Frequently Asked Questions
Have any questions? We’re here to answer.
About the Practice
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Restore Rheumatology is Minnesota's first direct care rheumatology practice, founded by Dr. Eric Miller. We operate outside of insurance to offer longer visits, direct access to your physician, transparent pricing, and care built around you — not a billing code. We are located in Oakdale, MN and serve patients throughout the Twin Cities metro, greater Minnesota, and western Wisconsin.
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Direct Specialty Care is a membership-based model where patients contract directly with their specialist — no insurance middleman. At Restore Rheumatology, that means longer visits, direct access to Dr. Miller, transparent pricing, and care that's built around you, not a billing code.
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Dr. Eric Miller is an experienced, board-certified rheumatologist also certified in lifestyle medicine (DipABLM) and credentialed in musculoskeletal ultrasound (RhMSUS). He founded Restore Rheumatology because he believes patients with arthritis and autoimmune disease deserve more time, more clarity, and a real partner in their care.
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Dr. Miller treats a wide range of inflammatory and autoimmune conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, polymyalgia rheumatica, gout, vasculitis, lupus, Sjögren's syndrome, myositis, scleroderma, and more. For a full list of conditions we treat, visit our Services page.
Membership
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Members pay a monthly fee that covers comprehensive rheumatology care, direct access to Dr. Miller, extended office visits, routine monitoring labs, musculoskeletal ultrasound, and more.
Membership requires an initial 3-month commitment required after enrolling, then continues month-to-month. Prepaid 12-month plans are also available at a discount.
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Active Care is designed for patients with new diagnoses, active or uncontrolled disease, or those who want deeper lifestyle medicine integration — up to 8 visits per year at 45 minutes each.
Maintenance Care is for patients in remission who require less frequent follow-up — up to 4 visits per year at 30 minutes each. Both plans include direct access to Dr. Miller, routine monitoring labs, MSK ultrasound, and wholesale pricing on labs.
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After three months of commitment, may cancel anytime.
For monthly members, no refund is issued for the current billing period.
For prepaid plans, unused months are refunded at the standard monthly rate, not the discounted rate, since the discount is earned by completing the full term. The difference is applied as an Early Termination Fee (ETF), which recaptures the prepayment discount for the months used.
Example: A Maintenance Care member pays $1,620 upfront for 12 months ($135/month with 10% discount). If they cancel after 5 months, the refund is calculated as follows: $1,620 paid minus 5 months at the standard rate of $150 = $750. Refund = $870. The ETF in this case is $75 (5 months x$15/month discount recapture).
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Restore Rheumatology does not accept or bill insurance. This allows us to focus entirely on your care without the constraints of insurance systems. Upon request, we can provide a superbill that you may submit to your insurance company for potential out-of-network reimbursement. HSA/FSA funds may be applicable for certain services — we recommend checking with your plan administrator, as current law generally does not allow specialty care membership fees to qualify.
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HSA/FSA funds may be applicable for certain services at Restore Rheumatology. We recommend checking with your plan administrator. Please note that current law generally does not allow specialty care membership fees to qualify for HSA/FSA reimbursement.
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We understand that out-of-pocket specialty care is a new concept for many patients. If cost is a concern, we encourage you to reach out — we're happy to have an honest conversation about whether there's a path that works for both of us.
Visits & Services
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A meet and greet is a complimentary 10 to 15-minute phone or video call with Dr. Miller. It's an opportunity to learn more about the practice, ask questions, and determine whether Restore Rheumatology is the right fit for your needs. Please note this is not a medical consultation — clinical questions and symptom evaluation are reserved for scheduled appointments.
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Yes — no referral is needed to schedule a consultation at Restore Rheumatology. You are welcome to reach out directly to schedule a meet and greet or a new patient consultation.
