FAQ's
FAQ's
1. What is Steady State Health?
Steady State Health is a virtual menopause and ADHD clinic for women in midlife, founded by nurse practitioner Josie Cowburn. It combines hormone testing, metabolic care, ADHD evaluation, and GLP-1 metabolic support into structured programs. Cash-pay programs are available to women anywhere (not true, only in OR and WA), while insurance-based medical care is limited to Oregon and Washington residents. The practice focuses on root-cause care for perimenopause, menopause, brain fog, weight changes, and ADHD.
2. What is the difference between perimenopause and menopause?
Perimenopause is the transition phase leading up to menopause, often starting in a woman’s late 30s or 40s, when hormone levels fluctuate and symptoms like irregular periods, brain fog, sleep disruption, and mood changes appear. Menopause is the point twelve months after the final menstrual period. Steady State Health treats both stages with hormone testing, hormone therapy when appropriate, and metabolic and ADHD support tailored to where a patient is in the transition.
3. Is a virtual menopause clinic as effective as in-person care?
For most perimenopause and menopause concerns, virtual care is clinically equivalent to in-person visits because the work is largely lab review, symptom assessment, and medication management. Steady State Health uses comprehensive hormone and metabolic labs ordered to a local draw site, video visits with a licensed nurse practitioner, and ongoing messaging support. Patients who need a physical exam are referred to a local primary care provider for that specific component.
4. Does Steady State Health treat ADHD in women?
Yes. Steady State Health offers full ADHD evaluation, diagnosis, and medication management for adult women, including those who are first being assessed in midlife. ADHD symptoms often intensify during perimenopause because estrogen affects dopamine, and the practice specifically integrates hormone status into the ADHD treatment plan. ADHD care is available both as a standalone insurance-based visit (Oregon and Washington only) and inside the Steady Momentum cash-pay program.
5. Why do ADHD symptoms get worse during perimenopause?
Yes. Steady State Health offers full ADHD evaluation, diagnosis, and medication management for adult women, including those who are first being assessed in midlife. ADHD symptoms often intensify during perimenopause because estrogen affects dopamine, and the practice specifically integrates hormone status into the ADHD treatment plan. ADHD care is available both as a standalone insurance-based visit (Oregon and Washington only) and inside the Steady Momentum cash-pay program.
6. Does Steady State Health take insurance?
Steady State Health accepts insurance only for individual medical visits in Oregon and Washington, billed under Insurance-Based Care. Cash-pay programs — Steady Start, Steady Momentum, Precision Health, and the GLP-1 program — are not billed to insurance and cannot be reimbursed. Medicare, Oregon Health Authority, and PacificSource Community Plan are not accepted. Patients outside Oregon and Washington can access cash-pay programs and non-medical coaching.
7. Where is Steady State Health licensed to provide medical care?
Steady State Health provides licensed medical care, including prescriptions, only to patients located in Oregon and Washington. Insurance-based visits, GLP-1 prescriptions, hormone therapy, and ADHD medication management all require Oregon or Washington residency. Cash-pay coaching and lifestyle services are available to clients in any U.S. state, but coaching is non-medical and does not include prescriptions or diagnosis.
8. How do I know which Steady State Health program is right for me?
Steady State Health offers a free 20-minute consult to help match patients to the right program. As a general guide: Steady Start ($695) is a one-time evaluation for women who want answers; Steady Momentum ($2,350) is twelve weeks of structured care for ongoing optimization; Precision Health ($2,495) adds genetic and cellular testing for complex or unresolved cases; the GLP-1 program addresses metabolic resistance; and Insurance-Based Care suits Oregon and Washington residents who prefer billing through insurance.