What is functional medicine vs conventional medicine?

Functional medicine is a root-cause, whole-body approach to healthcare. Instead of only treating symptoms, functional medicine focuses on identifying WHY symptoms are happening and what systems are out of balance. This often involves deeper lab evaluation, detailed history, and a personalized plan that addresses underlying drivers such as inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, nutrient depletion, gut imbalance, hormone imbalance, toxic burden, sleep disruption, stress physiology, and lifestyle patterns.

Conventional medicine is essential and often lifesaving. It excels in acute care, diagnostics, emergency treatment, and many chronic disease management strategies. At Tenacity Health, our provider is trained in BOTH conventional and functional medicine. We use the strengths of each approach and apply them appropriately. Our goal is not to choose one model over the other - our goal is to use the most effective tools available to help you restore health and function.

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Do you accept insurance/Medicare/Medicaid?
No. Tenacity Health is a cash-pay clinic (also called concierge, direct-pay, or out-of-network).

Just like many functional medicine practices, we do not accept insurance because our model requires significantly more time, depth, and individualized care than insurance-based medicine allows. In traditional insurance-based healthcare, most visits are limited to approximately 5-15 minutes. Conventional providers may also carry patient panels of roughly 1,500 to 2,000 patients, which makes high-touch, highly personalized care difficult to deliver.

In contrast, functional medicine providers typically work with much smaller patient panels (often around 300 to 500 patients). This allows for longer visits, deeper investigation, customized care plans, and the ongoing follow-up needed for meaningful change. Our model is designed to help patients achieve real and measurable improvements in their health.

We do not bill insurance and we do not communicate with insurance companies. Payment is due at the time of service. If you would like to submit for possible out-of-network reimbursement, we can provide a receipt/superbill upon request. HSA/FSA cards are welcome and can often be used for eligible services.

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What are your areas of clinical expertise at Tenacity Health?
We describe Tenacity Health as a functional wellness clinic. We are here to help you optimize your health, reclaim lost health, prevent disease, detect the root cause of chronic symptoms, and restore balance (homeostasis) in the body.

Our clinical focus centers on what we call the "pillars of health" - the main levers that allow the body to heal and function at its best. These include:

• Metabolic health (insulin resistance, weight-loss resistance, inflammation, lipid optimization)

• Thyroid optimization

• Adrenal/stress physiology

• Sex hormone optimization (women and men)

• Gut health optimization

• Reducing inflammation and immune dysfunction

• Reducing toxic burden and supporting detoxification pathways

• Sleep optimization

• Muscle health and strength (lean mass, mobility, longevity)

• Stress management and nervous system regulation

• Nutrition and behavior change support

• Chronic pain optimization and supportive injection therapies

We often work with patients who have chronic fatigue, complex symptoms, and inflammatory patterns that have not been fully explained or addressed through conventional care alone. In many cases, our lead clinician has helped identify root cause drivers other providers may not have pursued (or may not be trained to evaluate), including conditions such as mold-related illness, Lyme disease and co-infections, connective tissue disorders (including Ehlers-Danlos), autoimmune patterns, and more.

A good practitioner also knows when to refer. We may take on complex cases in a diagnostic and investigative capacity, and we will be honest with you if a condition requires specialty care outside of our scope. Even when a rare diagnosis is identified, we can continue supporting foundational health while coordinating care with appropriate specialists.

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What is BHRT?
BHRT stands for Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy. BHRT treats low or imbalanced hormone levels in women and men using hormones that are chemically identical to those naturally produced by the human body.

BHRT can be used to improve symptoms and quality of life when clinically appropriate, and may support improvements in energy, sleep, mood, body composition, libido, cognitive performance, and overall well-being. Treatment options may include subcutaneous pellets, troches, oral capsules, creams, gels, injections, and patches. Your provider will help determine which form is best for you based on your history, goals, labs, and preference.

