Yes and no. Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) form a key part of our Hormone Health Program and play an essential role in natural remedies, lifestyle coaching, and, in certain jurisdictions, prescribing medications. Here’s how it works:

ND Role in Hormone Health by Jurisdiction

  1. Alberta:
    NDs in Alberta currently have no prescribing authority. Their focus is on natural remedies, lifestyle adjustments, and coaching to support hormone balance. Patients in Alberta will work with both an ND for natural therapies and a Nurse Practitioner (NP) for prescription needs.
  2. British Columbia and Ontario:
    NDs in these provinces have extensive, though not complete, prescribing authority. They can prescribe a range of medications, including bioidentical hormones (e.g., progesterone, thyroid medications) and some forms of hormone replacement therapy, but there are limitations. For example, NDs cannot prescribe testosterone or controlled substances in these provinces.

    • Example of Medications NDs Can Prescribe:
      • Bioidentical progesterone
      • Desiccated thyroid
      • Estriol and estradiol in some formulations
    • Example of Medications NDs Cannot Prescribe:
      • Testosterone
      • DHEA (in some jurisdictions)
      • Controlled substances (e.g., certain pain medications)

Using Naturopathic Medicine Coverage for Hormone Health

Many patients with Naturopathic Medicine insurance coverage can use it for ND-led services in the program, including lifestyle coaching, natural remedies, and, in some cases, prescriptions (where permitted by law). However, coverage varies significantly depending on your insurance provider’s guidelines, so we recommend confirming your policy details.

  • What’s Covered: Appointments with our licensed NDs may be eligible for reimbursement under Naturopathic Medicine. You’ll receive a detailed receipt specifying the provider’s credentials to submit for insurance reimbursement.
  • What’s Not Covered: If an ND cannot provide a required prescription due to scope limitations in your province, additional services from an NP will be required. These services will be billed separately and will fall under a different insurance category (Nurse Practitioner services).

Ensuring Efficient Care

If you prefer to have an ND lead your care but also require full BHRT prescriptions, we’ve streamlined the process to make it easy for you:

  • NP Collaboration: Our NDs will collaborate with an NP for prescriptions outside the ND’s scope. This could involve an abbreviated NP prescribing appointment, depending on the complexity and whether the NP can complete the prescription in the background or requires a full clinical consult.
  • Separate Receipts: You’ll receive a receipt for ND services and a separate receipt for any NP services provided, ensuring accurate documentation for insurance purposes.

Additional Insurance Details

  • Appointments with NDs and NPs may be reimbursable under your insurance policy, but it’s important for you to verify eligibility and coverage percentages directly with your provider.
  • If some services are not covered, you may be able to claim them under a Health Spending Account (HSA) for reimbursement.
  • We strictly adhere to ethical and legal standards and cannot alter receipts to classify services differently for insurance purposes.