Many Elite NP community members have become curious about medical weight loss, a popular NP niche service taking the country by storm. We are proud to present our all new weight loss course led by our founder, Justin Allan. If you’re still not sure if this treatment line is right for your practice, use this handy guide to get more insight on the most common questions surrounding medically-assisted weight management.

Do I need any specific certification or experience to open a weight loss clinic or provide weight loss services?

Any nurse practitioner who has an interest in helping patients lose weight can learn to build a sustainable weight loss program for their practice. The initial learning curve may be high, but once your knowledge base is established (which should only take 6 to 12 hours of diligent study), you are ready to begin treating patients. There are no certifications required to provide weight loss services.

How expensive is it to open a weight loss clinic?

You can get a weight loss clinic up and running with an initial investment of $5,000 to $7,500. This is generally very reasonable and makes for a great return on investment. Startup costs may be even lower if you practice via telemedicine. The only equipment you are likely to need is an ECG machine (if you are prescribing phentermine and stimulants), a vitals sign machine, scales, a body fat analyzer (if you choose to utilize this in your practice), and a prescription pad! You will also need basic office supplies and furniture if you are opening a brick-and-mortar practice, but this can be skipped if you opt for telemedicine.

How much money can I expect to make providing weight loss services?

Profit potential depends on your geographical location and how you price your services. On average, you can expect to earn between $80 to $150 off each patient monthly. Therefore, if you have 100 patients (which should take 6 to 12 months to accumulate), you will be earning $10,000 to $15,000 per month. You will make your initial investment back in a matter of months.

If you live in a higher income or more populous area, you will likely make more. However, an important factor to consider is competition. So, its important you do your market research before opening!

Do I need a physician collaborator?

This depends on your state regulations. If you live in a state that restricts nurse practitioner practice, then you will need to have a physician collaborator/supervisor to practice weight loss medicine. On the other hand, if you live in a full practice authority state that allows nurse practitioners to function independently, then you do not need an attending physician.

Can I start a standalone weight loss clinic?

Freestanding weight loss clinics make for a great part-time niche side hustle. Many NPs hold full-time positions while practicing weight loss medicine on a part-time basis. This will put extra money in your pocket, which can be invested in other business endeavors.

I already own a practice. Can I add this as a service?

Absolutely. If you own or work in a med Spa, wellness clinic, primary care practice, or any other type of practice that offers general medical services, you can implement a weight loss service line to increase your revenue. Elite NP founder Justin Allan utilized this business model in his men’s health practice. He created an entire weight loss service line within this clinic to treat his male patients, increasing monthly revenue. If you choose to go this route, consider marketing it as a totally separate service line to bring in another type of clientele.

Remember, getting the patient in the door is the hardest part. Once they are there, you can increase your sales by having a few service lines on the menu.

Is having a DEA number necessary?

Yes and no. It totally depends on what medications you are prescribing. If you are prescribing phentermine, Vyvanse, or Evekeo, then you need a DEA ID. Luckily though, there are a multitude of other effective weight loss medications that are not controlled substances.

Are weight loss medications FDA approved?

Many of them are, but many of them are prescribed as “off label.” Some of the FDA approved options can be expensive, though. Therefore, it is important to understand the variety of medications you can prescribe. Thousands of providers prescribe “off label” treatments daily. As always, check with your state’s regulatory boards if you have any further questions.

Does medical insurance pay for medical weight loss?

Yes and no. You can bill the insurance standard Evaluation and Management codes to be reimbursed for visits. Insurance may not cover the medications for weight loss, as they can be expensive. For this reason, you can increase your bottom line by selling the patients these medications from a compounding pharmacy.

Cash-only weight loss practices also work very well. You don’t need to accept insurance to provide weight loss therapies. Elite NP recommends opening a cash only medical practice, as it makes life much easier than an insurance-based practice. But ultimately, this is up to you.

Will the Definitive Medical Weight Loss Course teach me how to start a practice from scratch?

Yes, the course covers a wide range of topics, including:

• Practice startup
• Necessary supplies
• Medication ordering
• Diet and exercise program design
• Utilization of a full class of medications
• Practice marketing
• Business logistics

Will this course teach me what medications I can use with my patients for weight loss?

We cover 21 medications, including phentermine, metformin, sermorelin, ipamorelin, acarbose, HCG, bupropion/naltrexone, and many more.

Will this course teach me the other aspects of medical weight loss such as diet and exercise?

Yes. Medications only aid with weight loss, but results are only achieved through a sustainable diet and exercise program. Additionally, you need to be able to coach patients and learn to debunk the myths behind various fad diets. A holistic skill-set is essential for the success of a weight loss practice.

Will this course go over how to market a weight loss practice?

Absolutely! Remember, marketing should be a huge priority for your business. You have to get the word out about your practice. If you do not, no one will know you exist. We cover, in detail, a tried and effective marketing campaign that you can use for a medical weight loss practice.

Will I have unlimited access to this course?

Yes, all The Elite Nurse Practitioner Courses are accessible at any time indefinitely.

Will this offer CME?

Unfortunately, this course will not provide official CME credit. However, you will receive a certificate at the end of the course that can be submitted for insurance reimbursement. This is a totally 100% tax deductible expense.

If your goal is to open a part-time, high profit practice, then you should seriously consider opening a weight loss clinic! Demand will only increase as obesity increasingly affects our population. Popular prescription weight loss therapies are also gaining traction across many demographics, and is increasingly acknowledged by the healthcare system as an effective tool for obesity treatment.