Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

Cross Valley Health & Medicine has been owned and operated by Dr. Paul Saladino and Christian Plaza, FNP, since 2007. The practice provides primary care and specialty medical services to New Yorkers.

Our mission is to provide personalized, high-quality primary care, preventative and mental healthcare.

Our vision is to establish Cross Valley Health & Medicine as a leading private practice that combines both tele-health and face-to-face models to deliver care in New York.

We are always looking for ways to improve our practice. Please leave us a review through Google or visit us on Facebook.

Category: General Questions

No. We currently only encounter patients that have a New York State mailing address at this time.

Category: General Questions

Yes. Only those who live within the Mid-Hudson Valley Region* may schedule primary care in-person appointments for our Newburgh office at this time. Medical cannabis screening appointments are virtual only.

*Includes the following counties: Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, and Ulster.

Category: General Questions

No. We are not an established urgent care practice. If you require immediate medical attention, please dial 911.

Category: General Questions

If you are currently experiencing a medical emergency, please dial 911.

You may go to any hospital of your choosing. We are able to communicate with any hospital within the United States so long as you give them written permission to speak with our office staff so we can request your medical records.

 

Category: General Questions

Virtual Primary Care Program

Primary care is typically the first contact you would receive when you are feeling sick, before you get sick or need to see a specialist. Primary care providers also provide preventative care, which is care given in hopes of reducing the chances of getting more sick in the future.

  • Main focus on prevention, creates care plans, educates patients

Before your provider begins, they will ensure that all calls between you and your provider are private. Your provider will then ask you questions to verify your identity such as your date of birth, full name, address or other identifying questions. Once you’re verified, you will then have to consent to your provider so he or she can address your complaints. Your provder will then ask you questions about your health and this is the time to tell him or her about your health concerns. You and your provider will discuss treatment options, which may lead to being prescribed medication, additional follow-up appointments or changes to your lifestyle that may need to occur to improve your health.

  • Just like a phone call, video chats may drop. If this happens, we will reconnect with you the same way you began your visit. If that does not work, we will try to reach you through your phone numbers given to us.
  • After each visit, you will receive a record of your visit. This is your care plan which includes instructions on what to do to make yourself feel better.

Cross Valley Health & Medicine provides modern medicine with old fashion care through a virtual medium that allows us to care for our patients through larger distances and without the patient having to leave their home.

Yes, even if you live far away from Newburgh. Since a primary care provider is usually the first point of contact for health issues, we are more than happy to be used as your primary care provider. If the provider you select does not seem like a good fit, you have the option of switching to another provider with no questions asked.

Medical Marijuana Certification Program

Medical marijuana is cannabis grown specifically to treat diseases or conditions. Only patients that have one or more of the New York State qualifying conditions may be eligible for the medical marijuana certification program.

No. We can only accept patients from New York State. Medical marijuana is only legal in certain states and cannot be transferred across state lines.

You may be eligible for medical marijuana if you have been diagnosed with one or more of the following severe debilitating or life threatening conditions: cancer, HIV infection or AIDS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury with spasticity, epilepsy, inflammatory bowel disease, neuropathy, Huntington’s disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic pain (as defined by 10 NYCRR §1004.2(a)(8)(xi)), pain that degrades health and functional capability as an alternative to opioid use or substance use disorder. The severe debilitating or life-threatening condition must also be accompanied by one or more of the following associated or complicating conditions: cachexia or wasting syndrome, severe or chronic pain, severe nausea, seizures, or severe or persistent muscle spasms, PTSD or opioid use disorder.

Source: https://www.health.ny.gov/regulations/medical_marijuana/patients/

 

You should expect the provider to review over your medical history and medical records and determine whether or not you qualify for medical marijuana based on New York State’s guidelines. The provider will then explain why you were approved or denied and how they medication may benefit your condition.

Up to 36 hours.

You will receive your signed certification up to 36 hours of your appointment closure. After receiving the certification, you will have to follow instructions to register your certification number to New York State. Instructions will be attached on your certification. After registering your certification, you can go to your local dispensary to purchase the medication.

Speak to your provider for other treatment alternatives. Even though you were denied from our medical marijuana program, you may still become a primary care patient of ours if you are located in New York State.

Cross Valley Health & Medicine providers can only issue medical marijuana certifications to medically qualified patients within New York State only. The certification process can be done virtually, or in-person with your provider. Please note that depending on the length of certification generated (3 months, 6 months or 1 year) that each certification is valid for up to one (1) full calendar year.

You can start your certification journey by clicking here.

Medical Services

Our weight loss management program provides a non-surgical weight loss option for those looking to lose weight over time. Our medically supervised program is tailored to the patient’s specific health needs in addressing and overcoming obesity. Our program incorporates the following therapeutic interventions: education focus on diet and exercise, lifestyle intervention and modification planning and prescription weight loss medication treatment.

Interested in our weight loss management program? Give us a call at 845-561-7075 to book an appointment.

Category: Medical Services

Cross Valley Health & Medicine providers are able to provide culturally-sensitive care for our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) communities. We take pride in supporting the LGBTQ communities in the Hudson Valley and offer the following services:

  • Primary care for both yourself and the whole family
  • Behavioral health services
  • STD/STI screening and care management
  • Vaccinations for general preventative diseases
  • Substance abuse treatment (through using Buprenorphine)
  • Weight loss management

For more information about our LGBTQ Health Program, please contact our office to schedule an appointment at 845-561-7075.