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Yes — consultations and follow-up visits are available in-person or via telehealth. We prefer in-person visits, when possible, as they allow Dr. Miller to perform a full physical exam and musculoskeletal ultrasound if clinically indicated. Virtual visits are available upon request, though please be aware that clinical evaluation is more limited compared to an in-person visit.
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Restore Rheumatology is an appointment-based practice. We recommend scheduling in advance to ensure Dr. Miller has adequate time to prepare for and complete your visit. If you stop by during office hours, we're happy to help you schedule an appointment and will do our best to accommodate urgent needs when possible — though same-day walk-in visits cannot be guaranteed.
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Lifestyle medicine is a board-certified medical specialty focused on using evidence-based lifestyle changes — including nutrition, physical activity, sleep, and stress management — as part of a comprehensive treatment plan. Dr. Miller is one of a small number of rheumatologists in the country to hold board certification in lifestyle medicine (DipABLM). Research increasingly shows that lifestyle factors play a meaningful role in inflammatory and autoimmune disease — not as a replacement for medication, but as an important part of managing disease and improving quality of life. Active Care members have access to in-depth lifestyle medicine integration as part of their membership. Maintenance Care members receive basic lifestyle counseling.
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Musculoskeletal (MSK) ultrasound is a point-of-care imaging tool used to evaluate joints, tendons, and soft tissues in real time. Dr. Miller uses MSK ultrasound to aid in diagnosis, monitor disease activity, and guide injections with precision. Unlike MRI or X-ray, ultrasound is performed right in the office during your visit — no referral, no waiting, no separate imaging or facility fee. Dr. Miller holds the RhMSUS credential, a certification in musculoskeletal ultrasound specific to rheumatology.
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Members have access to deeply discounted lab pricing through our wholesale partners — often a fraction of what labs cost when billed through insurance. Routine monitoring labs (CBC, CMP, ESR, CRP) are included in the membership fee as a membership benefit. Additional labs are available to members at wholesale rates. For patients seen on an a la carte basis, wholesale lab pricing is available for any labs ordered as part of your visit.
Policies
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We accept credit card, and bank transfer. For HSA/FSA eligibility, please refer to our insurance FAQ above.
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Our goal is to make care as accessible and hassle-free as possible. We don't charge fees for no-shows or late cancellations. That said, we do ask that you let us know as soon as possible if you need to reschedule — it helps us serve other patients and keep things running smoothly.
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Restore Rheumatology is not equipped to handle medical emergencies. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. For urgent or non-urgent concerns, members will be provided with direct ways to contact Dr. Miller outside of scheduled appointments.
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Restore Rheumatology does not bill Medicare or Medicaid. Patients covered by either program are welcome to be seen on a direct-pay basis — services cannot be submitted to Medicare or Medicaid for reimbursement. If you have questions about whether this model works for your situation, we encourage you to schedule a meet and greet to discuss your options.
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Absolutely. Maintenance Care is specifically designed for patients in remission who only need to be seen once or twice a year but still value having a rheumatologist in their corner. Members get direct access to Dr. Miller between visits, routine monitoring labs, and the peace of mind that comes with continuity of care. If a flare occurs, members can reach Dr. Miller directly by text or email and get seen quickly — no waiting weeks for an appointment. Members also benefit from wholesale pricing on labs and medications, discounted procedure fees, and MSK ultrasound as a standard part of care.
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As a specialty practice, there are some services and conditions that fall outside the scope of what we offer at Restore Rheumatology:
Infusion therapy — we will refer to appropriate infusion centers as needed
Pediatric rheumatology — we primarily see adult patients. Patients 16 and older may be considered on a case by case basis. We encourage families to schedule a meet and greet so Dr. Miller can help determine whether Restore Rheumatology is the right fit or whether a pediatric rheumatologist would better serve their needs.
Emergency or urgent care — please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room
Inpatient or hospital-based care
Primary care services
Chronic pain management or opioid prescribing
If you're unsure whether Restore is the right fit for your needs, we encourage you to schedule a meet and greet — we're happy to talk it through.
