Can Dr. Krete fill or order prescription medicine?
No, in the state of Connecticut, Naturopathic physicians cannot order prescription medication.
Can Dr. Krete order labs and imaging?
Yes, Dr. Krete can order all labs and imaging. She can also write orders for Physical Therapy and refer to a specialist if needed.
Do I still need a primary care doctor if I see Dr. Krete?
Naturopathic physicians are licensed as primary care physicians in Connecticut. However, they cannot order any prescription medications in the state of Connecticut. Dr. Krete does have patients who have no other primary care doctor, however she generally recommends patients do have a primary care physician as well. This is typically so you can be in touch with someone who can write a prescription if necessary, such as if you were to be diagnosed with acute Lyme disease and needed antibiotics.
Will my insurance cover these services?
The short answer is maybe. Please visit our Insurance & Fees page for more information.
Dr. Krete is contracted with BCBS, Cigna, Oxford, Aetna, and Harvard Pilgrim health insurances. For these insurances, naturopathic visits are almost always covered, and acupuncture visits may be covered, depending on your specific plan. We very strongly recommend all patients call their insurance company before their first visit to confirm they are covered. This is especially true for acupuncture visits. We advise you to call your insurance, ask if you have acupuncture coverage as part of your plan, ask to specify how many visits you are allowed per year, and if there are any diagnosis code exclusions. Remember that you will be responsible for any charges your insurance company doesn’t cover, so if it is important to you, you must call them to get as many details as you can about your coverage. We do not like surprising out patients with a bill they didn’t expect! So please help us, and yourself, by calling your insurance provider ahead of time.
Medicare and Medicaid/Husky do not cover any acupuncture or naturopathic services at this time, with the exception of state workers who have United Heatlhcare Medicare plans. Those with the state United Healthcare Medicare plans are covered for both Naturopathic office visits and for acupuncture.
Please remember for those covered, deductibles, copays and coinsurances will apply. The world of health insurance can be confusing, but it is important to know and understand your plan to avoid unexpected charges.
How long do visits last?
Initial Naturopathic visits are 60 minutes. Initial acupuncture visits are 90 minutes. Follow up naturopathic visits are 30 minutes, and follow up acupuncture visits are 60 minutes.
If you feel you need more time than this, you may request it. There will an additional charge for additional time.
Will I have to take a lot of supplements when I see a Naturopathic Physician?
Dr. Krete puts an emphasis on lifestyle medicine, including proper nutrition, exercise, sleep, and stress management. When patients are successfully implementing these modalities, they tend to need less support from supplements. There are times when patients need a more intense treatment plan, which may entail several supplements for a time. Dr. Krete’s goal is to give each patient a manageable treatment plan, while doing enough to successfully treat their healthcare concerns and eliminate symptoms.
How often will I need to have visits?
This varies depending on the patient. For acupuncture visits, some patients need to come 1-2x per week to start. As the condition improves, visits are needed less often. For acute conditions a patient may need treatments for a short period of time. For chronic conditions longer term treatment may be necessary. This is something you will discuss with your provider at your first visit and as you progress.
Do I need to bring anything to my first appointment?
Please bring your insurance card, if you are using your insurance, your driver’s license or a picture ID and fill out your new patient paperwork ahead of time. It is appreciated by all practitioners when patients bring in a medication list, including all prescription medications and supplements. It as also helpful to bring any lab or imaging results you may have that are pertinent to your case when seeing Dr. Krete, or Kate Bender, APRN.
What is a Naturopathic Physician?
Naturopathic Physicians are the only physician level specialists in Natural Medicine. We are trained to identify and remove causes of a disease and treat patients using natural, non-toxic therapies. Our primary goal, as your natural medicine expert, is to not only treat your condition, but also maximize your health. Naturopathic physicians are licensed by the State of Connecticut to diagnose and treat all medical conditions.
What is the education of a Naturopathic Physician?
