Frequently Asked Questions

01 Does insurance cover dietitians? Is it possible to do direct billing?

Registered Dietitian - Nutritionist services in private clinics are covered under MOST group insurance plans. A few plans require physician referral. Each plan is different. You are encouraged to contact your insurance provider to confirm that you are covered for Registered Dietitians - Nutritionist services.

Often, dietitian insurance coverage is found in the “extended” section under “paramedical services”. In some instances, these services are listed under ‘’Homecare and Nursing, Prosthetic Appliances and Durable Medical Equipment’’. In other instances, a miscellaneous section or "Health Spending Account" can be used towards Nutrition counseling services. These services are generally reimbursed when there is a demand from individuals within the company.

To date, the only direct billing I can offer is through Blue Cross. For other insurance companies, clients can simply pay for services and send in receipts to their insurance company for reimbursement.

Although you may pay for sessions in advance (as is the case for packages), insurance receipts will only be given once the service has been rendered.

If you do not have insurance coverage for nutrition coaching services, you may save receipts for tax purposes.

02 Which payment methods can I use? When should I pay?

Payment is required the day the service is rendered, unless you are purchasing a package. Insurance receipts will only be given once the service has been rendered.

Payment can be made by:

Email money transfer (preferred)
Online payment (through website)
Credit card
Debit
Cash

03 What can I expect from an individual dietitian consultation?

After booking your initial appointment with our nutritionist for athletes, you will be asked to fill out a typical 2-day food journal and a diagnostic questionnaire. These documents are to be filled out prior to your first appointment. (Clients with a concussion are asked to have a friend or family member complete the form.) Adolescents under the age of majority who want to consult without their parents will require a guardian authorization form to be signed at first appointment.

You will be asked to bring in a copy of recent blood work results (if applicable), as well as details surrounding your training program and schedule. The initial dietitian appointment will be divided into 2 parts. The evaluation will consist of us going through your goals, questionnaire and food log. I will ask many questions. If goals include body composition changes, then measurements (skinfolds, circumferences, etc.) can be taken at this time. Please bring a pair of shorts and a sports bra (as needed). The second part of the initial consultation will be reserved for nutrition coaching and discussing the changes to be made to your nutrition, as well as the reasons behind these changes.

You will be asked to return for a follow-up session a few weeks after the initial dietitian consultation. During this session, I will answer questions you may have accumulated. We will also discuss nutrition changes you were asked to make and receive further nutrition coaching towards your goals. Follow up sessions can continue until your goals are met. Sessions are usually in 2-4 week intervals, however, this can be changed according to your schedule.

Payment is to be made at the latest, on the day of your appointment. Follow-up sessions can be booked at the end of each appointment however, to assure a spot is available in a timely manner, it may be wise to book ahead online.

04 What is the policy on cancellations and missed appointments?

As a courtesy to others who are waiting for nutrition appointments, a 24-hour notice for cancellation or rescheduling of an appointment is required. Failure to do so can result in a charge of $25.00. Receipts for missed appointment are not admissible for insurance coverage.

Your respect of this policy is greatly appreciated.

05 What is the policy on weather-related closures?

You will be contacted if the office is closed due to weather. In case I am unable to reach you, the closure will also be mentioned on social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram). If you feel uncomfortable risking travel due to weather, and the office is still open, you may either reschedule your nutrition appointment, or choose to online consultations / by telephone.

06 How do I book a nutrition counseling session?

Please book an appointment through the online dietitian service button on this website and choose “in-person”, “virtual” or "by telephone". Online consultations are available through the secure "Practice Better" booking system or through another preferred method. You can follow the steps to connect by videoconference on the "Practice Better" booking system portal by clicking here.

Please assure that proper local time zone is displayed on your device/browser as the online scheduler will display appointment availability times based on the times you have set.

07a What is the PRACTICE BETTER e-portal? and how does it work?

The PRACTICE BETTER portal is a tool for managing your nutrition appointments and notes. It allows you to send me your documents directly. It also gives you access to your notes after each visit. To access the portal, you must follow these steps:

Activate your customer account: After making an appointment for an initial nutrition consultation, you will receive an email from PRACTICE BETTER asking you to join the site by activating your account. The email used is the one you gave when you made your initial appointment.

2. After clicking on the link to activate your account, you will need to choose a password to access the system. You can then fill in the form, accept the terms and click on the registration button. You can access the portal via the link below or through the PRACTICE BETTER application on your cell phone.

https://client.practicebetter.io/#/signin

07b How do I join and submit a form in the PRACTICE BETTER portal?

There are two ways to submit your forms.

1.You can log in to the customer portal and access the forms by clicking on PENDING FORMS. When you are done, you can save and send.

2.You can also access the forms via your email by clicking on the questionnaire link.

07c How do I access SESSION NOTES after the appointment?

You must first have activated your account as mentioned above. Then access your account either via ACCOUNT LOGIN in the upper right corner of this website, through the email you received reminding you that your notes were ready, or by your BETTER app – by PRACTICE BETTER. Click on the SESSION NOTES section, then click on the date of each appointment for the drop-down notes to become visible.

If you don't see the documents, you may have a pop-up interfering with the download. Look at the upper right corner of your address bar for a square icon and click on it. Then select the blocking option that suits you.

07d How can I access my webinar/resource after purchasing it?

You must first access your account:

1. From the email sent to you after purchase (check junk mail too)

2. Through your BETTER App – by PRACTICE BETTER (also accessible via the blue LOGIN button on this website)

You can view your resources (webinar, guide, etc.) under MY PROGRAMS (which can be found on your main account page).
**Be sure to log in with the email you used to make the purchase and check your spam if you haven't received the confirmation email.

08 How do I go about booking a seminar / presentation?

If you are interested in a seminar or presentation for your group, the easiest way to proceed is to fill out the seminar/presentation form in the Speaking/ consulting tab. You will receive an email or telephone call to confirm booking, as well as topics customized to the needs of your group.

09 Which packages or services are available to teams / groups?

If you are interested in nutrition planning for travel, the easiest way to proceed is to fill out the group travel form in the Speaking/consulting Tab. You will receive an email or telephone call to confirm booking, as well as topics customized to the needs of your group.

If you are interested in team packages, please contact me to discuss the needs of your group/team. I will then send you a quote with various package options, developed around the needs of your group.

10 Can I get a meal plan?

You can request a personalized flexible nutrition plan offering food options and specific quantities. This plan considers your goals, sex, age, body composition, height, weight, training schedule, sport, work schedule, sleep schedule (shift work), health issues, allergies, medication, food preferences and deficiencies.

This type of plan requires you to first complete an initial dietitian consultation (60 minutes) so that I can go through the diagnostic questionnaire, food log and questions. I must also take this time to teach key elements, such as label reading, required for the success of the plan. You are required to book your first follow-up session, about 4 weeks after your initial nutrition appointment, so that you may receive further education that is not given in your plan, but that is necessary for the success of your goals. During this follow up session, I make sure that the plan is well adapted to your needs and I am also able to tweak it as necessary following the trial period.

You cannot “purchase a generic plan” as no two clients will require the same nutrition plan, guidance and advice.

The billing for this type of customized protocol is based on time spent developing the material. The average plan will take 1 hour to develop, which will cost $125 (not including counseling fees).

For those requesting specific meal plans, which tell you exactly which item to eat, at what time, the process required is the same as the one above, however, once the flexible meal plan is developed specific meals and snacks based on your food preferences, allergies, ability in the kitchen and time availability for cooking will be chosen.

I can also set you up with a catering service for personalized meals as delivery or pick-up.