Skip to main content

Frequently Asked Questions

Please read the following information to better understand UPMC Lifestyle Medicine. This information answers Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Lifestyle Medicine at UPMC including scheduling and insurance coverage for our services.

Contact UPMC Lifestyle Medicine 
lifestylemed@upmc.edu
412-647-8611
Location: Fully virtual

What is Lifestyle Medicine? 

Lifestyle Medicine shifts the focus from the doctor treating your symptoms to you taking control of your health. Nearly 80% of all chronic diseases develop due to lifestyle choices. Lifestyle change requires time, consistency, and support. Our Lifestyle Medicine team can help you recognize behaviors which may be worsening your symptoms and adopt healthier behaviors that can improve your health and how you feel overall. It is possible to manage, improve, and even prevent many chronic diseases (like diabetes, obesity, heart disease, some cancers, and more) by focusing on behaviors associated with these six categories of Lifestyle Medicine: 

  1. Nutrition that is whole-food and plant-predominant 
  2. Restorative and restful sleep 
  3. Physical activity and exercise 
  4. Stress management. 
  5. Substance Use 
  6. Positive relationships and social connection
How do I make an appointment in Lifestyle Medicine?

UPMC Lifestyle Medicine has two ways patients can access our services: referral from a provider & self-referral.

Referral from a provider 

  • A PCP or specialist can refer patients to UPMC Lifestyle Medicine electronically 
    • Our department accepts Electronic Consults (often referred to as E-Consults)
  • Electronic consult referrals are preferred  
    • This is the most efficient way to start care with our team
    • E-Consults are a medical service & may result in a charge to insurance
      • E-consults require the referring provider to get patient consent
      • E-consults are a provider-to-provider communication process and do not result in a face-to-face encounter with a patient.
    • E-Consults allow the Lifestyle Medicine provider to review the referral and patient medical records, identify pertinent information including diagnostics, labs, and patient history, and use clinical decision-making to formulate a customized plan for starting Lifestyle Medicine services. 
      • A detailed report of the electronic consult is sent from the Lifsetyle Medicine provider to the referring provider
      • A summary of the electronic consult is sent to the patient with a welcome message form UPMC Lifestyle Medicine through MyUPMC messaging.

Self-Referral

  • Individuals interested in UPMC Lifestyle Medicine services should call or email UPMC Lifestyle Medicine and provide details about your contact information and reason for referral. 
    • It may take 1-3 business days for your message to be addressed. 
    • Please check MyUPMC messaging for a response. 
    • All self-referrals will require an individual assessment with a Lifestyle Medicine provider which may take 2-3 months to schedule. 

NOTE: UPMC Lifestyle Medicine only schedules telemedicine/virtual appointments. All appointments are accessed through MyUPMC. To get help setting up MyUPMC, please go  MyUPMC website or call 1-866-884-8579.

Does it matter what state I live in? What if I live outside of Pennsylvania?

Telemedicine laws require that healthcare providers be licensed in the state where the patient resides. UPMC policies require out-of-state residents to establish and maintain care with UPMC  by participating in at least one in-person medical visit a year. UPMC Lifestyle Medicine is actively working on ways to see patients, particularly those that live in border states to Pennsylvania. 

At the current time, in order to comply with all laws and regulations, UPMC Lifestyle Medicine can only see residents of Pennsylvania or those that meet the above requirements and can see a licensed provider from his/her home state. 

Where do I find my appointments?

UPMC Lifestyle Medicine is a fully digital practice. All appointments in UPMC Lifestyle Medicine are virtual/telemedicine. We do not offer any in-person appointments. 

You will receive a link to join your telemedicine visit 30-minutes prior to the scheduled time. You can select "JOIN VIDEO VISIT" when you are ready to get started.  We recommend joining 5-15 minutes before the visit starts so you can check your audio and video settings. If you happen to get disconnected, you can log back in and join the session again. 

If you experience technical difficulties or need assistance when logging in, please call the MyUPMC Support Line

  • 1-866-884-8579
How can I self-schedule and communicate with Lifestyle Medicine?

At the current time, patients cannot schedule any services in UPMC Lifestyle Medicine through central scheduling or online. UPMC Lifestyle Medicine communicates primarily through MyUPMC messaging. This includes scheduling and rescheduling appointments. 