Naturopathic physicians undergo training that is similar in structure and scope to that of medical and osteopathic doctors. Naturopathic medical colleges are four-year graduate schools with rigorous admissions requirements comparable to other medical schools. The Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine (ND) degree is awarded after classroom, clinic and practical study. ND’s are trained in medical sciences including anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, microbiology, immunology, pharmacology, cardiology, neurology, radiology, minor surgery, obstetrics, gynecology, embryology, pediatrics, psychology, pharmacology, minor surgery, dermatology, and clinical and physical diagnosis. The training also includes extensive study of naturopathic philosophy and therapeutics including therapeutic nutrition, botanical medicine, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, manipulative therapy, and counseling. Because coursework in natural therapeutics is added to a standard medical curriculum, naturopathic doctors often receive significantly more hours of classroom education in these areas than the graduates of many leading medical schools, including Yale, Stanford, and Johns Hopkins. Like all states with licensure for Naturopathic Physicians, Connecticut’s laws require graduates of naturopathic medical schools to pass rigorous national and state board examination in order to qualify for licensure.
Why should I see a Naturopathic Doctor when they sell herbs and vitamins at the Health Food Store?
The multitude of nutritional and botanical supplements available over the counter can be overwhelming. Furthermore, it is inappropriate and possibly dangerous to get medical advice from persons not appropriately trained. Naturopathic physicians have a comprehensive understanding of physiology, pharmacology, botanical medicine, nutritional biochemistry, and interactions between natural and drug therapies. Without this training, one cannot safely make recommendations about Natural Medicine.
Are naturopathic treatments scientific?
Many of the therapies used by Naturopathic Physicians have been subjected to controlled scientific studies. At Fernwood we make every effort to use therapies with documented scientific efficacy, and/or, just as importantly, a long history of clinical safety and effectiveness.
What is Naturopathic Medicine especially good at treating?
Naturopathic Physicians are trained to provide the best in natural medicine to men, women, and children. They see patients with health problems that include minor ailments to severe life threatening illness and everything in between. Because we treat people, not just body parts, we can help you resolve issues that fall into many categories including:
• Constitutional: Fatigue, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Weight management, Autoimmune Disease, Fibromyalgia
• Psychiatric: Depression, Anxiety, Autism, Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD, ADHD)
• Ears/Nose/Throat: Ear infections, Tinnitus, Sinusitis, Allergies, Sore Throats, Chronic or Recurrent infections
• Cardiovascular: High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, Angina, Atherosclerosis, Congestive Heart Failure, Palpitations •
Respiratory: Infections, Asthma, Allergies, Emphysema or COPD, Bronchitis • Gastrointestinal: Diarrhea, Constipation, Gas and Bloating, Heartburn (reflux or GERD), Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Gallstones, Hepatitis, Colitis, Crohn’s disease, Ulcers, Abdominal pain, Hemorrhoids, Yeast overgrowth, H. pylori infection
• Musculoskeletal: Arthritis, Osteoporosis, Osteopenia, Low Back Pain, Neck Pain, Muscle spasms, Tendonitis, Bursitis, Plantar Fascitis, Gout, Fibromyalgia • Dermatologic: Acne, Eczema, Psoriasis, Rosacea, Rashes
• Neurological: Headaches, Migraines, Sciatica, Seizures, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinsons disease
• Men’s Health: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), Prostatitis, Erectile Dysfunction, Kidney Stones
• Women’s Health: Menopause, Vaginal Infections, Bladder Infections, Interstitial Cystitis, Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), Endometriosis, Fibroids, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
Do I have to stop taking my prescription medication?
No. Many patients come to a Naturopathic Physician because they are concerned about the risk, cost, and side effects of pharmaceuticals. In many cases, there are natural therapies that can replace or decrease the need for prescription medication. In addition, naturopathic physicians can often help reduce unwanted side effects using adjunctive natural therapies. Above all, we want you to reach your health goals safely. Therefore, any changes in a prescription medication regimen must involve collaboration with your other doctors. When prescription medication is involved, we firmly believe that an integrated, collaborative approach to health care is ideal.