Does True North accept insurance?
How does a True North physician visit differ from that with an HMO-covered primary care physician (PCP)?
Can True North be my Primary Care Office?
What if I have no idea who I should see, or which service would most benefit me?
How much time can I spend with my True North doctor? What about with other practitioners?
What do True North practitioners charge?
How does True North's facility fee impact me?
What services does True North offer for children?
What if I have a medical emergency or need to be hospitalized?
How do I reach a True North practitioner after hours?
Does Dr. Bethany Hays still practice obstetrics?
What is your affiliation with Mercy Hospital in Portland, Maine?
If I can’t afford the services at True North, is there any other way that I can pay?
Is True North closed for holidays during the year?
Does True North accept insurance?
You may be able to use your insurance at True North. True North would fall under your "out-of-network" benefits if you have health insurance.
This question gets at a common misconception. “Accepting” insurance means that a provider directly bills the insurance company on behalf of the patient – in order to do that, the provider must enter into a contract with the insurance company. For a number of reasons (see Why did True North choose to do it this way?) True North providers have chosen not to contract with third-party payers. However, many patients do get reimbursed. Learn more >
Get more information about using your insurance for True North appointments and reimbursement options>
(Links to Insurance Information page)
How does a True North physician visit differ from that with an HMO-covered primary care physician (PCP)?
The most important difference lies in the amount of face-to-face time you have with your doctor. At True North, a new patient evaluation is typically 1 ½ hours with your physician and a follow-up visit is 45-60 minutes. Elsewhere, these same visits last about 10-15 minutes. Because True North doctors spend so much time with their patients, each doctor has only 400-800 patients in his or her practice, whereas a “PCP” covered through an HMO is usually responsible for 1,500-2,000 patients.
Learn more in our Insurance Information section >
Can True North be my Primary Care Office?
Yes, unless you mean “Primary Care Provider” or PCP for your HMO or insurance plan. Our family practice physicians and nurse practitioners (see our Family Medicine service page) offer primary care – meaning “first person you call with a health problem.” Our Pediatric Care practitioners can also serve in this role for children aged 0-18. Other True North physicians provide specialty and consultative care.
What if I have no idea who I should see, or which service would most benefit me?
We offer a free 15-minute visit in order to better acquaint you with the services we offer, so that you can determine which service(s) might be the most beneficial for you. This visit is not an evaluation or an examination, but rather an information session in which you share your concerns and unique needs with our nurse who will use this information to lead you in the right direction.
How much time can I spend with my True North doctor? What about with other practitioners?
You can spend as much time as you need with any True North practitioner. Our doctors charge by the amount of time they spend with you, so while a typical new patient visit is 1 ½ hours, if more (or less) time is needed, that’s what you get. Complementary practitioners see patients for 1-2 hours depending on what service they are offering.
What do True North practitioners charge?
Our physicians charge $185-$375 per hour. While at first glance, and when compared to a $20 co-pay, that may appear costly, in truth, our physicians charge less than most. The difference is that within insurance-based practices, your insurer is billed the bulk of the physician’s charge (usually $50-$200), leaving you with only the co-pay. Other practitioners at True North charge $75-$120 per hour or session, again, depending on the particular service.
How does True North's facility fee impact me?
True North is committed to increasing efficiency and transparency, decreasing reliance on third-party funders, and sharing the costs and benefits of providing a fiscally sustainable “healthier model of healthcare” with those who benefit most. True North will charge patients a $7.50 or $12.50 facility fee for appointments scheduled with True North, including telephone appointments. The True North Facility Fee first went into effect 12/1/10. Some exceptions apply, which are outlined in the "True North facility fee letter and fact sheet." The facility fees help cover True North's nonprofit operating expenses. Call us at 207-781-4488 with any questions, and you can also find the full the details on our facility fee information page.
What services does True North offer for children?
True North provides the following services for kids:
- Primary Pediatric Care including well child visits and sick child visits.
- Group Well child care (CircleCare for Kids)
- Nutritional consultation
- Vaccinations
- Parenting consultation
- Sleep issues consultation
- Pediatric Hypnosis
- Care for the children on the autistic spectrum
- 24/7 coverage for pediatric patients
What if I have a medical emergency or need to be hospitalized?
If you have a medical emergency, you should call 911 for assistance or go to the nearest emergency room.
If you need to be hospitalized, you will most likely be cared for in the hospital by a specially trained doctor called a hospitalist physician. Your True North physician or nurse practitioner can be in touch with your hospitalist physician to provide them with your health information and keep track of your progress.
How do I reach a True North practitioner after hours?
If you need to reach a True North practitioner after hours, you may contact our answering service by dialing the main number (207-781-4488) where you will receive instructions on how to reach the doctor or nurse practitioner on call.
Does Dr. Bethany Hays still practice obstetrics?
No, Dr. Hays is no longer practicing obstetrics. However, she is still practicing gynecology and consultative women’s health care. During the past few years, Dr. Hays has become an expert in the field of Functional Medicine. For more information on Functional Medicine or Dr. Hays, please visit our Health Care Services section.
What is your affiliation with Mercy Hospital in Portland, Maine?
While True North is actually a free-standing entity and our providers are on staff at both Mercy Hospital and the Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine, True North was developed by a group of nurses, physicians, practitioners and other volunteers who met weekly at Mercy Hospital for several years to plan this Center. A strong, collaborative relationship between True North and this Hospital continues.
If I can’t afford the services at True North, is there any other way that I can pay?
Yes, we have a number of different payment alternatives which can be discussed with the provider you wish to see. We accept all major credit cards or we can work out an individualized payment plan for you. We also participate in Hour Exchange Portland (formerly the Maine Time Dollar Network), an alternative monetary system in which services are exchanged based on time, not money. Please see Affording True North for more information. Read about the Hour Exchange Portland/True North collaboration to find out if you qualify to use time credits to pay for health care at True North.
Is True North closed for holidays during the year?
True North is closed on the following days each year:
NEW YEAR’S DAY
PRESIDENT’S DAY
MEMORIAL DAY
JULY 4TH
LABOR DAY
COLUMBUS DAY
THANKSGIVING
DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING
HALF DAY ON CHRISTMAS EVE
CHRISTMAS
When True North is closed, practitioners do not see patients, the supplement store is not open but True North Institute classes may be held. You can still make purchases from the on-line store even if the office is closed.