All phone calls go directly to voicemail. Phone calls and emails may take 1-3 business days to respond. Replies to phone calls and voicemails may include a MyUPMC message first, and a return call second. 

Please respond promptly to our messages. After two weeks, you can no longer reply to our messages. If you want to reach us  but cannot send Lifestyle Medicine a message, you will need to call our department and ask us to contact you again. 

We strongly recommend patients consider adjusting notification settings on devices to see when a new message is waiting for you in MyUPMC.

Does it matter what device I use to participate in a telemedicine/video visit?

You can access and join any UPMC Lifestyle Medicine appointment on any device. This includes a phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer. Please make sure your device is current on the most recent software updates to minimize any connectivity issues. 

Joining video visits on a phone may limit your ability to see more than one person in the visit at at time. Joining video visits on a laptop or desktop may allow you to adjust your view. Regardless of what you see on screen, we encourage all participants to keep cameras turned on and to stay for the entire duration of the appointment. 

What services do you offer at UPMC Lifestyle Medicine?

Individual Lifestyle Medicine Appointments

  • One-on-one appointment with a Lifestyle Medicine Physician/Physician Assistant
  • Can be an initial assessment (first appointment in the department) or a follow-up appointment.
    • Appointments are designed to thoroughly review medical history, assess appropriateness for Lifestyle Medicine services (or continued services) including readiness for change, and develop or revise a plan of care and treatment strategy based on provider recommendations combined with patient needs and interests. 

Group Medical Visits

  • One or more of our Lifestyle Medicine providers meets with a group of ~8-12 patients with similar health concerns.
  • Many Group Medical Visits focus on a specific topic or diagnosis
  • In these appointments, participants and providers discuss the topic, learn how lifestyle changes can positively improve health, and then create a plan to actively work on making changes. ​
  • Duration, frequency, and topics vary
  • Please see "What are Group Medical Visits" below to learn more

Co-Visit Lifestyle Medicine Appointments 

  • Individual or group appointments with a team that includes a Lifestyle Medicine provider and one of the following team members:​
    • Lifestyle Medicine Health Coach​
    • Lifestyle Medicine Dietitian

Lifestyle Health Coaching Appointments

  • Individual and group appointments 
  • These appointments are supplemental to other services provided in UPMC Lifestyle Medicine and designed to support behavior change, offer motivation, and create accountability. 

Dietitian & Nutrition Services Appointments

  • Medical Nutrition Therapy Appointments
    • Direct referral to a dietitian
    • Highly specialized services for all of your nutritional needs
    • Please see "Important Information About Dietitian Services" below
  • Nutrition Counseling Co-Visit Appointments
    • Appointments with a nutrition specialist & a Lifestyle Medicine provider (co-visit as described above)
  • Nutrition Education 
    • Appointments with our health coach trained in Lifestyle Medicine nutrition and a Lifestyle Medicine provider (co-visit as described above)

 

What are Group Medical Visits?

Group medical visits are a newer way to manage health and allow for learning from other people (sharing struggles and successes) who are working through similar health situations. A provider meets with ~8-12 patients and provides education on a specific topic, helps you understand why and how to implement Lifestyle Medicine techniques are important and influence your health, and show you specific ways you can start to make positive changes in managing your health. 

Group Medical Visits encourage questions and conversations among participants. Research shows that group medical visits increase confidence in managing your health, allow more time with your provider to ask and discuss questions, and teach useful ways to successfully improve lifestyle choices. This results in your ability to better manage your health.  

UPMC Lifestyle Medicine offers groups on various topics (examples include Food as Medicine, Stress and Mind-Body Medicine, Sleep, Digestive Health, etc.). These groups based on topics are offered multiple times during the year. If you cannot attend a session/series that is offered, you can ask to schedule for the next time a particular group is offered. Our calendar of group medical visits is updated every ~3-4 months. (See the calendar at the bottom of this web page for our current schedule). 

NOTE: Prior to most appointments, you will receive a  message in MyUPMC with a link to a questionnaire/form to complete before your next visit. This form is important to help you reflect on what you are doing to make positive changes in your health and how you are doing with the change process. 

What to expect when waiting to be scheduled in UPMC Lifestyle Medicine ?

