Holistic-minded pediatrician in the VA/DC area who accepts insurance?

[tgd843]

We are expecting our first and are five and a half months along, and are starting to schedule pediatrician consultations. We have reached out to Dr. Irwin in Alexandria and Dr. Razi in Georgetown, but also wanted to know if anyone has recommendations for pediatricians (ones who are more holistic minded and would work with us on spacing out our vaccine schedule) who actually accept insurance? Thanks in advance for the help!!

[Anonymous]

Kensington Pediatrics (Montgomery County) has a nurse-practitioner named Nancy who is very holistic in her approach and is open to alternative vaccine schedules.

[Anonymous]

FAIL

[Anonymous]

I assume you are counting both Dr Irwin and Dr Razi as holistic. I was a patient of Dr. Razi's while growing up and would definitely consider her holistic.

Do they not accept insurance?

[Anonymous]

Neither Dr. Irwin or Dr. Razi accept insurance, though they will both fill out paperwork for you to submit if you have PPO coverage. Dr. Irwin is our pediatrician and his fees are very low compared to other doctors. (Usually $100 a visit, plus any vaccinations or homeopathic treatments). I've never had any issue getting it reimbursed.

In my research when I was pregnant with our first they are the ONLY two doctors in the DC area that follow such a wholistic approach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Neither Dr. Irwin or Dr. Razi accept insurance, though they will both fill out paperwork for you to submit if you have PPO coverage. Dr. Irwin is our pediatrician and his fees are very low compared to other doctors. (Usually $100 a visit, plus any vaccinations or homeopathic treatments). I've never had any issue getting it reimbursed.

In my research when I was pregnant with our first they are the ONLY two doctors in the DC area that follow such a wholistic approach.

Which PPO do you have that reimburses? I'm assuming it's only at like 60 or 75 percent and the rest is out of pocket?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Neither Dr. Irwin or Dr. Razi accept insurance, though they will both fill out paperwork for you to submit if you have PPO coverage. Dr. Irwin is our pediatrician and his fees are very low compared to other doctors. (Usually $100 a visit, plus any vaccinations or homeopathic treatments). I've never had any issue getting it reimbursed.

In my research when I was pregnant with our first they are the ONLY two doctors in the DC area that follow such a wholistic approach.

Which PPO do you have that reimburses? I'm assuming it's only at like 60 or 75 percent and the rest is out of pocket?

I have Kaiser PPO (not just HMO). They reimburse 70 percent which means we typically pay $30 a visit which is on par with using someone in network ($30 copay). He doesn't push unnecessary appointments on you and will talk by phone or email easily (within limits) so we don't end up having a lot of appointments or paying a ton. (our son is generally well). Of course we have to meet our deductible though. It's really worth it to be able to chose how and when to do vaccinations, see a doctor who really gets to know you and who practices evidence based medicine and who pays attention to how the entire family is doing. We also had a homebirth (and planning a second) and I'd heard such horror stories of moms taking their healthy newborns to conventional practices and being chastised for homebirths or worse being sent to the hospital that it was very important to me to find someone who would be supportive like Dr. Irwin.

he doesn't have any staff so you schedule with him and deal only with him - leave a voicemail before certain hours and he will call you back, or page if it's urgent (there is a fee for a page, but I think that's just so that you don't abuse it, we've only paged once and we didn't get charged). he also doesn't have full time hours, but this has never been a problem for us. I think Dr. Razi has a similar arrangement from what I've heard.

BTW, I think Dr. Irwin had mentioned a sliding scale for people who have trouble paying and don't have insurance. This didn't apply to us, so I don't know anything else.

[Anonymous]

Great to know! Thanks for all the info.

[Anonymous]

Do either of these doctors have websites or info online? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

doesnt take insurance but have been happy with Dr. Irwin. We come to see him from Ft. Washington. I have used him while having United Health and BCBS and have had 90% reimbursed once submitted.

[Anonymous]

Hi. I see that this forum is about a year old, but am hoping to hear from someone. Unfortunately Dr. Razi isn't accepting new patients right now. I am looking for like-minded pediatric care for my son. I am not finding information for Dr. Irwin online. What is this doctors first name? Does anyone have contact information for him?

[Anonymous]

I found more details:

Dr Matt Irwin
517 Wythe St Alexandria, VA 22314
703-780-1261

[Anonymous]

We considered Razi (and met with her before our son was born), and we decided instead to go with Dr. Barnes Marshall. We have been delighted with the care she has given us. She doesn't have homeopathic training, but she is very open to alternative approaches.

2440 M St NW Suite 317
Washington, DC 20037
[phone] (Office)

[Anonymous]

How soon after birth does one need to have an appt with pediatric doc?
Wow not one holistic doc in network...
May I ask why you didn't consider Dr Razi?

[Anonymous]

I can't believe there are not more holistic-minded drs in the DC area. I wish there were more!