🌞 First Harvest Reflections from Deep Roots

As the crops begin to share their full and vibrant abundance, we find ourselves in a meaningful season of both growth and profound transformation—much like the natural world that surrounds us.

In this issue, we are highlighting one of our most revitalizing and effective therapies—ozone, saying goodbye to Dr Amy and Dr Lily as we welcome Dr Thomas, and providing a very important update regarding a Providence insurance change that could affect some of our patients. Our goal is for you to feel fully informed, prepared, and supported throughout every step. Thank you for being an essential part of our community. Your ongoing trust, care, and patience continue to inspire and guide everything we do.

We want to keep you informed about a significant change that may impact how your insurance covers naturopathic care.

Starting September 1, 2025, Providence Health Plan is shifting its naturopathic claims processing to a third-party administrator. While details have been limited, what we do know is concerning. Reports from our professional community indicate this move could increase restrictions and reduce access to our services. Changes could also reduce provider reimbursement dramatically, in some cases by up to 70%. 

As a small, family-run practice committed to relationship-based care, we are greatly concerned about the impact these changes will have on our patients access to quality holistic medical care. We are exploring all options, including advocating for fair treatment and alternative billing models. We want to reassure you that Deep Roots will remain in-network with Providence through December 31, 2025. We also want to be transparent and give you plenty of time to prepare. Unless these reimbursement cuts and additional restrictions are reversed, there is a possibility that we may no longer be able to accept Providence insurance for naturopathic services in 2026.

We are asking for your support.

If you are a Providence member, we encourage you to contact them directly and let them know how important it is to you to continue receiving care at Deep Roots Family Medicine. Your voice matters, and can make a significant impact on healthcare policies. We encourage you to contact Providence Health Plan or your employer’s benefits administrator to share your concerns and ask for continued access to high-quality integrative care without excessive barriers or financial hardship.

📞 Providence Member Services: 503-574-8200 or 800-898-8174

You might say:

• You value your care at Deep Roots Family Medicine.

• You’re concerned this change could limit your access to trusted providers.

• You’re considering switching health plans if your provider options are restricted.

We’ll continue to keep you updated as more information becomes available. In the meantime, we’re here to answer your questions and support you in navigating this change. As always, our billing specialists are available to answer questions about how your appointments are reimbursed when billing insurance. For questions about how future appts will be reimbursed it's best to contact your insurance company directly.

Dr Amy Transition

Though we are disappointed that she is leaving us, Dr Amy is taking a position in Alaska for an opportunity to work in her area of specialty as both a doctor and a medical director. Her desire to expand the reach of naturopathic integrative oncology to those who would otherwise never seek us out drives her, and her new organization’s reach at four distinct centers across Southern Alaska makes this new opportunity very appealing. She will be with us until the end of August. If you are seeing Dr Amy for integrated oncology, she will be reaching out to schedule a wrap-up visit. If you are working with Dr Amy for general naturopathic care, we will transition you to another provider as soon as possible. Thanks for your patience as we navigate this transitions and we wish Amy the best at her new endeavor.

Ozone Therapy: A Breath of Fresh Healing

Feeling drained by summer heat, stress, or lingering symptoms? Ozone therapy may help restore clarity, energy, and vitality—supporting circulation, detoxification, and your body’s natural healing intelligence.

Jennifer Stephens, FNP offers a range of ozone options at our Salem location, including:

• Prolozone injections

• Nasal insufflation

• Ozonated oils and water

• Ozone inhalation (via olive oil bubbler)

• Autohemotherapy (blood ozone)

If you're looking for a mid-summer reset, we invite you to learn more about ozone therapy or book a consult.

🌙 Tea Corner with Des – Rest Is Medicine

Have you been tossing and turning lately? You’re not alone—summer is actually one of the hardest times of year for sleep.

Long daylight hours suppress melatonin, warm nights prevent the natural cooling your body needs to drift off, and all the extra activity and stimulation can keep your nervous system on high alert. Even allergens and open windows can disrupt your rest.

That’s why this month, we’re featuring two calming herbal blends to help you reclaim the rest your body is craving:

• Deep Sleep – A relaxing, sleep inducing formula to support deeper, sustained rest. Herbs include Valerian, Kava, Linden, Spearmint, and Passionflower.

• Divine Dreams – A gentle, dreamy blend that helps you drift into sleep while supporting emotional release through dreams. Herbs include Mugwort, Lavender, and Chamomile.

These teas are the perfect companions for a slow evening ritual—dim the lights, steep a mug, and curl up like a sun-warmed cat in a quiet room. 🫖 Mention this newsletter to receive $2 off Deep Sleep or Divine Dreams teas through August.

Wishing you peaceful nights and dreamy mornings,
– Des 🌿

Desiree Lefever Gonzales, LMT is a licensed massage therapist and herbalist. She works at both our Salem and Corvallis office and specializes in Arvigo Massage.

*All Deep Roots Herbals teas are lovingly crafted with organic and/or wild harvested herbs.

**All Deep Roots Herbal teas are naturally caffeine free

***These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.***

Practitioner Updates and Growing Changes

Dr. Lily has been a beloved part of our Corvallis team, and while we’re excited for her as she prepares to welcome a new baby, we’re also a little sad to share that she will soon be stepping away from practice.

As Dr. Lily prepares for maternity leave, she is no longer accepting new patients. While there is no official return date, it is likely that she will not be returning to practice with Deep Roots.

We understand that transitions like this can feel challenging, and we are committed to helping her patients continue their care without interruption. If you are currently under Dr. Lily’s care and need support moving forward, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

We’re incredibly grateful for the heart, knowledge, and presence Dr. Lily has brought to the Corvallis clinic, and we know she’ll continue to share her light wherever this next chapter takes her. Thank you for your flexibility, your trust, and for being part of our Deep Roots community.

Need to Schedule? Here's What to Expect

Our clinics are growing, and so is demand for care. New patient visits are currently booking 8–12 weeks out, and even established patients may experience longer wait times for follow-up appointments.

This is partly due to high patient volume and some of our practitioners taking well-deserved time off this summer. We understand this can be frustrating, and we truly appreciate your patience and understanding.We’re doing our best to expand availability while preserving the quality, time, and attention you deserve.

If you need to schedule, we encourage you to book as early as possible.