Website Policies & Procedures

Health Nexus Orthopedics & Wellness · Lyall J. Ashberg, MD, FAAOS 931 SE Ocean Blvd, Suite A, Stuart, FL 34994 · (561) 510-1514 · info@healthnex.us · healthnex.us

Effective date: August 10, 2026

This document contains the practice’s public-facing website policies. Financial, malpractice, telehealth, and privacy terms here are consistent with the practice’s signed patient consents (Universal Consent and IPLS Supplemental Consent); the signed consents remain the controlling agreements for care. A separate Privacy Policy / HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices is maintained by the practice and is cross-referenced but not reproduced here.

Contents

1. Terms of Use
2. Medical & Telehealth Disclaimer
3. Florida Malpractice Insurance Notice
4. Financial, Cancellation & Refund Policy
5. Accessibility Statement
6. Contact & Concerns / Grievances

1. Terms of Use

1.1 About these Terms

These Terms of Use (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of healthnex.us and any related pages, forms, booking links, and tools operated by Health Nexus Orthopedics & Wellness (“Health Nexus,” “HNOW,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), a solo-practitioner practice operated by Lyall J. Ashberg, MD, FAAOS, located at 931 SE Ocean Blvd, Suite A, Stuart, FL 34994 (the “Website”). By accessing or using the Website, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Website.

These Terms incorporate the Medical & Telehealth Disclaimer and the Financial, Cancellation & Refund Policy below. How we handle personal and health information is described in our Privacy Policy / Notice of Privacy Practices.

1.2 Who may use the Website

You may use the Website only if you can form a binding contract with us and only in compliance with these Terms and all applicable laws. If you are a patient under 18 years of age, a parent or legal guardian must consent to and supervise your care and act on your behalf, consistent with our consent forms. If you use the Website on behalf of another person, you represent that you are authorized to do so.

1.3 What the Website is — and is not

The Website provides general information about the practice and its three service lines (orthopedic care, the Integrated Performance & Longevity System (IPLS), and radiology report review), lets you request or book appointments through third-party booking tools, and lets you submit intake information and materials in preparation for care. The Website and its content are for general informational purposes only. Use of the Website does not create a physician–patient relationship, and nothing on the Website is medical advice. See the Medical & Telehealth Disclaimer for the terms governing clinical services, telehealth, and emergencies.

1.4 Booking, intake, and third-party services

Certain functions rely on third-party platforms, including Healow / eClinicalWorks (booking, patient portal, payments), Doximity (telehealth and documentation assistance), Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp (laboratory services), MyMedicalImages and imaging-partner portals (image transfer). When you use these functions you may also be subject to those providers’ terms and privacy policies. We do not control and are not responsible for third-party platforms. Intake forms and clinical tools may store information locally in your own web browser so you can pause and resume; you are responsible for the security of the device and browser you use.

1.5 Acceptable use

You agree not to: use the Website unlawfully or in violation of these Terms; submit information that is false, misleading, or not yours to submit; attempt to gain unauthorized access to any system, account, tool, or data; interfere with, disrupt, probe, or overload the Website or its infrastructure; upload or transmit malware, or scrape or harvest data by automated means without our written permission; or misuse booking, intake, or payment functions. We may suspend or terminate access, or decline or cancel a booking, if we reasonably believe you have violated these Terms.

1.6 Intellectual property

The Website and its content — including text, educational material, the IPLS framework and modules, graphics, logos, and the design of the practice’s custom clinical tools — are owned by Health Nexus or its licensors and are protected by intellectual-property laws. You may view and use the content for your own personal, non-commercial reference. You may not copy, reproduce, republish, distribute, or create derivative works from it without our prior written permission, except as permitted by law. Educational content published on third-party platforms (for example, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram) is also subject to those platforms’ terms.

1.7 No warranty

The Website is provided “as is” and “as available.” To the fullest extent permitted by law, we disclaim all warranties, express or implied, including merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement. We do not warrant that the Website will be uninterrupted, error-free, secure, or free of harmful components, or that any information on it is complete, accurate, or current. Third-party platforms used by the Website may experience outages outside our control.

