Frequently Asked Questions

Do you take insurance?

Dr. Curtis and Dr. Lopez do not participate in any insurance plans, including Medicare. We are considered “out of network” physicians. Payment is required in full at the time of each visit. Each patient will have a Superbill available in their patient portal after each visit to submit to insurance for reimbursement. They may also request the Superbill be sent to them through the patient portal. Reimbursement varies from 0-100%, depending on your insurance plan. Many of our patients have had success submitting to their insurance plans. They are (or should be) working for you! Initial visits are $350 and follow-up visits are $200.

This was a very difficult decision for us, and we spent many years working (and fighting) with insurance companies. Over the years, various companies become more and more difficult to work with, delaying payments for months, then denying payments. As soon as we had one company figured out, another would cause disruption. It became increasingly demanding on our time, our biller’s time, meanwhile we had patients waiting weeks to months to see us. We made the decision to simplify our business model when we started Inspire Osteopathy Denver so that we could spend more time helping you and your family.

What are your prices?

We provide superbills for patients to submit for reimbursement. Medicare and Medicaid are not included. The new patient visit is $350 and subsequent follow-up visits are $200.

What codes do you use?

For those who need the information, the CPT codes used are 99205 and 99215. The diagnosis codes from M99.00 to M99.09.

Where do I find my superbill?

The superbill will be located in the patient portal under Billing>Invoices. Please open the superbill and make sure that it shows that there is no outstanding balance for the visit and that there are diagnosis codes. If the superbill is not under Billing>Invoices, please send a message to Dr. Lopez or Dr. Curtis through the portal and request one. They have to add the superbills manually and it's possible they have forgotten.

What should my superbill look like?

Before submitting to insurance, it is important to make sure you are submitting the right form. There are two things you should look for: ICD diagnosis codes and the balance on the form should be "0". If the form lacks diagnosis codes and has a balance greater than 0, it likely means the form is an invoice and is the wrong form. If you cannot find your superbill, please send a message to Dr. Curtis or Dr. Lopez through the messaging system.

How long are visits and how often do you see patients?

Our first visit is approximately 50 minutes, and our follow-up visits are approximately 30 minutes. We can discuss what your treatment plan will look like during your visit, as this varies with every unique person.

Some acute problems are resolved in as little as two visits, spaced 1 -2 weeks apart. Many patients choose to include us in the care of their chronic problems, either weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. Some patients check in less often.

For babies, as little as two treatments can make all the difference.

For children and adults undergoing myofunctional therapy, tongue tie release, or orthodontic work, a treatment plan will be discussed that best fits your situation.

What are your hours?

Our hours are 8am-4pm Monday-Thursday and 8am-12pm on Fridays. We are closed on weekends.

How should I prepare for my first visit?

Please complete the new patient intake forms through the patient portal. Bring copies of relevant medical reports (such as x-rays, MRIs, etc). The first visit lasts approximately 50 minutes, and follow-up visits are 30 minutes.

For children, bring a favorite toy or a snack. Accommodations will be made to make the child feel as comfortable as possible.

What should I wear to my appointments?

Wear loose, comfortable clothing. Please avoid wearing jeans. Babies and children can remain dressed in whatever they usually wear. Don’t forget to bring a fresh diaper for the baby, just in case!

What ages do you treat?

We treat all ages, from newborns to the elderly. Osteopathy can be applied in almost any condition, at almost any time. We have hundreds of hours of experience in the NICU as well as in nursing homes during residency combined.

What problems do you treat?

Our approach is to treat people, not problems. Some of the more common problems that we treat include (but are not limited to): neck pain, back pain, low back pain, sciatica, tension headaches, migraine headaches, musculoskeletal complications of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, hypermobility, repetitive use injuries, chronic pain, tongue-tie related issues, torticollis, plagiocephaly, acute pain, TMJ disorders, feeding difficulties, pregnancy related pains, and much more.

Where do I park?

There are designated visitor parking spaces in the parking lot on the north side of the building. There is also ample street parking.

How do I make an appointment?

The best way to make an appointment is online using the "appointment" link on this profile or through the home page of the Inspire Osteopathy Denver website. Alternatively, if you have set up your patient portal, you can make appointments there.

How do I access the patient portal?

You can access the portal through this link: Access your portal here. There is also a button on the home page navigation menu with the link to the portal account. If you have not created your portal account but have scheduled an appointment, you can email us at [email protected] requesting to have a link sent to set up your portal account.

Do you provide primary care?

No, we are specialists and board-certified in osteopathic manipulative medicine. We are not primary care physicians. Please maintain a relationship with a primary care physician for your primary care needs.

What services do you provide?

The foundation of our practice is hands-on osteopathic treatment. We may provide additional associated services such as IV exosomes and Vitamin B12 injections.

Do you provide tongue-tie bodywork?

Yes, other professionals consider us the most trusted experts in tongue-tie bodywork in Colorado. We have been pioneering leaders in the field for over eight years. We have discovered and lectured nationally on how the tongue affects the rest of the body and vice versa. We have direct experience with tongue-tie releases both personally and with our children. No one else can match our training, experience, knowledge, insight, and treatment skills when it comes to both pre and post-tongue-tie, lip-tie “bodywork.”

Do you treat pregnant or postpartum patients?

