Traditionally, anyone seeking support for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) would visit their healthcare provider or a local psychiatrist to undergo an official evaluation. However, as the current medical professional shortage has demonstrated, this process can take weeks, if not months, before patients start their ideal ADHD treatment plan.

Simultaneously, online ADHD treatment services have continued to grow in popularity, promising fast results, comprehensive support, and, of course, the convenience of staying in the comfort of your home, two of which are MEDvidi and ADHDAdvisor.org. So, how do they stack up, and what should you expect out of each one? 

I researched and carefully reviewed both services to help you make an informed decision. While I ultimately recommend ADHDAdvisor.org, I’ll still give my honest and objective take to ensure you can choose the best option for your needs.

At a Glance: MEDvidi vs. ADHDAdvisor.org

Before getting into all the details, let’s take a look at the key facts and differences between ADHDAdvisor.org and MEDvidi: 

My Experience with ADHDAdvisor.org

As the company’s name implies, ADHDAdvisor.org primarily specializes in diagnosing and treating ADHD, but its clinicians can also help individuals with depression, anxiety, and PTSD. 

Patients start by taking ADHDAdvisor.org’s free online ADHD test, which asks about their symptoms, how long they’ve noticed them, and their severity. All in all, it takes less than ten minutes to complete. Afterward, patients can book their first diagnosis appointment, with options to meet seven days a week, from mornings to evenings. However, like any telemedicine service, availability depends on where you live, so your experience might differ from what I found for my area. 

After scheduling the appointment, you’ll pay a $20 deposit and receive a follow-up email with instructions to set up a patient portal, similar to what you’d encounter before meeting with a new doctor. At the end of the diagnosis appointment, you’ll pay the remaining $130. 

If diagnosed, you will work with your clinician to develop a treatment plan. ADHDAdvisor.org offers medication management, success coaching, cognitive behavioral therapy sessions, or a combination of treatments, all of which have subscription plans.

What works

• Fast and free ADHD test
• Plenty of flexible booking options in my case
• Reasonable price for the diagnosis appointment 
• Full offering of personalized ADHD treatments
• Subscription options for ongoing care 
• Excellent customer service and experienced clinicians 

What could be improved

• Not available in all 50 states
• Doesn’t accept insurance but can provide itemized statements for out-of-network reimbursement 

The Bottom Line: ADHDAdvisor.org is arguably the most comprehensive online service for ADHD diagnoses and treatment that I’ve encountered. Between its flexible appointment slots, full suite of treatment plans, and empathetic team of clinicians and therapists, I feel confident in recommending ADHDAdvisor.org to anyone seeking a diagnosis.

My Experience with MEDvidi

MEDvidi is an online mental health service that can diagnose and treat numerous conditions, including ADHD, anxiety, depression, insomnia, PTSD, and more. While it offers personalized treatment plans, it’s worth noting that MEDvidi mental health specialists can only prescribe medications or issue ESA (emotional support animal) letters to qualifying patients.

MEDvidi’s website says patients must first take an initial assessment and answer questions about their ADHD symptoms, but this comes after choosing an appointment slot and paying $195 upfront. Moreover, if the patient’s answers don’t suggest the presence of ADHD, they must cancel their appointment at least twenty-four hours in advance to receive a refund. When it’s time for the initial consultation, an online mental health clinician will conduct a thorough assessment, determine the root cause of the patient’s symptoms, and, if diagnosed, recommend a treatment plan. 

Patients who only need medication will continue to meet with their care team to monitor progress and make adjustments as needed. Alternatively, anyone who needs therapy may receive a referral for a specialist outside the MEDvidi network, as this service doesn’t employ behavioral therapists. 

What works

• Fully licensed and experienced team of mental health professionals
• Can treat several mental health conditions besides ADHD 
• Appointments are available Monday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-7:00 p.m. (for my area; availability can vary state-to-state) 
• Offers ESA letters to qualifying patients 

What could be improved

• Only available in 13 states
• Doesn’t offer virtual therapy; patients must get a referral or find one on their own
• Relatively expensive pricing model ($195 for the initial appointment and $159 per follow-up visit) 
• Doesn’t accept insurance and has no mention of itemized statements for out-of-network reimbursement 

The Bottom Line: Patients who only require medication are in good hands with MEDvidi. However, it’s one of the more expensive telemedicine platforms in the industry and doesn’t offer every treatment a newly diagnosed patient may need. Nonetheless, its flexible appointment times and experience with several mental health conditions make it a viable option for some. 