1.8 Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Health Nexus and Dr. Ashberg will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or any loss of data, arising out of or relating to your use of, or inability to use, the Website.  This section limits liability for use of the Website only. It does not limit any liability that cannot be limited under applicable law, and it does not apply to the provision of medical or professional services, which are governed by law and by the consent documents you sign as a patient.

1.9 Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Health Nexus and Dr. Ashberg from claims, losses, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of your misuse of the Website or your violation of these Terms or of applicable law.

1.10 Changes; governing law

We may modify, suspend, or discontinue any part of the Website at any time, and may update these Terms from time to time; the “Last updated” date reflects the most recent version, and continued use after changes are posted means you accept them. These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Florida, without regard to its conflict-of-laws rules; venue lies in the state courts located in Martin County, Florida.

2. Medical & Telehealth Disclaimer

2.1 Emergencies — read this first

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately. Do not use this Website, the patient portal, voicemail, or messaging to request emergency care. For a mental-health crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or go to the nearest emergency room. For a possible post-procedure complication (bleeding, severe pain, or signs of infection), call the practice immediately at (561) 510-1514; if you cannot reach us and the situation is urgent, go to the emergency room. The Website, patient portal, and Healow messaging are not monitored continuously and are not for urgent or emergency communication. Our standard response target for non-urgent voicemail and messages is within 48 hours, generally the same business day.

2.2 No medical advice

Information on this Website — educational articles, videos, the IPLS framework, and general descriptions of conditions and services — is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not medical advice, is not a substitute for professional evaluation, and should not be relied on to diagnose or treat any condition. Always seek the advice of a qualified health professional, and never disregard or delay seeking it because of something on this Website.

2.3 No physician–patient relationship is created by the Website

Browsing the Website, reading or watching its content, submitting an intake form, uploading materials, or sending a message does not, by itself, create a physician–patient relationship. That relationship is established only when you have booked an appointment, we have accepted you as a patient, and you have completed the applicable consent documents. IPLS specifically begins with a mandatory Fit Call so that a mis-match can be identified before any package is purchased.

2.4 Scope of practice

Health Nexus is a specialty orthopedic and wellness practice. Dr. Ashberg is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon. This practice does not function as a primary care provider and does not manage acute medical emergencies. Patients are strongly encouraged to maintain an active relationship with a primary care physician (PCP); if you do not have one, you remain solely responsible for obtaining primary care. IPLS enrollment requires an active PCP (or that you establish one within 60 days) so that any finding outside the program’s scope can be handed off to a clinician who can manage it.

2.5 Telehealth services

Most visits are provided by telehealth (Healow or Doximity, which are HIPAA-compliant), with in-person care at the Stuart office for procedures and certain assessments. You acknowledge that telehealth has benefits and limitations; that a remote evaluation may be limited by the absence of a hands-on physical examination, connection quality, or the materials you provide, and that in-person evaluation, additional testing, or referral may be necessary; that you are responsible for being in a private location during a visit; and that technology can fail, so visits may need to be rescheduled or changed in format. Telehealth may not be available across all state lines — Dr. Ashberg is licensed in Florida and Michigan. If you are located outside Florida at the time of your appointment, it is your responsibility to notify us in advance; scheduling from a state where Dr. Ashberg is not licensed may require rescheduling. The specific informed-consent terms for telehealth and for each service are in the consent documents you sign as a patient, which govern your care.

2.6 Radiology report review and asynchronous services

The Radiology Report & Image Analysis service provides a written, plain-language interpretation of imaging and an existing radiology report that you submit. It is an asynchronous, limited-scope service — not a comprehensive evaluation, not a substitute for care by your treating physicians, and not an emergency service, and it does not by itself create an ongoing treatment relationship. Turnaround and fee terms are in Section 4 and at the point of booking.

