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Paramount Health and Wellness FAQ: Booking, Insurance and Care in Portsmouth, VA
Or call (757) 809-7807
- Open Monday–Saturday, 8 AM–5 PM
- TRICARE, Medicare and Virginia Medicaid
- Primary care and mental health in one clinic
- 4.9 stars from 27 reviews on Tebra
If you're in crisis or thinking about suicide, call or text 988; veterans and service members can press 1. For chest pain, trouble breathing or any other emergency, call 911.
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Booking and hours
6 questions
What are Paramount Health and Wellness's hours?
Paramount Health and Wellness is open Monday through Saturday, 8 AM to 5 PM, and closed on Sunday. The clinic is at 3220 Academy Ave in Portsmouth, VA. Call (757) 809-7807 during clinic hours to book or ask a question.
How do I book an appointment?
Book online, call (757) 809-7807, or schedule at the front desk at 3220 Academy Ave in Portsmouth, VA. Mental health and primary care visits can both be booked online. Mobile wound care and veteran disability assessments are booked by phone. The clinic is open Monday through Saturday, 8 AM to 5 PM.
How soon can I get an appointment?
Same-week appointments are available at Paramount Health and Wellness in Portsmouth, VA, for both mental health and primary care, Monday through Saturday. Book online to see open times, or call (757) 809-7807 and the front desk will find the first time that works for you.
Can I book an appointment on a Saturday?
Yes. Paramount Health and Wellness is open Saturdays from 8 AM to 5 PM, the same hours as weekdays, for both primary care and mental health. Saturday visits help if you work weekday shifts, have kids in school, or can't get a timely appointment on base.
How do I cancel or reschedule?
Call (757) 809-7807 or email contact@paramounthw.org at least one day before your appointment, or as soon as you can. The front desk can help you find a new time, including on Saturdays. If your video visit link didn't arrive, call the clinic so the front desk can help you connect.
Where is Paramount Health and Wellness located?
Paramount Health and Wellness is at 3220 Academy Ave, Portsmouth, VA 23703, in the same city as Naval Medical Center Portsmouth and Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Patients come from Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Norfolk and Virginia Beach, and mental health video visits are available anywhere in Virginia.
Insurance, cost and referrals
5 questions
Does Paramount Health and Wellness accept TRICARE and Medicaid?
Yes. Paramount Health and Wellness accepts TRICARE East, Medicare and Virginia Medicaid, along with plans including Aetna Better Health of Virginia, AARP-UnitedHealthcare, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Virginia, Cigna and Humana. The front desk checks your plan before your first visit.
Do I need a referral to be seen at Paramount Health and Wellness?
Most patients don't. TRICARE Select, TRICARE Prime family members and retirees can book outpatient mental health visits without a referral, except for psychoanalysis and substance use disorder therapy. Active duty service members need a referral and pre-authorization from their primary care manager. Medicaid and commercial plans vary, so call (757) 809-7807 and we'll check your plan.
What if my insurance isn't listed?
Call (757) 809-7807 before you book. Our team will check whether Paramount Health and Wellness is in network for your plan and explain your options, including self-pay. Plans change often, so a quick call is the fastest way to get a definite answer.
How much will I pay without insurance?
Self-pay rates depend on the type of visit. Call (757) 809-7807 for current rates. If you aren't using insurance, you have the right to a Good Faith Estimate of your expected charges before your visit when you schedule at least 3 business days ahead.
Will Medicare cover my mental health care?
Medicare Part B covers psychiatric evaluations, medication management and psychotherapy. After the Part B deductible, you usually pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount. Your yearly depression screening costs nothing when the provider accepts assignment. Medicare Advantage plans set their own copays, so we check your benefits before your visit.
Where is Paramount Health and Wellness located?
Paramount Health and Wellness is at 3220 Academy Ave, Portsmouth, VA 23703, in the same city as Naval Medical Center Portsmouth and Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Patients come from Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Norfolk and Virginia Beach, and mental health video visits are available anywhere in Virginia.
Your first visit
5 questions
What should I bring to my first appointment?
Bring your insurance card, a photo ID, any previous medical records, including test results from other clinics, and all your current medications with their prescription labels. It also helps to have a short list of your symptoms, past diagnoses and family health history. For later visits, bring your current medications.
How long is a first mental health visit?
