Does Membership Cost?

Balance Functional Medicine offers one simple membership option:

Membership: $60/month

Virtual Medical Visits: $100 per 30 minutes

There are no long-term contracts. Membership may be paid monthly, quarterly, or annually.

Who Is Balance Functional Medicine For?

Balance Functional Medicine provides personalized Functional Medicine care for individuals ages 18 and older who want to better understand, treat, and prevent chronic health concerns while taking an active role in their long-term health.

Areas of care include:

• Hormone Health & Balancing — Individualized evaluation and management of hormonal changes and imbalances throughout adulthood.
• Thyroid Health — Comprehensive evaluation and individualized treatment of thyroid-related concerns.
• Weight Management & Metabolic Health — Personalized medical weight-management programs, including GLP-1 medications when appropriate, combined with nutrition, activity, and sustainable lifestyle changes designed to help achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
• Cognitive Health — The Apollo Health program for individuals interested in the prevention and treatment of cognitive decline, with individualized evaluation of factors that may influence brain health.
• Digestive & Gut Health — Functional Medicine evaluation of gastrointestinal symptoms and underlying contributors to digestive dysfunction.
• Chronic & Complex Health Concerns — A comprehensive approach for individuals who want to explore underlying factors that may be contributing to persistent symptoms or chronic illness.
• Prevention & Healthy Aging — Personalized strategies designed to identify health risks, optimize function, and support health and vitality throughout adulthood.

Balance Functional Medicine does not provide pediatric or primary care services.

Do I Need a Primary Care Provider?

Yes. All Balance Functional Medicine members are expected to maintain an established relationship with a primary care provider (PCP).

Balance Functional Medicine is a Functional Medicine specialty practice and does not replace primary care.

As part of your Functional Medicine care, Shirley Olson, NP-C, FMCP-M, may order and interpret laboratory testing, diagnostic imaging, and other studies; prescribe and manage medications; and make referrals to specialists and other healthcare professionals when appropriate.

Your primary care provider remains responsible for routine primary and preventive care, physical examinations, vaccinations, acute and urgent care, and other services traditionally provided in a primary care setting.

Balance Functional Medicine can work collaboratively with your PCP and other healthcare professionals to support coordinated care.

Will Functional Medicine Testing Be Part of My Care?

For most people seeking Functional Medicine care, advanced testing provides valuable information that can help us better understand the factors influencing your health.

Testing is individualized rather than based on a standard panel for every patient. Depending on your health history, symptoms, and goals, we may recommend conventional laboratory testing and specialized Functional Medicine testing to evaluate areas such as metabolic health, hormones, nutritional status, gastrointestinal function, inflammation, cardiovascular risk, or other relevant factors.

These results help us develop a more targeted and individualized plan rather than relying on symptoms alone.

We also consider clinical value and cost when recommending testing. Insurance may be used for many conventional laboratory and diagnostic services, while discounted cash-pay options may be available for other testing.

In Which States Can I Receive Care?

Balance Functional Medicine accepts members who maintain a residence in Colorado or New Mexico.

Because telehealth requirements can vary depending upon your location at the time of a visit, please let us know when scheduling if you will be outside Colorado or New Mexico so we can determine whether any additional requirements apply.

How Are Prescription Refills Handled?

Active members may request prescription refills through Balance Functional Medicine.

Routine medications can often be renewed without a separate visit. Some medications may require periodic follow-up, laboratory monitoring, or a medical visit before renewal.

We will let you know when follow-up is needed.

Can Medicare Patients Become Members?

Yes. Medicare beneficiaries are welcome to become members of Balance Functional Medicine.

Shirley Olson, NP-C, FMCP-M, has opted out of Medicare. Membership fees and professional services provided directly by Balance Functional Medicine are therefore not billed to Medicare.

This does not prevent Shirley from ordering medically appropriate services provided and billed separately by outside healthcare providers and facilities. These may include laboratory testing, diagnostic imaging, specialist consultations, physical therapy, and other covered services.

The laboratory, imaging center, specialist, or other participating provider may bill Medicare directly for covered services according to Medicare’s applicable coverage requirements.

Do You Accept Health Insurance?

Balance Functional Medicine does not bill health insurance for membership fees or professional medical services.

You may continue to use your health insurance for outside services such as laboratory testing, diagnostic imaging, prescriptions, specialist care, and other covered healthcare services, subject to the terms and coverage of your individual insurance plan.

Discounted cash-pay laboratory options may also be available and can sometimes be more economical than using insurance.

What Is a Complimentary Discovery Visit?

A complimentary discovery visit is a brief opportunity to meet with Shirley Olson, NP-C, FMCP-M, learn about Balance Functional Medicine, discuss what you are looking for in your healthcare, and determine whether the practice may be a good fit for your needs.

The complimentary discovery visit is not a medical appointment. It does not include medical evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, prescription management, or individualized medical advice.

If you decide to become a member, a medical visit can then be scheduled to begin your Functional Medicine evaluation and care.

Do You Provide Urgent or Emergency Care?

No. Balance Functional Medicine does not provide primary care, urgent care, or emergency medical services.

For a life-threatening emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

For acute medical concerns or conditions requiring prompt in-person evaluation, please contact your primary care provider, an urgent care center, or another appropriate local healthcare facility.

Why Do You Limit the Number of Members?

We intentionally limit the size of our practice so we can devote more time and attention to each patient and maintain the personalized relationships that are central to our model of care.

Once the practice reaches its ideal membership size, prospective members may be placed on a waiting list until space becomes available.

Can I Cancel My Membership?

Yes. There are no long-term contracts.

Membership may be cancelled with 30 days’ notice. Members who have prepaid annually will receive a prorated refund of eligible remaining membership fees in accordance with the membership agreement.

How Do I Become a Member?

The first step is to schedule a complimentary discovery visit with Shirley Olson, NP-C, FMCP-M.

This brief conversation gives you an opportunity to learn more about Balance Functional Medicine, ask questions about the practice, and determine whether our approach is a good fit for your healthcare goals.

If you decide to join, we will guide you through the membership process and schedule your first Functional Medicine medical visit.

Membership is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Once the practice reaches capacity, prospective members may be placed on a waiting list.