Scope of Practice

Dr. Pearson practices integrative internal medicine for adults and adolescents ages 12-18 years old. Dr. Pearson occasionally takes on pediatric cases but requires all pediatric patients to have a pediatrician who is willing to provide coordinated, integrated care. In addition to his main interest areas of gastroenterology and endocrinology, Dr. Pearson provides comprehensive adult primary care.

As a licensed physician, Dr. Pearson orders diagnostic laboratory testing & imaging (x-rays, MRI, CT Scans) and prescribes medications when medically necessary. Located within walking distance to St. Joseph's hospital, laboratories, and Radiology Limited, patients can easily combine office visits with laboratory and imagining appointments.

Dr. Pearson sees patients for acute illness such as sinus infections, colds, flu, sore throats, urinary tract infections, and ear infections. Most patients are able to schedule same day appointments. Appointments are required. Patients should mention they need an 30 minute acute appointment visit when scheduling. Patients with life threatening conditions should call 911.

Integrative Internal Medicine Includes

• Physical Exams & Wellness Checkups
  
• Preventive Care
• Urgent, Acute Same Day Appointments
• Preventive Sports Medicine
  • Dr. Pearson works with Olympic, professional, and amateur athletes
• I.V. Therapies: Vitamins, Minerals, Amino Acids, Hydration
• Integrative Approaches to Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, and Chronic Pain & Pain Management Including Prescription and Non-Prescription Options
• Celiac Disease Diagnosis and Management
• Endocrinology & Autoimmune Diagnosis and Management, Such As Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, Adrenal Hypofunction, and Estrogen Dominance
• Bioidentical Hormones for Women & Men and Alternatives for Those Who Are Not Candidates for Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
• Weight Loss
  • I have experience in using medical grade hCG and integrative approaches for weight loss (for those who are medically fit after general health labs have been run)
  • My clinic does not dispense hCG, rather I write the patient a prescription for hCG. I recommend patients have it filled at Prescription Lab Compounding Pharmacy in Tucson where it costs around $65 for a 30 day supply
  • I also help patients after the hCG diet and injections to maintain the decreased weight they achieved
• Referrals to Radiology Limited, Lab Corp Laboratories, and other Laboratories for Diagnostic Testing
• Medical Referrals to Specialists in Tucson
• Prescriptions as Needed
  • Dr. Pearson has full prescriptive rights for legend and controlled substances

Fees, Insurance, and Financial Information

LP Internal Medicine accepts health insurance plans as an out-of-network provider. Medicare does not cover Dr. Pearson's services. Because of insurance limitations, payment for services rendered is due at the time of service. We offer courtesy billing for patients who choose to have charges submitted to their insurance companies for possible reimbursement. Insurance reimbursements will be credited to patients' accounts. LP Internal Medicine accepts Visa, Master Charge, Discover, American Express, and HSA Check Cards. Checks are no longer accepted.

Beginning September 26, 2011 patients will be required to pay a $50 fee at the time of scheduling. The $50 will be credited to the patient on the day of the appointment. Credit and Debit cards are accepted and processed at the time of scheduling.

If you have concerns, please contact Dr. Pearson. For patients with out-of-network insurance coverage, this $50 may apply to the $20 administrative fee or charges not covered by insurance, as outlined in the Patient Financial Agreement.

Wellness Home Visits is a new service offered by Dr. Pearson. These visits are designed for patients who need a little extra care at home and for families that have loved ones in the Tucson area that may need weekly, bi-weekly, or montly check-ins by a licensed physician. Unfortunately due to various insurance policies and coverage, charges for these services are due at the time of scheduling. However, LP Internal Medicine will provide detailed billing as well as completed CMS 1500 forms for the patient to file with his or her insurance plans for possible reimbursement.

During a home visit, Dr. Pearson will spend 30 minutes with the patient to address any medical questions or concerns, assess medication supply, call in refills to pharmacies for the patient, assist patients with medication and meal planning, assessing the patient's living environment and physical abilities, take blood pressure and blood sugar levels, provide onsite physical exam, and provide family members with email or phone updates. If Dr. Pearson is not the patient's primary care physician (PCP), he will coordinate care with the patients PCP, physical therapist, or other allied healthcare professionals.