A psychiatric evaluation at Paramount Health and Wellness usually takes 60 to 90 minutes. That gives your provider time to understand your symptoms, history, physical health and goals, and to plan next steps with you. Follow-up visits are shorter, usually 30 to 45 minutes, in person in Portsmouth or by telehealth.
Why should I have a regular primary care provider?
A regular primary care provider knows your history, keeps your screenings and vaccines on schedule, manages ongoing conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure, and refers you to specialists when you need one. At Paramount Health and Wellness, the same clinic also offers mental health care, so stress, mood and sleep can be part of one plan.
What should I talk to my primary care provider about?
Bring up any new or ongoing symptoms, side effects from your medicines, sleep problems, lifestyle questions such as diet, exercise, smoking or alcohol, and how you're feeling emotionally, including stress or low mood. At Paramount Health and Wellness, your primary care provider can connect you with mental health care in the same clinic.
I haven't seen a doctor in years. Where do I start?
Start with a yearly checkup. Your provider reviews your health history, checks your blood pressure and other basics, and sets a screening plan for your age. Bring your insurance card, a photo ID, any past medical records and your medications. Paramount Health and Wellness has same-week appointments, including Saturdays. Call (757) 809-7807.
Where is Paramount Health and Wellness located?
Paramount Health and Wellness is at 3220 Academy Ave, Portsmouth, VA 23703, in the same city as Naval Medical Center Portsmouth and Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Patients come from Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Norfolk and Virginia Beach, and mental health video visits are available anywhere in Virginia.
Our providers
3 questions
What should I bring to my first appointment?
Bring your insurance card, a photo ID, any previous medical records, including test results from other clinics, and all your current medications with their prescription labels. It also helps to have a short list of your symptoms, past diagnoses and family health history. For later visits, bring your current medications.
Is a psychiatric nurse practitioner the same as a psychiatrist?
No, but both can diagnose mental health conditions and prescribe medication. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor; a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) is an advanced practice nurse with specialty training and board certification in psychiatric care. At Paramount Health and Wellness, Dr. Mutia is also a family nurse practitioner, so she considers your physical health too.
What's the difference between an FNP and a PMHNP?
A family nurse practitioner (FNP) provides primary care: checkups, sick visits, screenings and care for ongoing conditions. A psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) specializes in mental health: evaluations, diagnosis, therapy and medication management. At Paramount Health and Wellness, Dr. Relindis Nsofon Mutia is board-certified as both, and Brenda Dean is the primary care nurse practitioner.
Where is Paramount Health and Wellness located?
Paramount Health and Wellness is at 3220 Academy Ave, Portsmouth, VA 23703, in the same city as Naval Medical Center Portsmouth and Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Patients come from Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Norfolk and Virginia Beach, and mental health video visits are available anywhere in Virginia.
Mental health care
4 questions
Can one clinic treat my blood pressure and my depression?
Yes. At Paramount Health and Wellness in Portsmouth, VA, primary care and mental health providers work as one team with one plan for you. Your blood pressure, medications and mood are managed in one plan, so you don't have to coordinate between separate offices or repeat your history.
Will I have to take medication?
No. Medication is one option, not a requirement. After your evaluation, you and your provider decide together whether therapy, medication, lifestyle changes or a combination fits your needs and preferences. Many patients start with therapy alone, and you can change your plan at any follow-up visit.
Do you offer therapy, or only medication?
Both. Paramount Health and Wellness offers talk therapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy, as well as psychiatric evaluations and medication management. Your provider will recommend therapy, medication or a combination based on your evaluation and your preferences. Not sure where to begin? Book a psychiatric evaluation and talk through the options first.
What should I do in a mental health crisis?
Call or text 988, the free and confidential Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, open 24/7. Veterans and service members can press 1 to reach the Veterans Crisis Line. If you're in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Paramount Health and Wellness is an outpatient clinic and doesn't provide emergency care.
Primary care
4 questions
Should I go to urgent care or see my primary care provider?
For a cold, flu, sore throat, infection or minor injury during clinic hours, call Paramount Health and Wellness first; your provider knows your history and can follow up. Use urgent care when you need care at night or on a Sunday. For chest pain, trouble breathing, confusion or a serious injury, call 911.
What if I get sick at night or on a Sunday?
Paramount Health and Wellness is open Monday through Saturday, 8 AM to 5 PM. Outside those hours, use an urgent care center for nonemergency illness or injury, or call 911 for an emergency. TRICARE families can call the Nurse Advice Line at 800-TRICARE (874-2273), option 1, for advice any time.
