Answers to common questions about scheduling, insurance, testing, and treatment at Optimed Immunology.
Yes. Optimed Immunology accepts new patients on a rolling basis. The first step is submitting a request through the contact form or by phone. The team will respond within one business day to confirm fit and offer scheduling.
Yes. The practice is focused on adult clinical immunology. Patients seeking pediatric care are referred to colleagues with pediatric immunology training.
It depends on your insurance plan. Some plans require a referral; others do not. Please check with your insurance carrier. Even when not strictly required, having your primary care physician or specialist send relevant records ahead of your visit improves the value of the first appointment substantially.
First visits typically run 45 to 60 minutes. The entire appointment is with Dr. McNeil. The visit includes a detailed history, focused physical examination, discussion of the differential diagnosis, and a clear written plan.
Some follow-up visits can be conducted by telehealth depending on the clinical situation, insurance coverage, and Ohio licensure rules. The first visit is generally in person. If you have a specific question about telehealth before scheduling, please contact the office.
No. Allergy immunotherapy injections (allergy shots) are not part of this practice. Patients who need allergy shots are referred to colleagues who provide them.
Allergy evaluation at Optimed Immunology is performed using blood-based specific IgE testing rather than skin prick or intradermal testing. Blood-based testing can be clinically useful when selected based on history and interpreted by a specialist; positive results indicate sensitization but do not always mean true clinical allergy. The approach eliminates the need to discontinue antihistamines before testing and can be performed at any clinical lab. When confirmation requires skin testing — such as standard penicillin testing — patients are referred to colleagues equipped to perform it in an appropriately monitored setting.
No. Supervised oral food challenges are not performed in this office. Patients who require oral challenges to clarify food allergy diagnoses are referred to colleagues who provide that service in an appropriately equipped setting.
Through blood-based specific IgE testing, with component-resolved diagnostics added when they help clarify clinical relevance. Vaccine response testing for specific antibody deficiency is also blood-based. All of this can be coordinated through commercial labs.
Optimed Immunology participates with several major insurance carriers. Because plan participation can change and varies by employer group, we recommend calling the office or your insurance carrier to verify in-network status before your appointment. The team is happy to help confirm coverage at the time of scheduling. For more details on prior authorization, lab billing, and self-pay, see the insurance & billing page.
Yes. All prior authorizations for medications and treatments prescribed by the practice are handled in-house. Patients are not asked to navigate insurance approvals on their own.
The most useful records to fax or upload ahead of time include recent office notes from your physicians, all prior immune-related labs, recent CBC and metabolic panel, imaging reports relevant to chronic infection or chronic disease, current medication list, and hospital discharge summaries from any recent admissions. A brief written timeline of symptoms is also helpful.
Records fax: (833) 973-5984
For treatments requiring prior authorization (immunoglobulin replacement, biologics, HAE prophylaxis), the process typically takes 2 to 6 weeks from approval to first dose. The team handles paperwork in-house and coordinates with infusion partners or specialty pharmacies as needed. Timelines vary by insurance and product.
Immunoglobulin replacement is the standard of care for primary antibody deficiencies such as CVID. It involves periodic administration of pooled human IgG, either by intravenous infusion (IVIG) every 3 to 4 weeks, or by subcutaneous self-infusion (SCIG) typically weekly. Both routes are effective; selection depends on patient factors including vascular access, lifestyle, side-effect profile, and personal preference. Read more about CVID and immunoglobulin replacement.
Infusion options include home infusion through trusted partner agencies, ambulatory infusion at a partner center, or in-suite at Horizon Infusions, which is co-located with the practice. The choice depends on patient preference, insurance coverage, and clinical considerations.
For non-urgent clinical questions, please use the patient portal. Messages are typically returned within one business day. For medical emergencies, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
The most useful documents to include with a referral are your most recent office notes, relevant labs (CBC with differential, immunoglobulins if obtained, allergy testing, complement, lymphocyte subsets), imaging reports, current medication list, and a brief note about the clinical question.
Most efficient: secure fax to (833) 973-5984 or direct EMR message (Athena Health). The office is also happy to receive phone calls at (614) 430-8022 for clinician-to-clinician questions.
More information for referring physicians →
Donald L. McNeil, MD · Board Certified in Allergy & Immunology and Internal Medicine