Medical Marijuana

A potent treatment modality
for our patients

Medical Marijuana: Our 3-Step process

Step 1

We see our new patients for an intake visit, obtain a detailed history, review medical records, perform an exam, and establish whether the patient qualifies for Medical Marijuana under the NJ Compassionate Use of Medical Marijuana statutes.

For patient safety, we ask our new patients to provide us with a urine sample for a drug screen.

NO MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS PRESCRIBED ON THE FIRST VISIT

Step 2

At this, second visit, usually done a week later, we review the results of the urine drug screen (a positive test for cannabioids is not unexpected), and we establish the proper monthly dose (0.5 to 3 oz./mo) of Medical Marijuana. A 3-month Attending Order Form is submitted to the NJ Department of Health Medical Marijuana Program.

THIS VISIT WE COMPLETE THE PROCESS WITH THE STATE TO PROVIDE OUR PATIENTS WITH MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Step 3

Patients use our Attending Order Form to register with the state, upload a photo of themselves, of a driver's license, and a proof of residency. Two to three weeks later, the Medical Marijuana card should arrive and the patients can purchase the Medical Marijuana at a dispensary.

FOLLOW UP WITH THE PRACTICE EVERY 90 DAYS IS REQUIRED FOR PATIENT SAFETY REASONS

Most commonly this is accomplished via a tele-visit.

STATE APPROVED DIAGNOSES

FOR THE INCLUSION IN THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM

Any one of the following conditions, if resistant and/or non-responsive to conventional medical therapy, qualifies a patient for the NJ Medical Marijuana Program:

• Seizure disorder, including epilepsy;

• Chronic intractable pain of skeletal muscular spasticity;

• Glaucoma;

• Severe or chronic pain,

• Severe nausea or vomiting, cachexia, or wasting syndrome results from the condition or treatment of human immunodeficiency virus, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or cancer;

• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,

• Multiple sclerosis,

• Terminal cancer,

• Muscular dystrophy

• Opioid Use Disorder

• Inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s disease;

• Terminal illness, if the physician has determined a prognosis of less than 12 months of life; or

• PTSD

5 new qualifying conditions include:

• Anxiety

• Migraine

• Chronic Pain related to Musculoskeletal Disorders

• Chronic Pain of visceral origin

• Tourette’s Syndrome

Medical Marijuana Evaluation Fees
depend on your insurance:

WITH NO HEALTH INSURANCE

Many of our patients are uninsured or prefer to pay out-of-pocket.

For these patients, the initial consultation fee is $270, payable by CC, check or cash.
Each follow-up visit is $100.

We provide you with a payment receipt for your records and for tax-related purposes.

WITH TRADITIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE

We participate with some plans of the following insurance companies: Horizon, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Meritain, Cigna, Clover, Wellcare.

Patients with in-network medical insurance, simply pay their regular copay amount by credit card, check or cash.

WITH A HIGH-DEDUCTIBLE PLAN

For these patients with medical insurance, the initial consultation fee is $270, payable by CC, check or cash.

We do submit the claims for the visit to the contracted insurance companies and refund the patient the appropriate amount if the insurance company pays us.

Payment for follow-up visits will depend on the specific policy.

OUT-OF-NETWORK INSURANCE PLANS

Patients with insurance policies of companies we don’t participate with (such as Oxford, United) pay the $270 fee for the initial consultation, and $100 for the follow-up visits and receive reimbursements or credits towards the deductible from their insurance companies.

To assist our patients we submit the claims to the appropriate insurance companies and the insurance companies either reimburse the patients directly, or apply the visit costs towards the deductible.

If the insurance company issues us payment, we refund that payment to the patients.

MEDICARE AS PRIMARY INSURANCE

Although Medicare doesn't cover the cost of the Medical Marijuana, it will pay for the medical services associated with performing a Medical Marijuana evaluation.

As such, those patients with Medicare as their primary insurance do not pay upfront for the evaluation.

That said, the patients or their secondary insurance, is responsible for the percentage of the costs not covered by Medicare.

FOUR THINGS TO
BRING TO YOUR
FIRST VISIT FOR
MEDICAL
MARIJUANA

Medical Records

Notes from your medical care team that help establish the presence of the diagnoses accepted by the State of New Jersey for inclusion in the Medical Marijuana Program.

Driver's License

State of NJ is very strict with establishing the identity of the patients seeking to qualify for the Medical Marijuana program.

Proof of Residency

Necessary to assure the patients are current residents of the State. Any reasonably recent bill will serve as proof of residency. Many of our patients print or email us a recent bill from their cell phone company.

Payment

Regardless of presence or absence of insurance, the patient is responsible for paying $270 for the initial consultation.