Frequently Asked Questions
What is a cardiologist?
A cardiologist is a medical doctor who has done additional training and board certification to care for the health of the heart and blood vessels including high blood pressure, heart attacks, heart disease, coronary artery disease, high cholesterol and more.
What is a preventive cardiologist?
A preventive cardiologist is a doctor who focuses on preventing heart disease and heart attacks through the use of appropriate testing, medications, and lifestyle changes. Patients often have
a family history of heart disease
risk factors for heart disease like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes
a history of heart disease or heart attacks
Many of our patients have none of the above conditions, but are interested in getting a heart check up and optimizing their heart health.
What makes Dr Harkin different?
Dr Harkin is a traditionally trained cardiologist who has focused on the prevention of cardiovascular disease throughout her training. She is additionally board certified in Clinical Lipidology and has a deep understanding of complex cholesterol disorders. Dr Harkin is also uniquely focused on lifestyle changes to prevent heart disease, with a special emphasis on creating practical, personalized plans for her patients.
She has a passion for patient education and firmly believes in providing personalized care.
Why must I live in a certain state?
State law mandates that you must reside (or be located) in a state in which Dr Harkin is licensed at the time of the appointment. She is currently licensed in NY, CA, and FL. We will be adding states primarily based on demand. Please let us know if you are interested in an appointment and in which state you live.
Do you take health care insurance?
Dr Harkin is an out-of-network provider. By declining to contract with insurance companies, Dr Harkin is able to provide lengthy, patient-centered appointments. She is also able to keep wait times to a minimum, provide transparent pricing, and focus on individualized, preventive care without limitations.
We provide you with a Superbill to submit to your insurance for out-of-network reimbursement. You can quickly and easily do so with Reimbursify. You can also use your FSA or HSA. You can contact your insurance company to discuss your out-of-network benefits to determine the actual anticipated cost to you.
You should still maintain your health insurance benefits for testing, medications, and other preventive or acute care.
What about Medicare?
Dr Harkin is opted out of Medicare. This means that she can see patients who have Medicare insurance in the same fee-for-service model as her other patients. Importantly, you can not use your Medicare benefits when seeing Dr Harkin or seek reimbursement from Medicare. Upon booking an appointment to see Dr Harkin, you will sign a Medicare Private Contract as required by law that you understand the above.
Does Dr Harkin prescribe medications?
Yes. She can prescribe or refill medications for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease. She does not prescribe controlled substances or weight loss medications. Medications can be an important part of disease management, however, her speciality is reducing or discontinuing medications whenever possible!
Can I be evaluated for my symptoms?
Based on the virtual nature of her practice, Dr Harkin does not see patients for acute concerns such as chest pain or palpitations. New symptoms require a full, in-person evaluation including a physical exam and timely testing. Once you have been fully evaluated by another physician for these concerns and had an appropriate workup, Dr Harkin is happy to review your testing and provide a second opinion. She can also work with you to provide appropriate lifestyle medicine as an adjunct to your care.
Can Dr Harkin be my primary care doctor?
No. While she is a board certified Internal Medicine physician, Dr Harkin focuses on the niche practice of cardiovascular disease prevention and lifestyle medicine. You should maintain a relationship with a primary care doctor for acute care visits and other preventive needs.