Circle Medical Reviews

Circle Medical offers comprehensive primary care through telemedicine and in-person appointments. It includes attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) assessment and treatment within these services. ADHD patients can access a range of treatments, including stimulants, if necessary.

Circle Medical operates in-person clinics at multiple locations across the U.S. It accepts many Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) insurance plans but does not treat Medicaid or Medi-Cal (California’s Medicaid program) patients. Circle Medical is not contracted with any Medicaid programs, so it cannot treat any of those patients (even if they want to pay out-of-pocket).

Downloading the Circle Medical app is required for appointments.

Services are currently only available in 31 states and Washington, D.C. These states include:

• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Florida
• Georgia
• Illinois
• Iowa
• Kentucky
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• Wisconsin

Circle Medical explicitly states that its providers may not be suited to manage all mental health issues. Patients with specific mental health histories or current treatments might be recommended to consult a local mental health specialist. Circle Medical generally does not treat the following populations of patients:

• Those on chronic daily opioids, benzodiazepines (such as alprazolam, lorazepam or clonazepam), or nightly sedatives/hypnotics (e.g., zolpidem, DAYVIGO). Patients taking these medications as “only occasional, as needed treatment” are permitted.
• Those undergoing methadone treatment.
• Those taking Kratom, which is used for pain relief, energy and to manage opioid withdrawal symptoms.
• Those who have been prescribed stimulants in doses higher than Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved levels.
• Those with a history of substance or alcohol use disorder.
• Those who’ve tried multiple psychiatric medications without symptom relief.
• Those with severe psychiatric conditions (specifically bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, mania, paranoia or complex post-traumatic stress disorder).
• Those with active suicidal thoughts.

Circle Medical reports it will still provide other services, such as primary health care, to these patients but will recommend local, specialty care (such as a licensed psychiatrist) for the above conditions. Suicidal patients will be directed to the nearest emergency room.

Circle Medical also notes that it will review all patients’ controlled substance use through the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) to ensure safety and compliance with its policies. PDMP in the U.S. is a state-run electronic database that tracks prescriptions for controlled substances. It aims to prevent drug abuse and diversion — illegally distributing prescription drugs for unintended purposes — by allowing health care providers and pharmacists to monitor patients' prescription histories.

For patients seeking care for suspected ADHD, Circle Medical provides a structured approach to assessment and treatment. Note you must have had a physical exam within the last 12 months. Circle Medical offers annual exams, as well. Here’s an overview of how its services for ADHD are organized:

• Book an appointment. Visit Circle Medical’s website and use the navigation bar at the top of the page. Click “What we treat” and select ADHD from the drop-down menu which takes you to the appointment booking page. Enter your ZIP code, select an open appointment and enter your personal information. If you have insurance, you can enter the details here.

If you’re unsure that your symptoms are suggestive of ADHD, you can take a short quiz on the right side of the page. Once your booking is confirmed, you’ll get an email with all the details.

• Diagnosis. Your ADHD intake appointment will focus on diagnosing ADHD. This initial appointment is conducted via video chat. Your provider “will complete a thorough, evidence-based, ADHD assessment during your first ADHD intake appointment,” according to the website.
• Treatment plan. Your second appointment involves continuing to assess your condition and discussing your treatment plan, including medication if needed. Your provider may also recommend diagnostic screening, such as blood work, as well. Circle Medical uses LabCorp and Quest Diagnostics for these screenings which have locations nationwide. Patients with insurance must contact their insurance provider to ensure the labs are covered (or pay out of pocket).
• Follow-up care. Next, you’ll manage your follow-up appointments. Depending on your treatment plan, you may have two-week or monthly follow-ups. These appointments help you and your provider monitor your progress. Patients must cancel or change appointments more than four hours before the scheduled time or pay a $50 late cancellation fee. Arriving more than 10 minutes late may result in rescheduling and a fee.

For ADHD patients without insurance, expect to pay $179 for your initial appointment. Each follow-up appointment costs $100. With accepted insurance, patients pay an average of $40 per appointment. Diagnostics and medications are not included in this cost.

Circle Medical accepts most Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) insurance plans, including but not limited to Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California, Cigna, Health Net and UnitedHealthcare. It does not treat Medicaid or Medi-Cal patients, even if they pay out of pocket, because these plans assign providers to patients. Patients are encouraged to check their coverage before booking an appointment.

Yes, Circle Medical is a legitimate health care provider. It operates with over 400 board-certified providers and offers both telemedicine and in-person appointments. Circle Medical follows strict privacy practices outlined in its Notice of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Practices document. It also claims to implement safeguards to protect data, such as password protection and authentication procedures. Overall, Circle Medical is a reputable service for those seeking primary health care and ADHD treatment.