My Methodology

Before making any recommendations, I spent considerable time researching and comparing both services. This involved reading their websites, various third-party testimonials, and current regulatory laws for telemedicine services and privacy protection. Next, I signed up for each platform and went through their introductory processes, from taking the assessment to choosing an appointment. 

While I did not meet for an initial diagnosis appointment with MEDvidi due to the cost, I was able to gauge what patients can expect accurately due to my experience in the industry and by following up with their customer support team for what I could not find through their website.

An In-Depth Comparison: ADHDAdvisor.org vs. MEDvidi

Now that I’ve gone through the basics of MEDvidi and ADHDAdvisor.org, I’ll cover each aspect of my findings in detail. Here’s a look at the core factors I considered during my comparison:

• Scheduling: Is scheduling fast and flexible?
• Quality: Are the in-network health providers qualified, experienced, and personable?
• Accuracy: How reliable is the diagnosis process?
• Cost: How affordable is the service compared to competitors?
• Treatment: How personalized is the treatment?
• Brand Reputation: What do users have to say about their experience?

Scheduling

ADHDAdvisor.org and MEDvidi offer plenty of flexible scheduling options. However, as previously mentioned, scheduling flexibility ultimately depends on where you live, as practitioners must be licensed in the same state in which you seek care. Still, assuming each service has similar staffing in your area as mine does, you can reasonably expect to find an appointment within 72 hours or less. 

Likewise, both services offer appointments on the weekends and throughout the day, usually as early as 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 or 7:00 p.m. It’s worth noting that I’m only discussing scheduling for the initial diagnosis appointment and can’t attest to either service’s flexibility for follow-up appointments.

Quality

Regardless of where you seek care, whether in person or virtually, it’s essential to only work with professionals who can officially diagnose ADHD and recommend treatment. Qualified healthcare professionals include primary care doctors, doctors of osteopathic medicine, psychiatrists, licensed therapists, and nurse practitioners, among others. 

While both services employ experienced and empathetic professionals who can accurately diagnose and prescribe treatment, MEDvidi doesn’t work with behavioral therapists or trained coaches, whereas ADHDAdvisor.org does.

As a result, you might want to consider ADHDAdvisor.org or a similar service with multiple treatment options in the event your diagnosis requires more than medication management. 

Accuracy

It’s helpful to keep in mind that any mental health diagnosis, whether ADHD or another condition, is at the clinician’s discretion based on their observations compared with the DSM-V’s criteria. Both services are reliable in the sense that their teams follow this process, but not all patients may receive a diagnosis in a short, 30-minute appointment (the approximate length of both services’ initial consultations). 

Because of this, you may need to meet for a follow-up consultation to rule out other conditions or give your clinician more context before they feel comfortable making a formal diagnosis, whether with MEDvidi or ADHDAdvisor.org. If anything, meeting for another appointment is a good sign that they want to get it right and ensure you receive the proper treatment for your condition(s).  

Cost

ADHDAdvisor.org and MEDvidi have transparent pricing models for the initial consultation, costing $150 and $195, respectively. ADHDAdvisor.org is one of the more affordable options, and MEDvidi falls in line with other competitors like ADHD Online and Done. However, the cost of ongoing care varies significantly. Follow-up visits with MEDvidi are priced at $159 each, whereas the equivalent medication management subscription with ADHDAdvisor.org costs $100.  

Moreover, since ADHDAdvisor.org offers multiple treatments and subscription plans, the total costs can vary significantly depending on the patient's needs. It would help if ADHDAdvisor.org disclosed these prices upfront, but patients must create their Healthie portal and meet for their first appointment before they can get an idea of what their month-to-month expenses might cost. 

Still, ADHDAdvisor.org patients may receive reimbursement from insurance if their plan accepts out-of-network itemized statements, but MEDvidi doesn’t indicate whether or not they offer this feature. 

Treatment

ADHDAdvisor.org offers medication management (non-stimulants only), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and success coaching. The latter is similar to ADHD coaching in that it teaches patients how to manage the more concrete challenges of living with ADHD or similar tendencies, such as managing a schedule, adhering to a budget, or setting realistic professional goals. 

On the other hand, MEDvidi only prescribes medication, which may include non-stimulants or stimulants, depending on local regulations. However, all telemedicine patients who receive a controlled substance prescription (such as Adderall) must find an in-person provider once the DEA and HHS public health emergency extension expires in 2024. 

