Frequently Asked Questions
Health Improvement Institute · FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about how the practice works, what’s included, and whether this is the right fit for you.
The practice
What is Health Improvement Institute?
A concierge men’s health and longevity practice run by a board-certified Internal Medicine and Obesity Medicine physician with 14 years of hospital experience. The focus is on the conditions that quietly shorten men’s lives — low testosterone, obesity, cardiovascular risk, and metabolic dysfunction — treated with the depth and time the standard system doesn’t allow.
This is not a med spa, a GLP-1 subscription service, or a wellness coaching program. It is physician-led medical care, applied earlier than most men have ever experienced.
Who is this practice for?
Men in their 30s, 40s, and 50s who are ready to stop accepting “fine” as an answer. You’re likely a good fit if any of these apply:
- Weight creeping up, energy declining, or labs trending in the wrong direction
- You’ve wondered about your testosterone — or been told it’s “normal” without anyone asking how you feel
- Prediabetes (A1C 5.7–6.4), high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or family history of heart disease
- You’ve been told to “watch and wait” while things slowly get worse
- You want physician-led care, not an NP-run clinic or an online subscription
- You’ve never had a doctor who had time to actually talk
Who is this practice not for?
- Medicare beneficiaries (I cannot see Medicare patients at this time)
- Advanced diabetes with complications requiring endocrinology management
- Active heart disease requiring ongoing cardiology management
- Anyone looking for a quick fix without addressing root causes
You should maintain a primary care physician for annual physicals, vaccines, and cancer screenings. My practice is built around the things that get missed — and the things that matter most for how long and how well you live.
How is this different from my regular doctor?
Your regular doctor manages 2,000+ patients and sees 20–30 per day in 15-minute appointments. I keep my panel intentionally small so I can actually practice medicine.
- 90-minute new patient visit instead of 15 minutes
- I know your labs, your history, and your goals — not meeting you fresh every time
- Direct secure messenger access, weekdays 8am–6pm. I respond. No phone trees, no nurses, no portal runaround
- I treat to optimal outcomes, not guideline minimums. “Borderline” is not good enough
- I do the workup to understand the cause before I prescribe anything
Pricing & what’s included
What does it cost?
- 90-minute initial physician evaluation
- Comprehensive review of your labs, blood pressure, weight, fitness trackers, family history, current medications & supplements, and social determinants of health
- Proprietary Blank Slate health plan — your personalized protocol for the next 30 days and beyond
- 3 × 30-minute weekly check-ins for accountability, guidance, and questions
- Prescription management — GLP-1, TRT, statins, metformin as indicated
- Evidence-based supplement recommendations
- Direct secure messenger access — weekdays 8am–6pm throughout
- 2 × 30-minute video check-ins per month
- Direct secure messenger access — weekdays 8am–6pm
- Ongoing prescription management and refills
- Review of updated labs, diagnostics, and health data
- Evidence-based supplement guidance — no commissions, no pseudoscience
- If you’re hospitalized or navigating a complex medical situation — I’m available. As a board-certified internist with 14 years of hospital medicine, I can advocate for you, review your care, and make sure you’re asking the right questions.
- Cancel anytime with 30 days’ notice
We do not accept insurance or Medicare. Labs, diagnostics, and prescriptions are billed separately by their respective vendors. A superbill is available upon request for out-of-network insurance submission or HSA/FSA reimbursement.
Do you accept insurance?
No. This is a self-pay practice. I do not bill insurance for physician visits.
However, labs and medications can be billed to your insurance. I order labs through Quest or LabCorp, and prescriptions are filled at your regular pharmacy. Many patients find their insurance covers a meaningful portion of these costs.
If your insurance doesn’t cover comprehensive metabolic panels, I recommend Function Health — $365/year with convenient blood draw locations at Quest throughout the Philadelphia area. It’s one of the most comprehensive panels available and what I recommend to most patients before their first visit.
Can I cancel anytime?
Yes. No long-term contracts. Cancel the ongoing membership with 30 days’ notice. Many patients start with the initial package and decide whether to continue based on their experience.
Are visits HSA or FSA eligible?
In most cases, yes. Physician services at a medical practice are generally HSA/FSA-eligible expenses. Check with your plan administrator to confirm — rules vary by account type.
Clinical care
Do you treat testosterone and prescribe TRT? New Jersey patients only
Yes, when clinically indicated. I don’t prescribe testosterone based on a number alone. A thorough workup — including LH, FSH, estradiol, and prolactin — is done first to understand the cause of low testosterone and rule out anything that needs further evaluation before starting treatment.
Target levels are individualized to your symptoms, labs, and baseline — not a one-size-fits-all number. This is not a TRT mill. If testosterone replacement is appropriate, it’ll be managed properly with regular monitoring.
Do you prescribe GLP-1 medications like Zepbound or Wegovy?
Yes, when clinically appropriate. I prescribe tirzepatide (Zepbound, Mounjaro) and semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic) as part of a comprehensive approach to weight and metabolic health — not in isolation.
Many insurance plans now cover GLP-1 medications for obesity or diabetes. If not covered, manufacturer savings programs like Lilly Direct offer tirzepatide for approximately $199–499/month depending on dose.
What other medications do you prescribe?
As a board-certified internist, I manage the full range of medications relevant to men’s metabolic and cardiovascular health — including statins for cholesterol, antihypertensives for blood pressure, metformin for insulin resistance and prediabetes, and others as clinically indicated. All medications are prescribed with proper workup, dose titration, and monitoring.
I don’t sell supplements. When I recommend them, it’s based on evidence — not commission.
What about labs — what do you recommend before the first visit?
I recommend getting a comprehensive lab panel done before your first visit so we can hit the ground running. Function Health ($365/year) is my preferred option — one of the most comprehensive panels available, with convenient blood draw locations at Quest throughout the Philadelphia area. If you already have recent labs from your doctor, bring those and we’ll review them together.
Do you work with my other doctors?
Yes. I review all current medications and records from your other providers at the initial visit. If you’re seeing a specialist, I won’t make changes to their medications without discussing it with you first.
My focus is your metabolic health, cardiovascular risk, and hormonal optimization. I’m not a replacement for your PCP — I’m what fills the gap between your annual physical and the things that actually need attention.
Logistics
Where are you located? Do you offer telehealth?
Both. Appointments are available via telehealth video visit or in person at my Cherry Hill, NJ office — whichever works better for you.
- In-person: Cherry Hill, NJ office. Home visits available in Moorestown, Mount Laurel, Marlton, Haddonfield, Collingswood, and surrounding South Jersey communities (additional fee applies)
- Telehealth: Available for patients in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, California, and Florida
What are your hours?
We don’t keep bankers hours. New patient appointments are scheduled around your life — including evenings and times that work for busy professionals. Reach out and we’ll find something that fits.
For medical emergencies, call 911 or go to your nearest ER. This practice is not equipped for acute emergencies.
How do I get started?
Book directly through the scheduling link below. If you’d prefer to talk first, call or text 856-291-6452 — happy to answer questions before you commit to anything.
Still have questions?
Call or text directly — or go ahead and book. There’s no obligation until you decide this is the right fit.
Schedule your first visit