Text design that says "Frequently Asked Questions"

  • CORA is a physician-led pediatric practice providing thoughtful, individualized care for children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental, emotional, behavioral, and complex health concerns. We take the time to understand the whole child—including development, emotional health, nutrition, sleep, physical health, environment, family context, and lived experience.

  • We specialize in children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental, emotional, behavioral, and complex health concerns.

    We commonly support children and adolescents with:

    • Autism

    • ADHD

    • Anxiety

    • Depression and mood concerns

    • OCD

    • PANS/PANDAS

    • Disruptive or oppositional behavior

    • Pervasive Drive for Autonomy (PDA) and demand-avoidant profiles

    • Sleep concerns

    • Feeding and nutritional concerns

    • Complex or overlapping neurodevelopmental and mental health concerns

    • Neuro-developmental disorders in ex-preemies and NICU graduates

    A child does not need to have an established diagnosis to be seen at CORA.

  • We see children and adolescents up to age 21.

  • The type of evaluation needed varies by diagnosis and by child. CORA can diagnose some neurodevelopmental and behavioral concerns under the scope of General Pediatrics. Some children may benefit from additional assessment by psychology, developmental-behavioral pediatrics, neuropsychology, speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, or other specialists. If unable to diagnose a specific condition, CORA will help families navigate referrals and next steps.

  • Yes. When appropriate, medication may be one part of an individualized treatment plan. Decisions about medication are made collaboratively with families and considered alongside behavioral, developmental, environmental, nutritional, therapeutic, and other supports.

  • We believe symptoms rarely exist in isolation. A child's emotional health can affect sleep. Sleep can affect attention and regulation. Nutrition and feeding can influence energy and well-being. Sensory differences can influence behavior, anxiety, and the ability to participate in everyday activities.

    Rather than focusing only on a diagnosis or individual symptom, we take time to understand how these pieces may fit together while keeping our evaluation and recommendations grounded in evidence-based medicine.

  • Yes, and more! CORA takes a balanced and thorough approach to pediatric mental health through both Functional and General Pediatric approaches to care. We may consider nutrition, sleep, lifestyle, medications, medical conditions, environmental factors, and appropriate laboratory evaluation as part of understanding a child's health.

    We routinely recommend root-cause analysis testing, select supplements to correct identified deficiencies/imbalances, targeted diet and lifestyle changes, medications, therapies, and referrals/collaboration with pediatric subspecialty care.

    We do not:

    • have a one-size-fits-all approach

    • recommend unsustainable or excessive interventions

    • recommend “fad” treatments or quick fixes that are not rooted in evidence

    • sell you anything or personally profit from any treatment we recommend

  • No. We encourage families to maintain an established primary care relationship for routine well-child care, vaccinations, acute illnesses, and after-hours needs.

    CORA is designed to complement your child's existing care by providing additional time and expertise for more complex concerns. With your permission, we are happy to collaborate with your child's pediatrician and other members of their care team.

  • Yes. CORA is currently a telehealth-only practice.

  • Dr. Simones is licensed to practice medicine in Minnesota and Wisconsin. CORA can provide medical care to children and adolescents who are physically located in Minnesota or Wisconsin at the time of their appointment.

    If your family lives outside Minnesota or Wisconsin, please contact us to discuss whether CORA can provide consultation or help identify other appropriate resources.

  • Not directly. CORA uses a direct pay model designed to allow enough time for comprehensive, individualized visits rather than the shorter appointments often required by traditional insurance-based models.

    We are eligible for most HSA/FSA plans and we offer Superbills after each visit that you can submit to your insurance for reimbursement.

    See Pricing for more details.

  • No. Self-referrals are accepted and encouraged.

  • If you aren't sure whether CORA is the right fit for your child, you're welcome to contact our office before scheduling.

    Contact us through the website here.