2.7 Wellness, performance, and longevity (IPLS)

IPLS is a cash-pay, defined-scope wellness and performance program; it is not primary care and does not establish a comprehensive physician-patient relationship. Its assessments, targets, and recommendations support health, fitness, and longevity goals and are not a guarantee of any specific result — including weight loss, body-composition change, metabolic targets, performance improvement, disease prevention, or symptom resolution. Statements about the relationship between musculoskeletal, metabolic, and systemic health reflect associations reported in the scientific literature and are not promises of individual outcomes. Participation carries inherent risks associated with exercise, dietary modification, and supplementation. Health Nexus does not provide cardiac clearance. Patients with cardiovascular risk factors (including hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, obesity, or prior cardiac history) are strongly advised to obtain clearance from their PCP or cardiologist before beginning any exercise component. IPLS uses safety screening (including PAR-Q+) for this reason. Full risk, limitation, and refund terms are in the IPLS Supplemental Consent.

2.8 Incidental findings

Because incidental findings can arise during a wellness work-up, IPLS requires you to name a PCP. If a finding of potential significance outside the IPLS scope is identified, Health Nexus’s obligation is limited to timely disclosure and a documented referral recommendation; management is the responsibility of you and the appropriate treating provider. Health Nexus does not manage or assume ongoing responsibility for incidental findings.

2.9 Insurance and coverage

Descriptions of accepted insurance plans and of cash-pay pricing are for general information and are not a guarantee of coverage, benefits, or payment for any particular service. Coverage is determined by your insurer. See Section 4.

2.10 Use of AI-assisted tools

Your provider may use HIPAA-compliant AI technology, including audio-transcription tools such as Doximity AI Scribe and the practice’s custom clinical tools, to assist in producing accurate documentation and drafts. These tools assist with documentation only; they do not make independent clinical decisions or replace physician judgment, and any AI-generated content is reviewed and approved by Dr. Ashberg before it becomes part of your record. The practice’s tools are designed to operate on de-identified data. You may decline AI-assisted recording at any time without affecting your care, and transcription data is not sold or shared for marketing or used for AI training without your separate written authorization. Further detail is in our Privacy Policy / Notice of Privacy Practices.

3. Florida Malpractice Insurance Notice

IMPORTANT NOTICE PURSUANT TO FLORIDA STATUTE §458.320

Under Florida law, physicians are generally required to carry medical malpractice insurance or demonstrate financial responsibility to cover potential claims for medical malpractice.

THIS PHYSICIAN DOES NOT CARRY MEDICAL MALPRACTICE INSURANCE.

This is permitted under Florida law under certain conditions. Florida law imposes penalties against non-insured physicians who fail to satisfy adverse judgments arising from medical malpractice claims. This notice is provided pursuant to Florida Statute §458.320.

4. Financial, Cancellation & Refund Policy

4.1 Scope and payment methods

This policy explains scheduling, fees, insurance and self-pay balances, and refunds across all three service lines. Fees and terms may change; the version posted when you book applies to that booking. Appointments are booked through Healow Open Access; self-pay charges (co-pays, deductibles, denied-claim balances, and cash-pay services) are processed through Healow Payments. Insurance reimbursements are handled through the practice’s revenue-cycle process and the applicable clearinghouse and payer.

4.2 Assignment of benefits and financial responsibility

Where a service is billed to insurance, you authorize payment of benefits directly to Health Nexus and assign applicable rights to reimbursement. You are personally and financially responsible for all charges not covered by your insurer, including co-pays, deductibles, and non-covered services. Health Nexus may, but is not obligated to, submit claims on your behalf; submitting a claim does not guarantee payment, and if your insurer denies a claim or fails to pay within a reasonable period, you agree to pay the balance due. It is your responsibility to understand your insurance benefits and coverage limitations.

The practice is credentialed with Aetna, ACPN, Cigna, Florida Blue, Medicare, AvMed, and Humana PPO [confirm current participating plans before publishing]. IPLS and radiology report review are cash-pay services and are not billed to insurance.

4.3 Cancellations, rescheduling, and no-shows

Please cancel or reschedule at least 24 hours before your scheduled time, through the Healow patient portal, by calling (561) 510-1514, or by emailing info@healthnex.us. A missed appointment, or a cancellation with less than 24 hours’ notice, is subject to a $100 no-show fee. A returned check (NSF) incurs a $50 fee. As a solo-practitioner practice, we may occasionally need to reschedule due to illness, emergencies, or platform outages; if we cancel or must reschedule, we will contact you directly, and any prepaid fee for a service we do not deliver will be refunded or credited.