 

What are pellets?
Hormone pellets are small subcutaneous implants inserted just under the skin, typically in the upper buttock area (women) or flank (men). A lidocaine injection is used for numbing. No stitches are usually required, and the procedure is typically completed in about 15 minutes.

Pellets provide a steady and consistent release of hormones over time. Many patients prefer pellets because they do not have to remember daily dosing and they often provide stable blood levels without the fluctuations that can occur with some other dosing methods.

 

If I do not want pellets, is there another way to receive BHRT?
Yes. We offer multiple hormone therapy delivery methods based on your medical history, lab results, symptoms, and preferences. Our provider works with compounding pharmacies when appropriate and can prescribe hormone therapy in forms such as troches, creams, oral capsules, and injections. Prescriptions can often be picked up locally or shipped directly to you.

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Do your clinic fees cover the cost of lab work?
No. Lab costs are separate from clinic visit fees.

If you have insurance, you may choose to use your insurance for lab testing. However, insurance-based lab pricing often lacks transparency, and patients may receive unexpected bills depending on deductible, copays, coinsurance, or coverage decisions.

For this reason, we often prefer ordering labs through Rupa Health, a cash-pay lab ordering service that offers transparency and access to a wide range of functional medicine testing. Many patients find this option more affordable and predictable than traditional retail labs.

As a general example, comprehensive initial lab evaluation may range around $200-$300 depending on the tests selected. Follow-up labs vary depending on what is being monitored.

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How do payments work?
We require payment at the time of service. We accept major credit cards, cash, and HSA/FSA cards when applicable. We do not bill insurance and we do not contact insurance companies.

If you would like to submit your receipts to your insurance plan for possible reimbursement, that process is the patient’s responsibility. We can provide documentation upon request.

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How do I become a new patient?
To become a new patient, please call our office at 719-602-6098, fill out the inquiry form on this website, or email office@tenacity.health to get started.

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Do you offer telehealth visits?
Yes. We offer telehealth appointments for many types of visits. If an in-person exam, procedure, or lab work is needed, we will help you schedule the appropriate type of visit.

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What is your cancellation and no-show policy?
We require at least 24 hours notice to cancel or reschedule an appointment.

• Cancellations with less than 24 hours notice: $200 fee

• No-shows: $200 fee
  As a small business with limited appointment availability, last-minute cancellations significantly impact our ability to care for other patients and keep our clinic running efficiently.

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Do you prescribe controlled substances?

Yes, on a case-by-case basis when medically appropriate and clinically indicated.
To protect patient safety and ensure responsible prescribing, we follow strict monitoring practices which may include:

• controlled substance agreements

• random urine drug screening (UDS)

• frequent follow-up visits

• pill counts
  Our goal is always safety, accountability, and the highest standard of care.

 

How do refills work?

Please request refills through the patient portal whenever possible:

• Go to Medications

• Click Request Refill
  Important: If your pill bottle indicates you have refills remaining, please contact your pharmacy directly. In that situation, the pharmacy can refill your medication without us issuing a new prescription.

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Are you a primary care clinic?

No. Tenacity Health is not a primary care practice.
We often overlap with primary care and can be an excellent adjunct to your existing provider, but we do not replace a traditional primary care office. We recommend all patients maintain an active relationship with a primary care provider for general medical care and urgent needs. We do offer 'urgent care' type services for our current patients (eg, UTI, sinusitis, bronchitis, otitis media, URI etc). 

 

Who is a good fit for Tenacity Health?
Tenacity Health is a great fit for patients who are ready to optimize their health and take an active role in their healing. Our best outcomes happen when patients are:

• open to coaching and making sustainable lifestyle changes

• willing to track and follow through on personalized plans

• motivated to learn and understand their body

• looking for an expert medical partner, not a quick fix

Whether your health has significantly declined and you are ready to reclaim it, or you are already health-conscious and want to optimize further, we meet you where you are and help you move forward.

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