Appointments

If you are interested in making an appointment to see Dr. Burt or Dr. Arthur Berkson, please fill out an intake form and fax or mail (email is not secure) to our office. Or, you may call our office and we can conduct the intake over the phone, which typically takes about 5 to 15 minutes to complete. If we are assisting other patients at the time of your call, we may need to return your call at a later time to give you the full attention of the intake process. We will present this information specific to your situation (age, reasons for visit, medication list, abbreviated lab results, etc.) to the doctors, so they can assess if this treatment is applicable to you.
We have the intake process because we realize your visit is an investment in your health that requires your time, energy and resources that should not be wasted if the doctors see in advance that your current condition is one that has typically not been improved with this type of treatment. If you do not live locally, the intake process also helps the doctors assess if travel is prudent in your situation. All patients must be stable enough to travel comfortably.
We would be happy to answer questions about making an appointment over the phone at (575) 524-3720. However the doctors cannot give medical advice or conduct an initial consultation over the phone. Please call only if you would like to come for an appointment, as they cannot comprehensively evaluate your needs over the phone.
If you are unable to see the doctors for an appointment due to travel difficulties, you may be able to find medical attention in your area. One possible site is American College for the Advancement of Medicine (ACAM). Or, your doctor may be interested in attending or arranging a speaking engagement with one of our doctors.

At your first visit:

Dr. Berkson will review the medical records you provide (you may bring to the visit), then discuss with you general information about yourself, specifics about your condition and answer questions you may have.Based on this information, he will give you a nutrition plan (what to eat/drink more of and what to avoid), a list of vitamin and herbal supplements he recommends for you (brands he recommends are sold in the office), and give you a lab order to get blood work performed at the facility of your choice. You may want to check with your insurance provider regarding which facility they will cover. During your second visit, he will go over your lab results with you and give you a copy for your records.
Patients receiving IV treatment of Alpha Lipoic Acid will need to receive treatments at regular intervals. The length of this interval depends on your situation and will therefore be determined at your visit with Dr. Berkson. Lab work is performed every few months during IV treatment. In one day, patients may receive up to two IVs. Each day of IV treatment, the patient receives one B-complex shot. Out of town patients typically stay for 1-2 weeks to receive IV treatment daily, Monday through Friday.

Costs

All visits are based on Medicare guidelines regarding time and complexity of the visit.
The following are TYPICAL costs as of the date your appt. was made. All prices subject to change. Initial visit: $480 for non-Medicare and $224.37 for Medicare. There is a fee for extended visits.Follow-up visits: $150 or $190 for non-Medicare and $117 or $160 for Medicare patients, depending on the complexity of the visit.
B-complex shot: $17 for non-Medicare; No charge for B shot for Medicare patients.

Insurance

We do not accept assignment for insurance. However, we will file a claim for you to your insurance company (PPO or Medicare, not HMO). They may reimburse you a portion of the visit, based on your plan and whether you have met your deductible. Contact your insurance company with questions about how much they will reimburse you.

Websites

It is beneficial to your treatment if you research Dr. Berkson and the type of treatments he may offer. Here are some websites and searches you can use:
www.drberkson.com
Google: Berkson, B.M.
Google: lipoic, Berkson
Google: lipoic, liver www.lowdosenaltrexone.org

Cancellations

We require a nonrefundable deposit of $50 for all new patient appointments. It will go toward the balance of your first visit. You may mail a check or pay with a Visa/MC over the phone. If you cancel less than 5 business days before your appointment, an additional deposit is required to reschedule.

Hours

Our office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, and from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Wednesday and Friday. Please call us if you have any questions at (575) 524-3720.

Lab Tests

Dr. Berkson will order lab tests for you during your first visit and not before. This is so Dr. Berkson can fully review your medical records and discuss your medical history during your visit, then decide which tests to order. You may have the tests done at any lab in town you choose.