Category: Medical Services

Our behavioral health integration program helps patients to access mental health services that otherwise are limited in our communities. Our practice offers the following range of mental health services: individual one-to-one counseling,  smoking cessation, managing substance misuse, support and care for depression and or anxiety.

If you struggle with either anxiety, depression, difficulty coping with health issues, relationship issues, sleeping difficulties, substance misuse or support from previous trauma, give us a call at 845-561-7075 to schedule an appointment.

For new patients, please click here to begin your paperwork.

Category: Medical Services

You must be first seen by a Cross Valley Health & Medicine practitioner prior to receiving any medications. This can be done by via in-person, video chat or phone. If our provider finds you may benefit from a prescription, they will electronically send the medicine to the pharmacy of your choice. If you need a doctor’s note, your provider can do that as well during the same visit.

When you’re ready to schedule an appointment, please give us a call at 845-561-7075.

Category: Medical Services

In order to have your prescription(s) refilled, you must first consult your provider by either in-person, video chat or phone. Our providers, if deemed necessary, will electronically send your prescription refill(s) to the pharmacy of your choice.

Category: Medical Services

Yes and no. Our providers can only provide vaccines only to those seen in person. Currently, this service is limited to those who reside in the Greater Hudson Valley Region*.

*Includes the following counties: Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, and Ulster.

Category: Medical Services

A care plan is a patient-centered document created between the patient and their provider to meet the goals and needs of the patient’s health status. It may include an array of treatments, lab orders, education advice, or referrals to address one or more multiple conditions. A care plan can provide guidance for the patient in order to reach the best healthy outcomes. Every patient will be able to review their care plan during their visit with a Cross Valley Health & Medicine provider.

Category: Medical Services

Insurance & Billing

For those opting to pay out-of-pocket, we charge $150.00 for established patients and $200.00 for new patients. This does not include other medical services if rendered. We will provide a good-faith estimate if requested before your appointment.

For those using insurance, please consult your insurance carrier for further pricing information as to what medical services are/are not covered.

Cross Valley Health & Medicine offers certification into the New York State Medical Cannabis Program. The fees for our program are:

All telemedicine medical cannabis initial and recertification appointments are $145.00. Payment is due prior to receiving your certification.

All in-office medical cannabis initial and recertification appointments are $175.00. Payment is due prior to receiving your certification.

We understand that medical costs can be very expensive and at times you may be unable to make a payment. If you are unable to make a payment, please discuss setting up a payment plan with our office. Payments must be made in full before your next visit (either in-person or virtual) and for medical marijuana certifications.

We extend our sincerest apologies for any care concerns you may have experienced with us.

In order for us to continue to providing excellent care, we are always seeking patient feedback. Please contact our office by calling 845-561-7075 or by emailing cvhmpc@me.com. We will be more than happy to assist you with your concerns.

Cross Valley Health & Medicine accepts the following health insurance plans as of 03/01/2023

  • AARP Medicare Supplement (secondary insurance)
  • Aetna
  • Affinity Medicaid (no Enriched Health (HARP) and no new suboxone patients – any other plans call and confirm with the insurance
  • CDPHP
  • Cigna
  • HIP – Emblem (Montefiore)
  • Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield – Do not accept MediBlue Select
  • Empire Plan (United Healthcare)
  • Fidelis Care
  • HealthNet
  • HealthFirst
  • Humana (Aetna)
  • 1199 (Indecs)
  • Magnacare
  • Medicaid (Computer Science) – Except no new suboxone patients
  • Medicare & Railroad Medicare
  • Multiplan (PHCS/POMCO/GEHA)
  • MVP Commerical
  • MVP Essential Plans – Do not accept Essential Plan 4
  • Oxford (No Liberty Plan)
  • Sieba
  • Tricare
  • UMR
  • United Healthcare – Do not accept Community Plan (Medicaid plan) and Regional PPO
  • Wellcare

Yes! Click here to know more about which other insurance plans we accept.

Cross Valley Health & Medicine is able to accept cash, major credit cards and checks for any outstanding medical bills you may have from us. You can pay in-person, over the phone, or clicking here to pay your bill online.

If you have any billing related questions, please call our office at 845-561-7075.

 

 

Contact our billing team by emailing cvhmpc@me.com or calling our office at 845-561-7075.

You will be unable to schedule another appointment until all payments are made.

The Providers

Internal medicine providers, or internists, are specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum from health to complex illness. Addiction medicine is a medical subspecialty that deals with the diagnosis, prevention, evaluation, treatment, and recovery of persons with addiction, of those with substance-related and addictive disorders, and of people who show unhealthy use of substances including alcohol, nicotine, prescription medicine and others.

Category: The Providers

Medical Doctor, Doctor of Medicine, or a physician is a person who holds a doctoral degree or first professional degree in medicine, and practices in that profession.

Category: The Providers

Family Nurse Practitioners are an advanced practice registered nurse. FNPs are trained to assess patient needs, order and interpret diagnostic and laboratory tests, diagnose disease, formulate and prescribe treatment plans.

Category: The Providers