Frequently Asked Questions

Dr. Laura King has two National Provider Identification (NPI) numbers, one for Acupuncture and Chinese medicine and the other for Nutrition. She is only able to bill insurance for one of her NPIs and she chooses to do so for Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine. She is aware that she may be listed as a Nutrition provider with Aetna, BCBS, and United which she has tried to get changed. We apologize for any inconvenience experienced and are happy to try and help you find a Nutrition provider in your network if you want to use your insurance for nutrition services.

It simply takes more time to work out nutrition recommendations and develop a nutrition plan. For Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine patients, we are assessing, diagnosing, developing and implementing a plan during their appointment. For Nutrition patients, we are assessing each body system in relation to both their current nutrient intake and nutrition goals, and then taking a step back to look at the whole picture. We are calculating their macro and micro nutrient needs. We are inputting their 3-day food journal into software to assess macro and micro-nutrient intake, evaluating how this is affecting them meeting their goals, and then building a 3-day example plan of eating that aligns with our recommendations. As this takes quite a bit of behind the scenes work, we charge more for these services.

Yes! In the state of Maryland, Licensed Acupuncturists are considered medical providers and under the same laws as Medical Doctors. Therefore, by law, we are not allowed to retain funds beyond a year for services that have not been provided. We hope that if you purchase a package that you use it, as you may achieve the health results you are looking for, however we understand that things come up and you may be unable to do so. In that case, you will be reimbursed for services paid for in advance that were not used after the year is completed.

We are simply not permitted to offer package discounts for patient's who utilize insurance to pay for their appointments

The short answer is no. We are a fan of moderation, meaning we think all foods can have a place, however perhaps some have a smaller place than others. At Cascade Wellness, we get to know an individual and what will work best for them. For some, following a strict eating plan may work, and for others that is a sure way to fail. For some, taking a slow approach and leaving some trouble foods in, even in small amounts, might be necessary. We do not believe in the 'one size fits all' approach and will work with our patients to find a way that will keep them on their health journey and allow them to succeed.

That being said, there are specific conditions where cutting out or eliminating certain foods is required to control symptoms, feel good, and maintain health. In those cases, we will work with our patients to limit those foods and find suitable substitutions.

Our owner used to work in the nutrition industry, which has given her a unique perspective and knowledge of functional foods and dietary supplements. We therefore are a fan of supplements when they are warranted and we do not believe people should take a supplement just to take it. Our ultimate hope would be for individuals to get the nutrients they need from food, but that is quite difficult to do. So, we will individually recommend supplements when they are needed and we tend to recommend reputable brands with which Laura King has experience, from her past job. In addition, through Fullscript, we can offer supplements to our patients at a 10% discount!

We are not fans of the word "diet", to us it brings a negative connotation. Nor are we a fan of anything that emphasizes one nutrient, or class of food, significantly over others. What we do like is consistency, balance, and a hearty amount of fresh fruits and vegetables in a person's way of eating. In our practice however, we do ensure that our recommendations align with whatever is best for the patient we are seeing, even if that does mean that a single nutrient or class of food needs to be emphasized, which in some diseases it might. If we had to pick one way of eating that we like, it would be Mediterranean.

Yes! Every Dietitian is also a Nutritionist, but every Nutritionist is not a Dietitian. It comes down to education and training. Dietitians must attend a 4-year college and graduate with a degree in nutrition. Following this we must complete a Dietetic internship which is 1-2 years long, full-time, a continuation of school, and an intensive hands-on training. After which we must take and pass the Dietitian board exam. Because of our training, Dietitians can be employed anywhere, including in hospitals and other in and out-patient health care settings. Dietitians also have an additional continuing education requirement, in addition to maintaining our licenses.

For nutrition we have supported patients with many different complaints such as diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, post-stroke, management of tube feeding, weight loss, thyroid disease, cancer, gastrointestinal balancing & health, autoimmune conditions, sports nutrition, and more.

For acupuncture, we specialize in sports and orthopedic medicine as well as pain management. In addition we have supported patients with anxiety, stress, chronic fatigue, weight loss/management, gastrointestinal issues, autoimmune conditions, and more.

Yes! We see kids for Nutrition, Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine services. There are many ways to support kids with Chinese Medicine without actually using needles.

This is difficult to answer because it depends on your frequency of treatment and how you are caring for yourself in between treatments. We will be honest with you about how often you might want to get treated and how long it might take for you to experience relief.

Acupuncture can have profound effects on the body, mind, and spirit, and treatment frequency depends on your chief complaint and the treatments needed to address this complaint. Certain conditions, like chronic or acute pain for example, may require treatments more often initially and then less frequently as your plan of care progresses.

Acupuncture is the use of tiny needles that are inserted into acupuncture points and meridians on the body. The needles are about the width of a hair. While you may feel the needle go in, acupuncture does not need to hurt. Being treated by a Licensed Acupuncturist is a way to ensure your treatments are safe, pain-free, and effective.

Chinese Medicine has been practiced all over the world for more than 3,000 years. It has been the subject of many clinical trails, and has been found to be safe when administered by a trained Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner.