Do you accept medical insurance?
We do not accept commercial insurance, Medicare or Medicaid. Our fees are reasonable and transparent, with the cost of an eVisit ($60) comparable to many people's Specialist Co-pays with commercial insurance. You may pay with an HSA/FSA account if it uses a card that can be used as a credit card. Our consultation report will provide visit and diagnosis codes, should you wish to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement.
Do you offer in-person visits?
Our practice currently does not offer in-person visits. We offer convenient virtual eVisits (asynchronous) and Telehealth (synchronous real-time) consultations. If you require an in-person visit, we can expedite an appointment with a Dermatology practice in central New Jersey, which accepts most commercial insurance plans and Medicare.
Are there geographical restrictions?
The Dermatologist is licensed in New Jersey. The services are intended for residents of New Jersey and visitors.
What are eVisits?
eVisits are virtual asynchronous visits. You fill out a secure dynamic smart form utilizing conditional logic to guide the patient history intake and submit photos of your skin condition. You may also submit additional information like previous pathology and laboratory results. You can initiate an eVisit at any time convenient to you, day or night. If your photos are clear and the eVisit form is filled out completely, you will receive the consultation report expeditiously, usually the same day or next day. If our turnaround time is temporarily different, we will notify you on our website.
What is a Telehealth visit?
Telehealth visits are synchronous real-time 2-way audio/video consultations. They are scheduled on our website, and you will also submit an eVisit form prior to the Telehealth consultation to efficiently collect information and photos needed for the visit.
Who performs the eVisit and Telehealth consultations?
All eVisit and Telehealth consultations are performed by Dr. Alexander Shraga, MD, a board-certified Dermatologist.
What conditions can you treat?
This practice is suitable for many people with common dermatological conditions that can be treated medically, including acne/rosacea, dermatitis/eczema, hives, hidradenitis, hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), psoriasis, hair loss, nail disorders, skin discoloration (dark spots/white spots), among others, and for second opinions regarding treatment options. It will not be suitable for patients who require procedures or complete skin exams, or who are not comfortable with the technological platform. Each eVisit can assess one (1) skin condition only; a Telehealth visit can assess up to two (2) skin conditions.
Can you write prescriptions?
Yes, after the Doctor assesses your condition, prescriptions may be written and sent electronically to your pharmacy or to a specialty pharmacy, depending on your preferences and the Doctor's assessment. We can write any prescription that is appropriate. We do NOT prescribe Controlled Substances.
Can you prescribe Accutane (isotretinoin)?
Yes.
Do you give prescription refills?
Yes. The number of refills given depends on the condition treated and the prescriptions used. For a mild condition treated with medications that do not require frequent monitoring and with a low risk of side-effects, we can allow 1 year of refills. Most prescriptions are written with refills to last 3 months to 1 year. Before you run out of your prescriptions, simply submit an eVisit or schedule a Telehealth. Some prescriptions, like Accutane (isotretinoin), do not allow any refills due to regulations, and require a visit (eVisit or Telehealth) monthly. The Doctor will notify you in your consultation report.
What if I can't fill my prescription or have questions after the eVisit or Telehealth visit?
After completing a visit, you may securely message / text directly with the Doctor using our Spruce Health portal regarding any questions related to the visit. If your question involves a different skin condition or occurs after the time-period which the Doctor requested a follow-up visit, we ask you to initiate an additional eVisit or Telehealth visit.
What if the Doctor can't make a diagnosis/treatment plan?
It is very important to completely fill out the eVisit form and submit accurate, in-focus, representative photos of your condition. If this is not done, the Doctor may request additional information and/or photos. In some situations, the Doctor's assessment is that your condition requires an in-person visit. The Doctor may expedite an appointment at a central New Jersey Dermatology practice, or if you prefer, you can follow-up with a provider of your choice.
If the Doctor refers me for an in-person visit, may I have a refund of my eVisit/Telehealth payment?
The Doctor will do his best to assess your skin condition and treat it in the best way for you. A referral for an in-person visit may be part of his assessment and plan of action. Because the practice processed and the Doctor reviewed your eVisit form, and made an assessment and plan of action, we are not able to refund the payment.
What is your refund policy?
For eVisits, we cannot refund a payment after the submission of an eVisit form. For Telehealth visits: you may obtain a refund for a Telehealth visit if you notify us AT LEAST 48 hours before your scheduled visit AND you have not yet submitted the associated eVisit form. If you cancel within 48 hours of your Telehealth visit, OR you have already submitted the associated eVisit form, we can reschedule your visit to a different date/time (at no cost), but we cannot refund your payment.
