We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of a new electronic check-in process called the Phreesia.

Patients can interact with a PhreesiaPad for complete check in of their demographics and while the patient is completing that process, eligibility and verification of insurance benefits is taking place behind the scenes, done electronically from the patients insurance company to our front office.

This entire process takes 10-15 minutes for the first encounter, subsequent visits are verification only and take about 3-5 minutes, so this is all in keeping with our standard office request of new patients arriving 15 minutes prior to their appointment time and that ALL patients bring their current insurance card with them.

We are targeting the end of June as a start date for this new system and hope that you will enjoy your interaction with Phreesia.

Do you know what type of coverage you have? To keep it in simple terms:

Group insurance is usually something that is sponsored by your employer or your spouse's employer, you may or may not pay for this coverage. These types of plans usually do not have any pre-existing clauses or waivers, because you are part of a large group absorbing anyone that may have a known problem and or disease.

Group insurance does get broken into large and small groups, most employer groups are in the large group. Small groups are usually for those with less than 25 insured.

Individual insurance is available from most insurance carriers. Those that offer group insurance usually offer individual as well, it just may be through a subsidiary, for example United Healthcare offers group insurance, and they also offer individual insurance through Golden Rule and a Medicare replacement through Pacificare.

Most individual insurances have a PRE-EXISTING or WAITING PERIOD...please make sure that you check on these, they range from 3 months to 18 months. Most individual plans have very specific guidelines for well-women visits, so make a checklist of what you want from your insurance coverage when searching for an insurance carrier.

Cobra insurance...unfortunately a term we have all had to get familiar with...this insurance is offered by employer groups with over 20 employees. There are specific guidelines to Cobra and all of your Cobra plans, information and usually payment is handled through the employer's human resources department. You do not always have the same plan through Cobra that you had through your employer's health plan. If it is the same, many times a new policy is issued, and that of course, means new ID #s, so get copies of enrollment forms and keep all payment receipts.

If you find yourself in need of coverage, do your homework, research the carrier you are interested in, make a list of what your needs are, and ask questions.

We have offered estradiol and testosterone subcutaneous pellets for over 10 years now. Hormone pellets are convenient and very effective in eliminating menopausal symptoms, increasing energy levels, and restoring libido. Women who have had a hysterectomy need only come in for pellets once every few months. Women who have a uterus need to use progesterone in some form to counteract the effects of estradiol on the uterus. Progesterone has historicaly been available in pill or cream form.

We have had many requests for a progesterone pellet for women who need to take progesterone. We have been working with Green Valley Med to develop a progesterone pellet, which is now available.

Women with a uterus do not need to take a progesterone pill or use a cream any longer. Now our patients may choose to come in for their estradiol, testosterone and progesterone pellets and simply forget about hormones for a few months. All pellets are inserted in the same site.

If you are happy using oral or transdermal progesterone, you do not need to change. But if you are tired of taking a pill or rubbing cream on your arm, this is your answer.

Ask your practitioner about the progesterone pellets next time you come into the office. We would be happy to explore this option with you.

Visit us on-line at www.skintiquemd.com or call 480.860.9383

Skintique would like to introduce our newest addition in advanced skin care technology LI-LASH Purified Eyelash Stimulator.

With daily usage LI-LASH will grow the appearance of the longest, fullest lashes you have ever had!

I know it sounds too good to be true, I thought so too, so I decided to try it myself and all I can say is if it wasn't one of the best products I have ever used, it wouldn't be in Dr. Wilson's office!

In 4-6 weeks, you will start to notice a major improvement in the length and thickness of your lashes. Just apply to the top eyelid right along the lash line; more is not better with this product, so just a little is needed. Formulated by physicians, LI-LASH is the latest innovation in cosmetic science. It is proven to be the purest and least irritating eyelash product available. It is obsessively tested (of course, never on animals) to be safe for even the most sensitive eyes.

If you have questions regarding LI-LASH, please feel free to call Skintique and ask for Lori. As always, any consultation is completely complimentary and we would love to discuss all of your skin care needs!

Also, we are running our special for an IPL/Photofacial for $150.00!! This treatment gets rid of brown spots, broken capillaries and helps with collagen regeneration!

We offer complimentary consultations, so if you have any questions or want to see what treatment would be best for you, please give us a call to set something up!

If you are a new patient or are not familiar with what we have to offer, below are a few treatments from our menu:

IPL Photorejuvenation
Rid yourself of wrinkles, sun damage, brown spots, broken capillaries, large pores, acne, hyperpigmentation, and rosacea.

Laser Hair Removal

Restylane/Perlane
$450.00 lcc** | To have full, pouty, kissable lips and fill in smile lines. Adds volume and restores surface contours to smooth away severe facial wrinkles and folds.

**$25 Restylane rewards rebate by mail.

Spa Treatments***
Customized Facial (a la carte)
$60.00 30-min treatment / $100.00 60-min treatment

La Roche-Posay Dermaplaning
$100.00 | Have skin as smooth as glass & hair free!

Deluxe Derma-Facial
$175.00 | For a seriously bright and smooth complexion. This treatment includes our customized facial, dermaplaning, micro-peel, along with an arm/hand, and facial massage. Treatment time is 90 minutes.

