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Salivary Hormone Testing
A Brief History
Principles of Saliva Testing
Advantages of Saliva Testing
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ’s on
Saliva Testing
Who tests salivary hormone levels?
Moundsville Pharmacy currently recommends ZRT Laboratories for salivary
hormone testing. Saliva samples are collected in the home and mailed
directly to ZRT Laboratories. At your request, Moundsville Pharmacy will
work with you and your physicians to review your results to make the most
appropriate decisions to encourage successful outcomes.
Which hormones should I have tested?
Currently Moundsville Pharmacy recommends that female patients test
estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, and AM Cortisol. If
you elect to test less than the five listed above, ZRT will hold your saliva
sample for 30 days and testing can be performed at
your request. In addition, patients with multiple cortisol related symptoms may
want to consider morning and evening cortisol testing (this requires a two tube
test kit).
How much does saliva testing cost?
Saliva testing is offered to direct pay patients for $30.00 per hormone (a
$15.00 discount from retail pricing), therefore an initial test of 5 hormones
would be $150.00.
Note:
Moundsville Pharmacy is
now able to purchase these test kits
in advance from ZRT, creating an additional discount, which will allow
patients to test 5 hormones for the cost of 4 hormones, $120.00. The
additional testing of cortisol will provide more insight to your hormone
profile.
Do I need a prescription to complete saliva
testing?
A prescription is not required to complete saliva testing. However, if you are
considering billing this testing to your insurance, a prescription from your
physician must be submitted with your saliva sample. The prescription must
order “saliva testing” and the hormones to be tested, along with an ICD-9
diagnostic code, a copy of the front & back of your insurance card, and the
signed ZRT Insurance Authorization form MUST be included with your sample
submission. Please read the next question...
Will my insurance pay for saliva testing?
Saliva testing is covered by several insurances, but not all insurances and not
all policies. ZRT does bill some insurances directly, including Medicare, Cigna Healthcare, Aetna, and United Healthcare.
Medicare pays for testing 100% in most cases, many of the responses will be
different for the questions below if you are on Medicare, please call the
pharmacy to discuss your options...
In the event
your insurance company does not cover the entire cost of your test, you are
responsible for any remaining balance. If your insurance does not cover any of
the testing, ZRT will bill you directly for the retail price of $45.00 per
hormone.
As a result, it is critical that you contact your insurance company in advance
to find out if saliva testing is covered under your policy, if they cover saliva
testing through a non-participating provider (ZRT Lab.), and what percentage of
saliva testing is covered. Also, if your insurance is not one that ZRT will
bill directly, find out if and how you can manually submit for
reimbursement following testing.
If you are unsure if you insurance will cover saliva testing,
patients may want to pay the discounted $30.00 per
hormone initially and manually submit for reimbursement following testing.
Remember to obtain a prescription prior to testing if you are planning to
submit for reimbursement!
Note: When contacting your insurance
company, they may ask for CPT codes. CPT codes are as follows:
Estradiol 82670
Progesterone 84144
Testosterone 84402
DHEA 82627
Corisol AM 82530
Moundsville Pharmacy's
Recommendation on Insurance Billing: Moundsville Pharmacy
recommends that patients take advantage of the discount offered and complete
the testing of five hormones for the discounted cost of $120.00.
Following testing, Moundsville Pharmacy can provide a special insurance
reimbursement form which will allow you to submit the testing receipt to
your insurance. Just remember, even though the lab does not require a
prescription for testing, the insurance will require that you have a
prescription and it should be written prior to the date of testing...so if
you are planning on submitting for reimbursement, please get a prescription
from your doctor in advance.
Assume your insurance is not going
to pay for it, but hope that it will...that way you won't be disappointed...
How should my physician write the
prescription?
The prescription should be written as "Salivary Hormone Testing" with a
list of the hormones to be tested on the prescription. It must also
provide an ICD-9 Diagnostic Code (Ex. 259.9 Hormone Imbalance). It should
be signed and dated by the physician with a date prior to testing.
Which forms do I need to complete?
In most cases, all you will need to fill out is the patient requisition form (please fill out the appropriate
side: male/female) including the symptoms, current hormones, etc.
Should I stop taking my hormones before
testing?
It is not required that patients stop taking their hormones before testing.
Testing allows patients to evaluate dosages and the need for changes in
therapy. However, some synthetic hormones will not be revealed through saliva
testing and may alter the results. If patients are stopping hormones before
testing to determine a baseline level, patients need to wait 4-6 weeks before
testing. As a note, patients should not take any hormones or use any facial
creams within 12 hours of collecting saliva.
Moundsville Pharmacy's Recommendation on Hormone Use:
Moundsville Pharmacy
recommends that in most cases patients should continue their current
therapy. Any hormone usage can be taken into consideration when
reviewing the results. Most patients would not be able and willing to
stop current therapy for the necessary 6 weeks.
If you have any questions regarding hormone use
and testing, do not hesitate to contact Moundsville Pharmacy...
When do I collect my saliva?
Postmenopausal patients can collect saliva any day during the month.
Pre-menopausal or peri-menopausal patients should collect between days 19-21 of
their menstrual cycle (the first day of your period as day one).
Saliva should be collected within the first two
hours of awakening. When you wake up, do not eat, do not drink, do not brush
your teeth, do not floss your teeth. Wash your hands to prevent any
contamination. Rinse your mouth out twice with water to clean your mouth,
and begin collecting saliva in the tube. Test tube must be filled between
half
and three-fourths the way full. If you are collecting an evening cortisol
(requires two tube test kit), collect the second sample at bedtime (no food or
drink, exept water within 2-3 hours).
What do I send to ZRT Laboratory?
The saliva sample with name, date, and time on tube and in the plastic bag AND
the ZRT requisition form.
When will I get my results?
If you received your test kit from Moundsville Pharmacy, the results will be
sent to you along with a copy to Moundsville Pharmacy. Results should be
received within 2-3 weeks from the date mailed.
What do I do with my saliva testing results?
Following saliva testing, you, the patient, your physician, and your compounding
pharmacist, can communicate to prepare a responsible recommendation for your
hormone replacement needs. Moundsville Pharmacy does offer individual consults
to review your history, symptoms, and hormone levels to prepare a letter of
recommendation for your physician.
If
you have any additional questions or would like additional clarification,
do not hesitate to contact Jason Turner at Moundsville Pharmacy at (304)
845-0390
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