Paula Luber, M.D.

Please read the following information carefully to be certain there is a good fit between what you are seeking and what my practice offers. This information is provided so that you can be sure that your expectations can be met by my practice arrangements.

 My practice is primarily consultative. I will work with you on specific issues, such as thyroid disease or hormone balancing, but you should still keep a primary care physician that you see for your routine maintenance and for episodic care visits like colds and flu. My practice emphasis is on getting to the root causes of disease. Whenever possible, treatment involves a functional medicine approach, including diet, nutritional supplementation, and where appropriate,  hormone balancing and replacement.  Mainstream medications are used when necessary, but many of my patients find they are eventually able to decrease or eliminate their use of pharmaceutical drugs.

Insurance Plans: I am an out-of-network provider. We are not contracted with any insurance plans. This enables me to provide the in-depth, lengthy office visits I find necessary for truly optimal consultations. Payment in full is expected at the time of your visit. We will provide you with a superbill which may be submitted to your insurer for reimbursement if you have out-of-network coverage.   We accept payment in the form of check, cash or credit card. The fee for an initial visit, which typically takes about one and a half hours, is $375.  Follow up visits usually last about an hour and cost $295. 

Medicare: I am not a Medicare provider. 

Office Hours: The office is open Monday through Thursday between 9:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. We are closed on Fridays.

Telephone Calls: We request that phone calls of a routine nature (prescription refills, appointments, and other non-emergency issues) occur during routine office hours. Please reserve after-hours calls for only those medical issues that are truly urgent. Please allow 48 hours for refill requests. Plan ahead so that you do not get caught without your medication over the weekendor holidays.

Appointment Courtesy: If you should fail to keep an appointment without canceling 24 hours in advance, you may be charged for that missed appointment.

Medical Records: Our office will copy your medical records upon request. A  fee may be charged for copying records or filling out any medically related employment or disability forms.

Hospital Facilities: I choose not to do inpatient (hospital) medicine. Hospital admissions should be through your primary care physician, or are referred to the hospitalist at Scripps Memorial Encinitas.