Self-referrals will be contacted via MyUPMC message and/or a return phone call/email. You will be asked to select a date/time to schedule a Lifestyle Medicine Assessment (one-on-one appointment) with one of our providers. 

If you are referred to UPMC Lifestyle Medicine by your provider (electronic consult), within 1-2 weeks (or sooner) you will receive a MyUPMC message stating that we have received your referral, reviewed all information, and are in process of formulating your plan. 

Once you receive our initial contact (as described above based on how you are referred to our services), you may receive a MyUPMC message with a questionnaire/form. Please complete the requested form(s) to assist your provider in gather more detailed information about you. 

You will start to receive MyUPMC messages with details recommended Lifestyle Medicine services, often including upcoming group medical visits. You may receive multiple messages about more than one group medical visit or appointment.  You may choose to schedule as few or as many of the recommended appointments as you prefer.

Please respond promptly to our messages. After two weeks, you can no longer reply to our messages. If you want to reach us  but cannot send Lifestyle Medicine a message, you will need to call our department and ask us to contact you again. We strongly recommend patients consider adjusting notification settings on devices to see when a new message is waiting for you in MyUPMC.

NOTE: Prior to most group medical visit appointments, you will receive a  message in MyUPMC with a link to a questionnaire/form. Please complete this form as it is important to help you reflect on what you are doing to make positive changes in your health and how you are doing with the change process. It is also a great way to track your progress. 

How do I cancel or reschedule an appointment?

Once you have an appointment scheduled, you can self-cancel through MyUPMC at any time. 

If you are an active patient in UPMC Lifestyle Medicine, you can also send a MyUPMC message to your provider or our department. If it has been longer than 2 weeks since messaging was exchanged, you may not be able to send a direct MyUPMC message to us. If this happens, please call or email UPMC Lifestyle Medicine. 

 

What are the expectations including consent, confidentiality, and attendance?

Group Informed Consent 

Group Medical Visits (GMVs) are a unique approach to treating chronic disease. This dynamic includes a relationship with a group of people who are likely experiencing similar health concerns who give and receive help from one another while being guided by a qualified healthcare professional (known as a group facilitator). UPMC Lifestyle Medicine attempts to create an environment where honest, interpersonal exploration will occur that will benefit all members. To create this environment, we request certain guidelines be agreed and followed by each participant. This includes:

Confidentiality

  • GMVs are effective because participants feel safe to share private information in a confidential atmosphere. It is important that every member of the group agrees to uphold the confidentiality of a therapeutic setting. 
  • Participants agree to keep names and identities of other group members confidential.

Attendance

  • GMVs are successful when there is regular attendance, for the benefit of the individual and the entire group. Each GMV is a medical visit.   
  • If you cannot attend one of the visits, please contact your provider via messaging to discuss scheduling an appointment to review any missed content.  
  • Please arrive on time and stay for the entire session.  
  • While all GMVs in UPMC Lifestyle Medicine are virtual, it is expected that your camera be on so faces can be seen.

Active Participation

  • Members of effective GMVs actively share thoughts, reactions, challenges, and successes during group visits to facilitate behavior change. 
  • Participation does not necessarily mean talking. It can also mean actively listening to what other participants are saying and sharing.  
  • It is requested that you share what is comfortable for you and actively listen to other participants. Please understand the following:  
    • Each participant may share as much or as little as he/she feels comfortable with.  
    • Each participant will share information in different ways.  
    • Each participant will be comfortable with different levels of disclosure.

Confidentiality and Privacy

  • Because group visits involve patients potentially disclosing private medical and social information, participants in a group medical visit must agree to respect the privacy and confidentiality of all participants.  
Do you prescribe medication?

UPMC Lifestyle Medicine providers do not prescribe medication. Our providers do provide guidance, make recommendations and provide referrals to appropriate practitioners when needed. 

What do I need to know about insurance coverage for Individual Appointments, Group Medical Visits, and Co-Visits?

UPMC Lifestyle Medicine is a specialization. We are part of the Department of Family Medicine, but our providers do not offer primary care services. We specializes in treating chronic medical conditions by means of Lifestyle Medicine.

Individual appointments, group medical visits, and co-visits are billed as office visits. These are the same billing codes used when you visit your primary care physician for a sick visit. There is a small chance your insurance provider may consider UPMC Lifestyle Medicine services as a specialist service which can affect your out-of-pocket expenses (co-pay costs). At this time, our department cannot guarantee which insurance policy will consider UPMC Lifestyle Medicine as a specialist service when billing.  

