Dr. Leichtman is a board-certified geneticist and pediatrician. He has more than 20 years experience in diagnosing and treating children and adults with genetic disorders. He sees and treats children and adults with Down syndrome and other genetic disorders, often using components of Targeted Nutritional Intervention. This intervention may be in the form of supplements or medications depending on the type of disorder and the patient’s underlying problems.
What do we do and why?
Targeted Nutritional Intervention is a means of intervening in genetic disorders with known gene duplications and deficits, to try to metabolically correct the underlying disorder. None of these treatments is curative but may assist in creating a better life style for the patients and may also assist in improving their learning abilities. Most forms of TNI treatment are reasonably low-cost and low-risk, and are considered to be a conservative approach. Dr Leichtman prefers to use NuTriVene-D™ from International Nutrition as his base for formula design and modification. NuTriVene-D™ is a carefully formulated mixture of vitamins, minerals, lipids, amino acids and cofactors, which was originally created to treat the specific metabolic disorders that occur as a consequence of Down syndrome or Trisomy 21. The formula was designed and is maintained by the Scientific Advisory Committee of Trisomy 21 Research Foundation, Inc., and is manufactured under FDA infant formula guidelines. This formulation can be used as a base for certain modifications that more directly target the specific biochemical abnormalities of many disorders.
A successful consultation is like a two-way street. The doctor will have you fill out and return a form with basic information before your visit. He will also need as many relevant records as you can provide prior to the clinic. This can include birth records, summary reports of hospitalizations and surgeries, developmental evaluations, chromosome reports or DNA diagnostic reports, current laboratory studies, school reports, and your most current IEP. If you are unable to send these extra pieces of information before your appointment, please bring them with you when you see the doctor. Please bring copies that the doctor can keep. The visit will last one hour and fifteen minutes. He will take a family history, do a complete physical examination, including measurements, and he will do a developmental evaluation. He will then discuss specific recommendations for treatment and/or supplementation. You will receive a medical summary of your visit by mail within 12 weeks. The doctor can also assist you with a plan for physical, occupational, speech, or other therapies.
Dr. Leichtman currently accepts NO insurance assignment or payments for his consultations. He is not a participating provider. Payment must be made at the time of the visit by the family with cash, money order, check, or credit card. We accept no Medicare or Medicaid payments. Dr. Leichtman’s office will NOT file your insurance for his consultation time. You may, however, find that your insurance company will allow you to file a third party claim form for reimbursement of Dr. Leichtman’s services in which case we will be happy to provide you with the codes necessary for you to submit these forms.
The total consultation cost for new patients will be $345 plus our $50 fee and follow-up patients will be charged $245 plus our $50 fee. The $50 non-refundable deposit, which is, again, part of the total consultation cost, is required. This deposit must be paid to our office when your appointment is made in order to secure your consultation time. Failure to do so will mean cancellation of your appointment. Checks, cash, money orders, or credit cards may be used to pay this deposit and your final balance. The balance of the appointment charges must be paid at the time of the visit without exception. The $50 deposit has been added to your actual appointment cost in order to cover the doctor’s traveling expenses. Again, we will NOT file your insurance for off-site consultations. If unavoidable circumstances keep you from coming to your scheduled appointment, please call our office at least 24 hours in advance. If you fail to do so, the balance of your payment will be billed to you by our office. Returned checks or credit card denials will be charged a $25 service fee. In the event that insufficient numbers of patients are available in your area or not all deposits have been received at least 21 days prior to the consultations, all appointments will be cancelled. If the doctor is forced to cancel your appointment, your deposit will be refunded.
To remain as a patient of Dr. Leichtman, you must continue to see him at least once every 12 months. Your total follow-up visit fee will be $295. If you are returning between 12 and 24 months, your visit fee will be $345. After 24 months you will again be considered a new patient and will pay a fee of $395. If you are receiving prescriptions for medications from our office, you must return for visits every 12 months or your prescriptions will not be renewed.
Thank you for your interest, and we look forward to seeing you and your child.
Address: Lawrence Leichtman, MD
PO Box 4548
Virginia Beach, Virginia 23454
Telephone number: 757-425-1969
FAX: 757-425-1822
Internet: http://www.lleichtman.org 3/2005