A: Naturopathic medicine is a distinct, licensed system of health care that combines conventional medical training with natural therapeutics, guided by a core set of principles:

• Treats the whole person — looking at diet, lifestyle, environment, and mental/emotional health alongside physical symptoms, not just the symptom in isolation

• Identifies and addresses root causes — rather than only managing symptoms

• Uses the least invasive effective treatment first — starting with the lowest-risk, least invasive options and escalating to pharmaceuticals or other interventions when needed

• Emphasizes prevention — assessing risk factors and intervening early to prevent illness rather than only treating it after the fact

• Supports the body's own healing capacity — working with the body's natural processes rather than only suppressing symptoms

• Focuses on patient education — teaching patients to understand and take an active role in their own health

In practice, this means Dr. Hyde and Dr. O'Brien are trained in both conventional diagnostics/pharmaceuticals and natural therapies (nutrition, botanical medicine, homeopathy, physical medicine), and we build individualized treatment plans that draw from both toolkits depending on what's most effective and appropriate for you.

A: No, we cannot be your Primary Care Provider (PCP).

Here's why:

In Maine, Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) are licensed as specialists, not PCPs, so we cannot be listed as your PCP with your insurance.

What's changed as of July 2026: Maine recently expanded the naturopathic prescriptive formulary (LD 2242), moving from a short list of approved drug categories to a broader "formulary of exclusion" — meaning NDs may now prescribe from most drug classifications, except for those specifically excluded by rule. This gives Dr. Hyde and Dr. O'Brien significantly more flexibility in managing your care.

What NDs in Maine still cannot do:

• Prescribe, dispense, or administer controlled substances (federal Schedule I–V)

• Prescribe psychotropic (mood-altering/psychiatric) medications

• Perform surgical procedures beyond authorized in-office procedures

What NDs in Maine can do (expanded under the new formulary):

• Prescribe a much broader range of legend (prescription) medications — including hormones (like estrogen, progesterone, or thyroid medication), antibiotics, antifungals, antiparasitics, topical treatments, and low-dose naltrexone (LDN) — as consistent with our training

• Order routine and specialty lab work

• Perform blood draws in office when appropriate

• Order routine imaging (e.g., X-rays, ultrasounds, CT, MRI) — referring out for the actual test

• Place referrals to other providers (PT, chiropractic care, etc.)

• Prescribe herbal medicines, supplements, and homeopathic treatments

• Perform physical exams and certain bodywork therapies

• Provide acute care and annual exams, which can be billed to insurance

Dr. Hyde and Dr. O'Brien have experience practicing as PCPs in states with broader ND scopes (like New Mexico and Washington) and stay up to date on primary care education — but Maine's regulations still shape what we're able to manage independently here.

A: Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) play a flexible role depending on your needs.

Many patients choose us when they want more time with a provider to focus on specific concerns, like digestive issues, acne, hormonal imbalances, or overall wellness support. We're trained in both pharmaceuticals and natural treatments, allowing us to combine these approaches for a holistic care plan.

In Maine, it's often best to have a PCP who manages your broader health needs and prescriptions. We work collaboratively with your PCP to support your health goals, whether that's offering a second opinion or additional care for chronic or acute issues. For those without chronic conditions, we can also perform annual exams.

A: To schedule an acute (same-day) appointment, just give us a call.

• Call before 12 PM on weekdays or before 9 AM on select Saturdays.

• We will return your call by 1 PM (weekdays) or 10 AM (Saturdays) to confirm and schedule your visit.

A: We accept the following insurance providers:

• Aetna

• Anthem (Blue Cross Blue Shield)

• Cigna

• Community Health Options (MCHO)

• Harvard Pilgrim

• United

You'll be responsible for your specialist co-pay on the day of your visit. If you have a PPO plan, no referral is needed. However, if you have an HMO or POS plan, you may need a referral from your PCP. We recommend contacting your insurance company before your appointment to confirm your coverage for "Naturopathic Specialty Care," as policies can vary.

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No.

Here's why:

As Naturopathic Doctors, Dr. Hyde and Dr. O'Brien are licensed specialists in Maine rather than PCPs, and NDs are not eligible to be credentialed as providers with either MaineCare or Medicare.

Good news: if you're eligible for MaineCare, you automatically qualify for our sliding scale payment option — just let our front desk know when you schedule, and we'll get your rate set up before your visit.

We're happy to work with you on a cash-pay or sliding-scale basis — see below.

A: Yes, we do!

Our cash rate is $200 per hour, and we also offer a sliding scale for low-income patients.

A: Our sliding scale is based on household size and pretax income. You can view the full sliding scale on our Insurance page.

A: Yes! We have all routine childhood vaccines available.

A: Your first visit with Dr. Hyde or Dr. O'Brien is longer than a typical doctor's appointment — initial visits typically run 60–90 minutes so we have time to really dig into your health history and goals, not just react to symptoms.

To make the most of your visit, please bring:

• A list of current medications and supplements

• Recent lab work, if you have it

• Your insurance card (if applicable)

A: New patient visits are in-person only, unless previously agreed upon or under special circumstances. Established-patient follow-ups are available via telehealth — just ask when scheduling.

Virtual visits are billed to insurance the same way as in-office visits, subject to your plan's telehealth coverage — we recommend confirming telehealth benefits with your insurance provider ahead of time.

A: We ask for at least 24 hours' notice to cancel or reschedule your appointment. Cancellations within 24 hours of the appointment time are subject to a $100 fee for new patient visits and a $50 fee for follow-up visits.

We require a card on file for all patients, and cancellation fees will be charged to the card on file.

To cancel or reschedule, please call us at 207.358.9591.

A: Yes, HSA and FSA cards are accepted for both cash-pay and insurance co-pay visits. We're also happy to provide a superbill for you to submit to your insurance for potential reimbursement.

A: For refill requests, message us through the patient portal or have the pharmacy fax a refill request— we typically respond within 5-7 business days. Depending on what's being monitored, some lab work can be ordered without a full office visit; we'll let you know at your appointment what your specific follow-up schedule looks like.

Labs are drawn in-office or at an outside lab of your choice, depending on what's ordered.