4.4 Collections

Accounts referred to a collection agency incur a $75 service fee and may incur collection costs of up to 50% of the balance due; reasonable attorney fees may be added. In Workers’ Compensation or third-party-liability cases, you authorize your attorney to pay any outstanding balance to Health Nexus upon settlement.

4.5 Orthopedic care (Lane A) pricing

Orthopedic care is billed to accepted insurance where applicable; self-pay pricing is available and disclosed transparently for self-pay and out-of-network patients. [Confirm the current published self-pay fee schedule before listing specific orthopedic visit prices.] The Initial Consult fee referenced in the radiology-review credit below is $150 [confirm current price before publishing].

4.6 IPLS (Lane B) pricing and refunds

IPLS is cash-pay only, and every engagement begins with a free 15-minute Fit Call; packages cannot be purchased before the Fit Call. Current pricing:

• Package 1 — Foundation / Metabolic Reset (4 weeks): $350
• Package 2 — Performance Build (8 weeks): $1,100
• Package 3 — Longevity Optimization: $2,400 per year, or $650 per quarter

Payment is collected in full at the time of booking. IPLS fees do not include laboratory costs (billed directly by Quest or LabCorp), imaging costs, biologic-procedure costs (PRP, BMAC — separately quoted), or any equipment or supplements you choose to purchase.

IPLS refund policy: cancellation more than 48 hours before the intake consultation receives a full refund less a $75 administrative fee; cancellation within 48 hours of intake, or after the intake consultation has commenced, is non-refundable. If Health Nexus discontinues the program for reasons of safety or a non-functional clinical relationship, a pro-rated refund of unused sessions is issued.

4.7 Radiology report review (Lane C) pricing

The Radiology Report & Image Analysis service is cash-pay only, priced at $50–$75 per review; the exact fee within that range is set at intake based on the volume and complexity of materials and confirmed before work begins. Written turnaround is targeted at 48 hours from the booked slot time; if delivery will exceed 48 hours, we will notify you. If you convert to an Orthopedic Consult within 60 days, the radiology-review fee is credited in full toward the Consult fee.

4.8 Refund handling

Card payments are refunded through Healow Payments to the original card; cash payments are refunded by check. Where a fee is non-refundable under the terms above, it may instead be credited as described (for example, the Lane C conversion credit). If we are unable to deliver a service you have paid for, we will refund or credit the amount paid for the undelivered service.

5. Accessibility Statement

Health Nexus Orthopedics & Wellness wants healthnex.us to be usable by as many people as possible, including people who rely on assistive technology. We aim to follow recognized accessibility practices and to improve the Website over time.

Because parts of the Website rely on third-party platforms (Healow, Doximity, and others), some functions are governed by those providers’ own accessibility support. If you have difficulty accessing any part of the Website or need information or a service provided in a different format or with an accommodation, contact us at (561) 510-1514 or info@healthnex.us, and we will work with you to provide the information or service you need. We welcome feedback on accessibility and will make reasonable efforts to address issues you report.

6. Contact & Concerns / Grievances

6.1 How to reach us

Health Nexus Orthopedics & Wellness 931 SE Ocean Blvd, Suite A, Stuart, FL 34994 Phone: (561) 510-1514 · Email: info@healthnex.us · Website: healthnex.us

Non-urgent calls and messages are returned within 48 hours, generally the same business day. This practice does not provide emergency care — for emergencies, call 911; for a mental-health crisis, call or text 988.

6.2 Concerns and grievances

If you have a concern about your care, your bill, privacy, or your experience with the practice, please tell us first — most issues are resolved quickly. Contact Dr. Ashberg’s office by phone or email above with your name, the best way to reach you, and a description of your concern. We will acknowledge your concern and work with you toward a resolution.

Raising a concern with us does not affect your right to contact external authorities. You may contact the Florida Department of Health regarding a licensed physician, or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights regarding a privacy (HIPAA) concern.