Pricing for 30 minute home visits start at $150. More time can be scheduled for an additional cost. If the home is more than 10 miles from Dr. Pearson's office, additional charges may be assessed. Each patient's needs are different and appointments may be individualized. Dr. Pearson provides free telephone or in-person consults for those interested in home wellness visits.

Acute Visits are reserved for acute conditions such as ear infections, urinary tract infections, and flu cases. Acute conditions are illnesses of short duration, rapidly progressive, and in need of urgent care. These appointments are approximately 30 minutes in length. The charge for an acute office visit is $100. Most patients are able to make same day appointments for acute visits during regular office hours.

First Office Visits for chronic and complex conditions such as celiac disease, thyroid conditions, fibromyalgia, Parkinson's disease, and chronic pain require a 90 minute appointment. In this appointment patients will review with Dr. Pearson their past medical history, current complaints, past labs and imaging, and review of all systems. Dr. Pearson will also perform pertinent physical exam. From this appointment patients will receive any laboratory or imaging orders, treatment recommendations, and Dr. Pearson's medical impression. Patients are strongly encouraged to have medical records sent to Dr. Pearson's office prior to their visit or bring the records with them to the first visit. The charge for the first office visit is $225.

Follow Up Visits are scheduled for 30 minutes and cost $100. If patients need more time with Dr. Pearson, they may schedule an extended follow up visits. The cost for appointments beyond 30 minutes depend on the total time spent with the doctor. The cost will be determined at the time of scheduling or at the time of service if a patient needs more time than originally scheduled.

hCG Consultations with Dr. Pearson include a 30 minute office visit, general health screen, review of recent labs or order for new labs, general physical exam, and review of the basics of the hCG diet and injection protocol. If the patient is determined to be medically fit after review of labs and physical exam, Dr. Pearson will provide the patient with a prescription for medical grade injectable hCG, syringes, and needles. The cost for the initial 30 minute hCG consultation is $150.

Follow up hCG visits are $100, the same as a regular office follow up visit.

Patients are responsible for lab charges not covered by insurance. Follow up visits charges are the same as the standard follow up visit charge. Please note that recent labs generally refer to labs with in the past 6 months. If patients have certain medical conditions, Dr. Pearson may require current labs. For patients who wish to do more than one course of hCG, a follow up appointment is required before a refill will be authorized. It is up to Dr. Pearson to determine if a patient is medically fit for the hCG diet and protocol.

Intravenous Therapies and Pushes are medical office procedures that are charged in addition to the appointment visit charge. IV drips that last from one to two hours range from $100 to $200, depending on the formula used. IV pushes include Meyer's cocktails, Parkinson's protocols, flu and cold formulas, and hypertension & migraine protocols range from $65 to $130 depending on the formula used.

House Calls are available to patients who are unable to make it into the clinic due to their condition. House calls can be utilized for new and established patients.

The charge for a New Patient House Call for 90 minutes is $275. The charge for a 30 minute follow up visit for an established patient is $150. Additional charges may be assessed if the patient lives further than 10 miles from the office, additional charges may be applied.

If a patient has no insurance or has Medicare, Dr. Pearson offers reduced pricing for laboratory and imaging.

Home visits may be utilized for problem oriented visits such as for pain, flu, colds, and other illness or for preventive visits to check up on patients homebound, recovering from illnesses or surgeries, and for amily members alone in Tucson who may need occassional wellness visits.

Phone Consultations are available for new and established patients. For new patients, Dr. Pearson can only provide his professional medical impression of the patient's case. It is required by law that a physician-patient relationship be established before any medications are dispensed or medical treatments performed. Establishing care means a face-to-face visit with appropriate physical exam. For new patients requesting a phone consultation, please know that Dr. Pearson can only provide his medical impression. For established patients, Dr. Pearson can provide more care. Though face-to-face time with the physician is the ideal interaction, sometimes phone consultations are necessary. Phone consultations are billed at the same level as office visits. A 30 minute phone consultation costs $100 and is due at the time of scheduling.

Cancellation and No-Show Policy

LP Internal Medicine asks patients for a 24 hour notice if you need to reschedule or cancel your appointment. When you make your appointment with Dr. Pearson, he has set aside time exclusively for you. If you do not give at least a 24 hour notice or do not show for your scheduled appointment a $100 cancellation fee will be applied to your account. You are required to pay this cancellation fee and pre-pay for your next appointment.

Due to Dr. Pearson's commitments outside the clinic setting, office hours are by appointment only.