Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

What is a D.O. ?

A D.O. is a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine.

A D.O. is a fully licensed medical practitioner.

What are your COVID-19 protocols?

  • Dr. Keene wears a face mask at all times.
  • Patients wear a face mask at all times.
  • Dr. Keene washes his hands prior to each patient.
  • All touch surfaces are sterilized at the beginning and end of the day.
  • All touch surfaces are sterilized between each patient.
  • An air purifier runs prior to the first patient and throughout the day.

What is the difference between a D.O., an Osteopath and an Osteopathic physician?

Simply put, they are all the same.  A D.O. is a doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, also known as an Osteopath or an Osteopathic physician.  Osteopaths may choose to work in any medical specialty and not all offer osteopathic manipulative treatments (OMT) to their patients.

They may also choose to specialize in osteopathic manipulative medicine also known as OMM.  These physicians are commonly known as Traditional Osteopaths.  Dr. Keene practices traditional osteopathy.

How are DOs and MDs different?

DO and MD medical students complete equivalent coursework with DO medical students completing an additional 400+ hours of coursework on musculoskeletal treatments.  DO and MD students apply for and complete all residency training together. DO & MD physicians practice all forms of medicine including; family medicine, OB, surgical, ER, and all other specialities.  Only DO physicians are licensed to use osteopathic manipulative treatments.

How are Osteopaths and Chiropractors different?

Osteopaths are licensed physicians who completed medical school training including rotations through clans, hospitals, surgery, ER medicine and more.  The have a full understanding of the body systems.  Chiropractors attend chiropractic school with instruction focused on the spine and more general physical health.

Osteopaths emphasize treatment of the whole body including all muscles, joints, connective tissues, nerves, blood vessels and more.  Chiropractors emphasizes treatment of the spine and spinal nerves.

Most osteopathic treatments are gentle manipulations, and high velocity, low amplitude (HVLA) treatments also known as cracking treatments are used only as needed. Many chiropractors, though not all,  use HVLA as their primary treatment technique.

Do you accept insurance?

Dr. Kyle Keene is considered an out-of-network provider for all insurance plans and a non -preferred provider for Medicare Part B.

Medicare Part B:  Payment is due at the time of treatment.  Our office will submit your claim for you and Medicare will reimburse you directly.  Please expect it to take 6-8 weeks.

Medicare Part C / Medicare HMO Plans / Medicare PPO / Medicare Advantage Plans: We do not bill these plans.  You may submit a superbill to your plan directly.

At the end of your appointment, we will provide you with a superbill.  The superbill includes all of the information your insurance provider needs to reimburse you.  A superbill does not guarantee that an insurance provider will reimburse your healthcare expense. 

How do I submit a superbill?

You may submit the superbill, a copy of your insurance card and your payment receipt to your insurance company either online or via mail (depending on the company). Reimbursement rates are dependent on your plan. 

If you are concerned about reimbursement please contact your insurance company by calling the number on your insurance card prior to your appointment to find out what exactly will be covered. You may want to ask:

“I want to work with an out-of-network doctor, how much will you reimburse me?”

“ What is the best way to submit my claim for reimbursement with a superbill?”

 

The most common billing codes can be found in the following question, if you have a specific concern, please call our office and ask.  

What are the most common billing codes?

If your insurance asks for billing codes the following codes should give you an idea about your covered benefits.

99212+98925 is on the low end and 99205+98929 is on the high end.

 

Prolotherapy is not a covered benefit.

Can I be seen TODAY? (Urgent Care)

We understand that sometimes you need relief right now!  We also know that treating an acute injury as soon as possible sets your body on track for a quick recovery.  Dr. Keene can frequently accomodate same day OMM treatments for Urgent Care ONLY.  

 

Urgent Care includes sprains, strains, pulls, tears and other acute sports injuries that occurred in the past day or two.

 

To book an Urgent Care Appointment please call the office for same-day appointment availability.

 

For injuries that are more than 3 days old please book a regular appointment.  Thank you in advance.

Before the Appointment

What do I need to bring to my appointment?

After you submit a request for a new patient appointment.  You will be emailed an “Appointment Confirmation” followed by a “Registration” form that can be completed online.   Please read and complete all forms to the best of your knowledge.

Due to COVID-19 we are not offering a paper and pen option in the office.

How many treatments should I expect?

Typically patients feel improvments after one or two treatments.  Chronic pain may require more treatments.

What should I wear?

Due to COVID-19 wearing a face mask is required.

It is best to dress comfortably in flexible athletic or athleisure wear.  When in doubt think yoga or cozy clothes.  Depending on the area of your body being treated, you may choose to wear:

  • Treatment of the Neck/Back/Shoulder/Elbow/Hand/Wrist (Sports bra for females)
  • Treatment of the Hip/Knee/Ankle/Foot (Loose shorts allowing ability to see and treat above the knee)

Please refrain from wearing jeans, skirts, dresses or other tight clothing.  To ensure your treatment is not interrupted please plan to empty all pockets and remove belts, jewelry and shoes prior to treatment.

What if I have to cancel my appointment?

We understand that life is busy and sometimes appointments need to be cancelled and rescheduled.  Please call the office to reschedule your appointment.

If you fail to notify the office less two business days prior to your appointment a missed appointment or late cancellation fee of  $200 will be charged unless we are able to fill your appointment time.

During the Appointment

What is the exam like?

After discussing your health history, Dr. Keene will complete a structural exam.  During this exam you may be sitting, standing or laying down.  Using hands-on assessment techniques he will determine which treatments will best help you.  

Will all treatments include a hands-on component?

All treatments include a hands-on component.

The first 30 minute appointment you book is a New Patient Consult and depending on the complexity of your issue(s) a New Patient Consult may or may not include a treatment.  A treatment will always be included if time allows or if you call the office to book an hour long  New Patient Consult + Treatment appointment.

All Urgent Care Appointments include treatment.

After the Appointment

What should I do after treatment?

Your body needs time to adjust and integrate the changes made during treatment.  Participating in either strenuous or sedentary activity can undo the changes made to the body during your treatment.   

To maximize the benefits of your treatment after your appointment plan to take it easy but remain reasonably active for the first 24 hours post-treatment.  It is best to avoid strenuous activity such as running, contact sports, aerobics or lifting (including groceries, pets and children).  It is also best to avoid prolonged sedentary activity such as sitting at a computer, on a long flight or in a dentist chair. 

Please schedule physical therapy, fitness training and other body-work appointments until after 24 hours post-treatment unless advised otherwise.

How will I feel after treatment?

Each patient will feel different depending on their treatment.  Some conditions will improve immediately and others will require a series of treatments.  For many, osteopathic manipulative treatment is the missing puzzle piece to their complete health and wellness.

What do I do if I feel sore post-treatment?

Although most treatments are very gentle, some patients will feel sore during and up to one day post-treatment.  As treatments progress you should feel less and less discomfort.  If you are feeling sore you may use ice wrapped in a cloth.  Heat is discouraged and will not aid healing.