Skintique Signature Treatment
$125.00 | This treatment focuses not only on the face, but the neck and décolleté as well! This is an amazing anti-aging treatment that uses only the patented LHA medical grade La Roche Posay products. LHA is a new molecule that is attracted and absorbed into the lipid envelope each of our cells are in to help regenerate and repair skin. Extremely exfoliating and hydrating. It includes an anti-aging eye treatment, micro-peel, pressure point massage for all areas treated with an arm/hand massage included.

***Add Aluma Lip Plumping Treatment to any spa service for $25.00.

Skintique is located at 10752 N. 89th Place (right around the corner) in Scottsdale! Feel free to call anytime at 480-860-9383 or 480-860-4791. We look forward to seeing you.

As always, stay beautiful inside and out!!

Here at Skintique, we are asked on a daily basis if we offer Botox. As most of you know, we don't use anything here that is tested on animals, so my answer to our clients is always, "No, unfortunately we don't."

Well, through a special client, I learned that there is an alternative product called Dysport that DOES NOT test on animals, but delivers the same results as Botox! I was literally jumping up and down for joy! We are so proud and excited to now offer this to all of you!

Here is some information about Dysport just in case you aren't familiar with it:

• Dysport is a simple, effective, non-surgical treatment that works by relaxing facial muscles on the forehead, thereby reducing and smoothing away frown-lines and wrinkles.
• If certain wrinkles make you look older than you are, there is now a way to erase these lines without surgery, scars and recovery time.

Please feel free to call 480-860-9383 or 480-860-4791 for a free consult or with any questions!

SATURDAY HOURS IN JULY
Skintique will be open on Saturday, July 11 (instead of July 4 - we are normally open the first Saturday of the month). Call today for an appointment.

Three cups of hibiscus tea per day lowered blood pressure in mildly hypertensive adults. The mean reduction was 7.2 Hg.

It is suggested that regularly incorporating hibiscus tea into the diet may actually prevent high blood pressure.

One of the most difficult and common problems we deal with is Human Papilloma Virus, or HPV.

HPV can cause genital warts, abnormal pap smears and cervical cancer. For more general information about HPV, the Center for Disease Control has a site: http://www.cdc.gov/STD/HPV/STDFact-HPV.htm#common

We are frequently asked whether HPV can be eliminated from the body? In a recent study, it is clear that most women will clear an HPV infection. Women with less aggressive subtypes of virus will clear the virus within 5 months, and women with more aggressive subtypes can take 8-12 months to clear the virus. In this study, HPV cleared in 81% of infected women within 19 months.

Interestingly, women who had their first experience with intercourse under age 21 or had 4 or more sexual partners in their lives were more susceptible to persistent HPV infections.

Interested in sponsoring one of us (or an animal) for the Bowl-A-Rama? You can do it right here! Get your friends involved and let’s see who can raise the most money!

Choose from one of the following people to sponsor (all proceeds go to Circle L Ranch!). We want to see who can raise the most for our most favorite cause!

• Making a Difference with Dr. Deborah Wilson - representing all animals
• Fascinating the Fosters with Caron and Susy - representing all the fosters/adoptions
• Horsin’ Around with Cheryl - representing the horses
• Barking up the Wrong Tree with Kim L and Kim H - representing the Prescott dog
• Howlin’ at the Moon with Jill and Joe - representing the New River dogs
• Cattin’ Around with Stacy - representing Marketing and the cats
• Financing the Future with Christy - representing the bills and medical care
• Flying High with Ames and Leslie - representing the volunteers
• The Geese, Goats and Birds - individually represented, of course

Sponsor your favorite for $1 or $10 or $100 (or even $1,000 for anyone who hasn’t been slammed by the economy!) Remember, ALL donations go to Circle L Ranch!

We have until AUGUST 1 to see how much we can raise individually and collectively for the Circle L Rescue!

Many thanks for your support — and don’t forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!

To Submit an Online Pledge or to See the Current Results:
http://www.firstgiving.com/circlelbowlarama - Visit the Firstgiving Page.

To Submit a Pledge:
Download Our PDF Pledge Form and gather pledges for us.

• You get to save a life.
• You can enjoy a dog or cat without a lifetime commitment.
• You will make an adoptive family very happy when you place the dog or cat.
• You can adopt the dog or cat yourself if you fall in love!

Circle L Ranch will cover any veterinarian expenses (they must be approved and you must use our vet). We also cover spaying and/or neutering the animals, vaccinations and we assist with adoptions! E-mail susanhopkins@cox.net if you are interested in fostering dogs, puppies, cats, or kittens.

Please consider fostering or adopting one of these wonderful dogs. All are spayed and neutered — ready to go today!! The shelter is very crowded and these dogs do not have long. If you would be interested in fostering, please contact Susan Hopkins at susanhopkins@cox.net. Circle L will cover veterinary costs and advertise the dog for adoption on Petfinders. We have many adoption events as well. We are at PetSmart or Petco every weekend and your foster dog will be included.

Please step up for these dogs.

This is kitten and puppy season. Many, many sweet kittens and puppies are in desperate need of foster care or adoption. Please consider fostering a litter of kittens. Fostering a litter is a great summer project for children and a valuable teaching experience.

These beautiful kittens need rescue. They were on the elist, but have been pulled off. They are at the Eastside shelter.

E-mail Janet Aviles (javiles@mail.maricopa.gov) about these kittens.