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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What Insurance do you take in your practice?
The forms of insurance accepted at Optimal Health vary based on the Provider. Please double check with our office to make sure that your provider accepts your insurance.
- Forms of insurance accepted at Optimal Health: Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, BCBS Advantage, Cigna, Coventry, First Health, Health Choice, Humana Choice Care, OHN OSMA,
Pacificare, PCC, UHC, Medicare and Tricare. - Optimal Health does not participate in the following: Community Care HMO, Sooner Care, O-Epic, Cinergy, Global Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Links.
- Dr. Barbenerg accepts most major insurances including Medicare and Tricare.
2. What hospital is Optimal Health Associated with?
Optimal Health is associated with the following hospitals:
Northwest Surgical Hospital
9204 North May Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73120
(405) 848-1918
Community Hospital South Campus
3100 S.W. 89th Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73159
(405) 602-8100
Community Hospital North Campus
9800 Broadway Extension
Oklahoma City, OK 73114
(405) 419-2980
3. I need a copy of my medical records, what do I do?
To have your records sent from Optimal Health to another physician, please download the ‘Authorization to Use or Disclose’ form from our website and fax to the Optimal Health office at 405-715-4499.
To request your records from another physician to send to Optimal Health, please download the ‘Authorization to Obtain Healthcare Information’ form from our website and fax to the Optimal Health office at 405-715-4499.
If you do not have a fax machine, you may mail or drop off this form. Please allow up to 30 days for your medical records request to be completed. If this is an emergency situation please note so on the request form.
4. When will I get my lab results?
7-10 Days
5. How far in advance do I need to schedule my appointment?
Noel R. Williams, M.D. – We will usually be available same day or within two days for urgent clinical problems. Patients looking to see Dr. Williams on routine problems should allow 6-8 weeks for scheduling.
Benjamin J. Barenberg, M.D. - usually available for same day scheduling and in most circumstances will be able to see patients within 48hrs.
Tina Telcocci, PA-C; Abbey Ronck, PA-C, Tricia Hall, PA-C, Shannan Carmouche, PA-C and Amy Brooks A.P.R.N. - CNP. We will usually be available same day or within two days for urgent clinical problems. Patients looking to see the Allied Health Providers should allow 1-2 weeks for scheduling.
6. How do I get a prescription refilled?
Please call your pharmacy and have them eprescribe a request to Optimal Health 405-715-4499.
7. Do you have access to patients over all records?
No
8. Do I need to bring my medical history with me?
If possible, yes. If you are unable to obtain your medical history, Optimal Health has a Medical Record Release Form that can be submitted to your providers to get the records released.
9. Is hormone replacement therapy covered by insurance?
Many forms of Hormone Replacement Therapy are covered by insurance companies to various extents. A few forms, such as pellets, are not covered by insurance. Coverage is dependent on the specifics of a particular plan’s benefit package.
10. Is hormone replacement therapy safe for women?
Hormone Replacement Therapy is generally very safe for most women. Although, there are some forms of hormone replacement (synthetic versions of progesterone or progestins along with oral estrogens) which do associate with adverse effects. Likewise, some women, though rare, do have individual factors that can make taking hormones less optimal.
11. Does hormone replacement therapy cause breast cancer?
One form of Hormone Replacement Therapy clearly associates with an increased risk of developing breast cancer. It is when women take progestin (synthetic progesterone) as part of their Hormone Replacement Therapy regimen. Estrogen alone, estrogen plus natural progesterone, adding testosterone to either estrogen or estrogen plus natural progesterone or testosterone alone do not increase the risk of breast cancer. At Optimal Health we take extreme caution when determining each patient’s unique Hormone Replacement Therapy regimen to ensure it is best suited for that individual.
12. What are the hormones that are safe for women?
The hormones that are safely replaced in women are the normal hormones produced by the ovaries, which include estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and DHEA.
13. Do women need testosterone?
Women absolutely need testosterone; it is a primary function of the ovaries and adrenal glands to produce large quantities of testosterone. As women outlive their endocrine systems life span, it is essential for most to add back some form of either testosterone or DHEA, to maintain their health and optimize their survivability.
14. Does hormone replacement cause weight gain in women?
Hormone Replacement Therapy associates with weight loss in most women when prescribed appropriately. As long as progestin (synthetic progesterone) and oral estrogen are avoided, it is rare to have women gain weight on Hormone Replacement Therapy. Adding testosterone and/or DHEA clearly lowers insulin, increases muscle metabolism and leads to weight loss in the vast majority of female patients.
15. Why give hormones to men?
Despite what we hear on TV, Testosterone is not primarily a sex hormone. The primary advantage of testosterone is its anti-aging properties. Testosterone helps maintain and build muscle mass, keeps bones from weakening, helps to keep the mind sharp and has a positive effect of lowering body fat and preventing or reversing obesity. This, in turn, may prevent or improve Type II diabetes. All of these benefits not only help people live longer, but live better.
16. Is testosterone safe for men?
There has been publicity about the increase of heart attacks in men on testosterone replacement therapy. Clinical trials are limited in size and scope and have been contradictory. When a man visits Optimal Health with complaints suggesting low testosterone, we conduct an extensive examination to avoid any unforeseen issues. We order an expanded lipid profile, inflammatory markets, thyroid evaluation, diabetic risk assessment, genetic information, renal or kidney function and nutritional markets. We also ask about healthy (or not so healthy) habits and try to educate the patient on how they can make changes to positively impact their future.
There are, however, hormone replacement therapy (Testosterone) side effects that Optimal Health monitors closely to reduce risks. Among them, Testosterone may cause an increase of hemoglobin in the blood, which can make it thicker and more prone to clotting. It also can increase Estrogen secondary to metabolizing testosterone, again increasing the chance of blood clots similar to what women face when using birth control pills.
17. Why would a man come to Optimal Health Associates?
As a man, you would visit Optimal Health Associates to work alongside a provider to develop a plan of care to improve your health. If your objective is to obtain a testosterone prescription alone, Optimal Health Associates is not for you. If you are looking to feel better, get into better shape and live a healthier, more fulfilling lifestyle, we can help. Optimal Health Associates is comprehensive in its approach to health, for both men and women.