We recommend you plan on any co-pay, deductible, and co-insurance expenses as you would when visiting any physician or medical provider.

UPMC Lifestyle Medicine is a fully digital practice offering telemedicine appointments only. While we do not have any physical locations, insurance requires us to have a physical address. Our address is listed in downtown Pittsburgh, PA, which can affect a small number of insurance plans which have a geographical restriction on accessing providers (Such as Community Blue). You can call your insurance company to ask the following questions:

  • Is my insurance plan 'in-network' with UPMC Lifestyle Medicine?

    • For insurance purposes, our facility name is UPP FAMILY MEDICINE

    • Our facility NPI is 1740248020

  • Do I have coverage for telemedicine visits?

  • Do I have coverage for the following E/M Codes? NOTE: We cannot guarantee what codes will be billed prior to a visit as that depends on many factors. The most common E/M code billed is 99203 for a first visit and 99213 for follow ups.

  • Note: There is no 'group medical visit' billing code. 
  • Ask what your financial responsibillity is:
    • Do you have a deductible that needs met?
    • Do you have a co-pay?
    • Do you have a co-insurance or any other costs to be aware of?

Each insurance plan is different, so please make sure you understand your financial responsibility. 

If insurance coverage or costs are limiting your participation with Medical Nutrition Therapy, please tell us so our Lifestyle Medicine team can discuss alternative options to address your nutritional needs. 

What important information about dietitian services do I need to know, including insurance coverage?

Dietitians are healthcare professionals who are experts in nutrition and the use of food to promote health and manage disease. Many patients are interested seeing a dietitian, hoping for insurance coverage and payment for dietitian services. Direct referral to a dietitian is called Medical Nutrition Therapy. When using insurance to pay for Medical Nutrition Therapy services the following requirements are necessary:

  1. A referral from a provider 
  2. An insurance policy that covers Medical Nutrition Therapy
  3. A qualifying diagnosis (determined by the insurance provider)

Insurance coverage for Medical Nutrition Therapy may have a limit on how many sessions or how many hours of services you can receive per year. Insurance coverage is diagnosis restricted, which means you need to confirm if you diagnosis/diagnoses are approved by your insurance policy. UPMC Lifestyle Medicine will send a detailed MyUPMC message regarding your referral, your specific diagnosis/diagnoses, and specific questions to ask your insurance provider. We strongly encourage you to contact your insurance company and understand your specific policy for Medical Nutrition Therapy.  Please read our message about dietitian services and follow our recommendations which include:

  • Call the customer service phone number on your insurance card 
    • Ask about insurance coverage for Medical Nutrition Therapy provided by a registered dietitian/licensed dietitian nutritionist
    • Billing codes (CPT codes) for these visits include 97802 for the first visit and 97803 for all follow up visits
  • Medical Nutrition Therapy requires a referral and a diagnosis
    • UPMC Lifestyle Medicine will place the referral if one was not received from your referring provider. 
    • UPMC Lifestyle Medicine will provide you with the diagnosis/diagnoses on your referral in our MyUPMC message. 
      • This will be an alpha-numeric code, such as "E66.09, E78.0" which is listed at the top left corner of the MyUPMC message related to scheduling for dietitian services.  
  • Ask your insurance provider the following: 
    • Is Medical Nutrition Therapy a covered service? (Your insurance will require the diagnosis code as explained above) 
    • Is there a limit to the number or the hours or visits a year for medical nutrition therapy?  
    • Do you have any out-of-pocket expenses with these visits such as 
      • Payment toward deductible
      • Co-payment per session 
      • Co-insurance per session
    • Do I have coverage for telemedicine/virtual appointments? (All appointments in UPMC Lifestyle Medicine are telemedicine).

Each plan is different, so please make sure you understand your financial responsibility. 

If insurance coverage or costs are limiting your participation with Medical Nutrition Therapy, please tell us so our Lifestyle Medicine team can discuss alternative options to address your nutritional needs.

Check out our Calendar of Group Medical Visits which are updated quarterly. You can toggle through the search bar or options below for a monthly, grid, or list view. Be sure to scroll through each topic and click on "Read More"  for full details.