Yes! We use hands-on osteopathic treatments to treat patients throughout pregnancy and postpartum. We ensure that all body parts are free from restriction and capable of motion so that the body can accommodate growth and changes. With room to move, birthing parents and babies can find themselves more prepared for optimal positioning for birth.

Labor and delivery often leave birthing parents exhausted: physically, mentally, and emotionally. However the delivery may have been: cesarean, vaginal, or assisted, at home or in the hospital, by optimizing the body’s structure post-delivery using osteopathic treatment, we can help birthing parents recover and heal quicker. We look beyond asymmetries and work to balance the structure including the pelvis, the fascia, blood flow and lymphatic drainage, as well as the autonomic nervous system. Structural imbalances may feel like one leg is longer, pelvic pain, or back pain. Fascial imbalances may feel like pulls or tugs into certain body areas. Lymphatic or blood flow imbalances can look like leg swelling, puffiness, carpal tunnel-like symptoms, varicose veins, hemorrhoids, or uncomfortable breast engorgement. Imbalances of the autonomic nervous system may present as constipation, abnormal breast milk supply, and uncomfortable mood changes. As osteopathic physicians, we take a comprehensive view of the body, and treat what we find.

At Inspire Osteopathy Denver, if you see us three times during your pregnancy, we will provide an initial free evaluation and treatment of your baby after delivery.

Do you “flip” breech babies?

The short answer is, yes, breech babies can find themselves back in an optimal position for labor and delivery after one or several osteopathic treatments with us, though we do not force babies to flip head down if they are not ready or capable.

The long answer is in osteopathy, we acknowledge that the pregnant person’s body and their child are in their optimal state given their circumstances, utilizing the best of their resources, whether that is physical, mental, emotional, nutritional, etc. That being said, babies have the innate capacity to be head down in the pelvis when it is birthing time. You may hear that a baby “drops” into the pelvis when birthing time is near. We find that breech babies often burrow up toward mom’s head into the liver, as they seem to be looking for their way out, but somehow are upside down.

There can be reasons why a baby is in the "wrong" position. Many times we can identify a reason that baby is breech (and yet sometimes it remains a mystery). If the baby is breech due to maternal factors, like asymmetrical pelvic, tension in the thoracic cage, uterine musculo-fascial strain or any other issue with structure, we are happy to address this with osteopathic treatment to allow baby some room to find themselves in optimal birthing position. If baby has their body parts tangled in their umbilical cord, we can optimize maternal structure and then baby may flip if they are capable, but we will not force babies to flip head down for the safety of baby and the mother.

How are DOs different from chiropractors?

The primary differences between osteopathic physicians (DOs) and chiropractors are their levels of training and the scope of their practice. DOs are fully-licensed physicians in all 50 states, whereas chiropractors are not. DOs have completed residency training in a hospital.

Osteopathic physicians are experts in all anatomy and treat the whole body from the top of the head to the feet. This included fascia, bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, nerves, organs, and any other structures. Our osteopathic treatments have a more holistic, comprehensive approach than others. Osteopathic physicians are looking at how a problem in one part affects the whole body and vice versa.

What techniques do you use compared to a chiropractor?

As DOs, we are guided by the principles that aim for the most profound, permanent results as quickly as possible. Osteopathic philosophy is based upon the principle that the body possesses self-healing mechanisms. Our treatments encompass the whole body, specifically for that patient at that moment. We use a variety of techniques that are direct and indirect, subtle and obvious. Some of those techniques include osteopathy in the cranial field, myofascial release, counterstrain, visceral manipulation, biodynamics, and muscle energy, as well as techniques that have evolved from our own clinical experiences.

According to patients, our treatments generally do not resemble chiropractic adjustments. Chiropractic philosophy is primarily concerned with normalizing the alignment of the spine to influence the relationship between the spine and the nervous system. Although some chiropractors have expanded their techniques to include more gentle approaches, the vast majority of chiropractic adjustments are quick thrusts.

Patients feel very different and get different results after our treatments compared to their chiropractic adjustments.

Do you provide Cranio-Sacral Therapy?

We provide osteopathic cranial treatments, which is distinct and more advanced than Cranio-Sacral Therapy. The primary difference between the practice of Osteopathy in the Cranial Field and Cranio-Sacral Therapy is the level of training of the practitioner. Dr. William Sutherland, who introduced the cranial concept in 1929, saw Cranial Osteopathy as an extension of Dr. Andrew Still’s osteopathic philosophy, not as a distinct specialty. Osteopathy in the cranial field is included in the comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plan, customized to each patient at the time of their visit. Training in Osteopathy in the Cranial Field is provided by teaching institutions to those with DO, MD, or dental degrees only.

Cranio-Sacral Therapy was introduced by Dr. Upledger, who was a DO, who extracted some of Dr. Sutherland’s teachings and founded the Upledger Institute that teaches a protocol-based “light touch therapy” to those with a healthcare license (such as massage therapist, nurse, or occupational therapist) as well as to the general public. Certifications are provided after as little as 4 days of training.

DOs can do everything a Cranio-Sacral Therapist is trained to do, but the reverse is not true. Both Dr. Curtis and Dr. Lopez felt it took years of practice to really become proficient at osteopathic cranial treatments.