Can I get a flu shot at Paramount Health and Wellness?
Yes. Paramount Health and Wellness offers vaccinations as part of preventive care, including flu and tetanus vaccines. A yearly flu vaccine is recommended for adults. Ask your provider which other vaccines are recommended for your age and health. Same-week appointments are available Monday through Saturday at the Portsmouth clinic.
Does Medicare cover my yearly checkup?
Medicare covers a yearly "Wellness" visit once every 12 months to create a prevention plan, and you pay nothing if your provider accepts assignment. It isn't a head-to-toe physical exam, so book a separate visit for specific health concerns. Medicare Advantage plans may cover more; we'll check your benefits.
Telehealth
4 questions
Can I see a mental health provider by video in Virginia?
Yes. Paramount Health and Wellness offers secure video visits for mental health care to patients anywhere in Virginia, with Dr. Relindis Nsofon Mutia, a board-certified psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner. TRICARE, Medicare and Virginia Medicaid are accepted. You need to be physically in Virginia during your visit.
Do I have to be in Virginia during my video visit?
Yes. Under Virginia's telemedicine guidance, care happens where the patient is located, so you need to be physically in Virginia during your visit. If you'll be traveling out of state, reschedule or plan an in-person visit at Paramount Health and Wellness in Portsmouth.
What do I need for a telehealth appointment?
You'll need a phone, tablet or computer with a camera and microphone, a reliable internet connection and a private, quiet space. Have your insurance card, photo ID and a list of your medications ready. Open your visit link a few minutes early to check that your camera and sound work.
What if my video link doesn't arrive?
Call (757) 809-7807 so the front desk can help you connect or reschedule. Check your email and text messages, including spam folders, and make sure the phone number and email on file are correct when you book. Paramount Health and Wellness is open Monday through Saturday, 8 AM to 5 PM.
Military families and veterans
3 questions
Does TRICARE cover mental health visits off base?
Yes. TRICARE covers outpatient mental health care from TRICARE-authorized civilian providers. Paramount Health and Wellness in Portsmouth accepts TRICARE East Prime and Select, and most family members and retirees can book without a referral. Active duty service members need a referral and pre-authorization first.
Will mental health treatment affect a military career?
Your care at Paramount Health and Wellness is private health information, shared only as the law allows or with your permission. For service members, Department of Defense Instruction 6490.08 limits when a commander is told about mental health care to specific safety and duty situations. If you're worried about who can see your information, ask at your visit.
Can I get PTSD treatment without waiting for the VA?
Yes. You can use your own insurance, such as TRICARE, Medicare, Virginia Medicaid or a commercial plan, at Paramount Health and Wellness in Portsmouth, with same-week appointments Monday through Saturday. VA pays for community care only when your VA health care team approves it first. The Virginia Beach Vet Center also offers free counseling.
What if my video link doesn't arrive?
Call (757) 809-7807 so the front desk can help you connect or reschedule. Check your email and text messages, including spam folders, and make sure the phone number and email on file are correct when you book. Paramount Health and Wellness is open Monday through Saturday, 8 AM to 5 PM.
Seniors and caregivers
3 questions
Can I help manage my parent's medications?
Yes. With your parent's permission, you can come to visits, bring the medication list and ask questions. The National Institute on Aging suggests keeping one up-to-date list of every medicine and supplement, using one pharmacy when possible, and asking the provider whether any medicine could safely be reduced or stopped.
What does depression look like in older adults?
In older adults, depression may show up as sadness, grief or less obvious symptoms rather than obvious low mood. It's also linked to conditions like heart disease and diabetes. Medicare covers a yearly depression screening in primary care, and Paramount Health and Wellness accepts Medicare, including Medicare Advantage.
Does Medicare cover chronic care?
Medicare covers chronic care management services if you have two or more serious chronic conditions expected to last at least a year; you pay coinsurance after the Part B deductible. Medicare also covers diabetes self-management training with a provider's order. Paramount Health and Wellness accepts Medicare and checks your benefits before your visit.
What if my video link doesn't arrive?
Call (757) 809-7807 so the front desk can help you connect or reschedule. Check your email and text messages, including spam folders, and make sure the phone number and email on file are correct when you book. Paramount Health and Wellness is open Monday through Saturday, 8 AM to 5 PM.
Call or email the front desk.
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