Additionally, MEDvidi clinicians may issue a referral to a therapist if you need one, and you can certainly choose to work with one yourself through a service like BetterHelp or ADHDAdvisor.org. However, I find it more convenient and accessible when your care team is in the same place instead of using multiple services, making it challenging for them to collectively monitor your progress and communicate with each other. 

Brand Reputation

ADHDAdvisor.org is a relatively new service with few customer reviews, though it was featured in Forbes as one of the best options for adult ADHD therapy. In addition, a few users on Reddit have had positive experiences with the service, but aside from this, the brand’s reputation is still evolving. 

MEDvidi, on the other hand, has a 3.7 cumulative star rating on Trustpilot, with about two-thirds of reviews giving it a five-star rating. The negative reviews mainly center around a lack of communication from customer support, long wait times to receive intake forms for the first appointment, and issues with getting prescriptions filled. 

Regardless, I recommend taking any customer review with a grain of salt, especially for nationwide telehealth services like MEDvidi and ADHDAdvisor.org. Every state will have different medical staff and availability, which makes it difficult to gauge how the service performs overall, similar to the variations in quality you might experience with different franchised restaurants around the country. 

Major Differences: MEDvidi vs. ADHDAdvisor.org 

I’ve discussed each service in detail, but what key takeaways should you know? Here are the core differences between MEDvidi and ADHDAdvisor.org: 

• Treatment Options: Both services offer prescriptions for ADHD, but ADHDAdvisor.org can also connect patients with in-house therapists and success coaches, whether as a standalone treatment or in combination with medication. 
• Pricing: ADHDAdvisor.org asks for a $20 deposit upfront and the remaining $130 after the first appointment. MEDvidi charges about $50 more for the initial consultation, and patients must pay the entire balance before meeting with their clinician. 
• Ability to Help with Different Conditions: MEDvidi can treat more conditions than ADHDAdvisor.org, including OCD, weight loss, chronic fatigue, and acute stress. 
• Compliance with Telemedicine Regulations: By the end of 2024, all MEDvidi patients must find an in-person doctor to continue refilling any prescribed controlled substances, such as stimulants. On the other hand, ADHDAdvisor.org is already compliant since it only prescribes non-stimulants. 
• Satisfaction Guarantee: ADHDAdvisor.org claims to offer a full refund to patients who are unsatisfied after their first appointment, but MEDvidi doesn’t offer the same assurance. 

Keep in mind these are my observations, and I encourage you to personally weigh the pros and cons of each service to determine which is best for your needs. 

Final Verdict: Why I Chose ADHDAdvisor.org

Neither telemedicine platform is perfect, but ADHDAdvisor.org is the clear winner for me, namely because of its holistic treatment options that extend beyond medication. ADHD medication certainly plays a crucial role in managing the condition—it’s often the most effective treatment for many—but it’s ultimately the clinician’s responsibility to determine the best course of action. 

Since MEDvidi can only help with medication management, it seems likely that any new patient will likely be told this is their best option. Otherwise, how else would they retain patients? These are businesses at the end of the day, and they want patients to commit to ongoing care. As a result, I’m more confident that ADHDAdvisor.org can create the best personalized plan since they have more options at their disposal. 

Again, I urge you to look into each service and consider what you want to gain, but remember that it's always best to undergo a comprehensive evaluation before determining which treatment you need. This underscores the value of ADHDAdvisor.org’s holistic approach. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions? Here are several inquiries people commonly ask and our expert answers: 

How does telehealth work? 

Telehealth is essentially the same as in-person care but conducted via digital platforms. It allows patients to consult with healthcare providers through video calls, messaging, or phone for medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment plans, all from the comfort of their own homes.

Is online ADHD testing legit? 

No online ADHD test can definitively prove or disprove whether someone has ADHD, but it can be used as a baseline for an official diagnosis with a qualified medical professional. 

Does MEDvidi prescribe controlled substances? 

At the time of writing, MEDvidi claims that it may prescribe controlled medications like stimulants. However, after December 31, 2024, the rules surrounding controlled substances and telehealth will change, and there’s a strong chance that any telemedicine platform will no longer be able to issue these prescriptions. 

Does ADHDAdvisor.org take insurance? 

No, ADHDAdvisor.org does not accept insurance. Patients with insurance may be able to request reimbursement through their plan, as ADHDAdvisor.org can generate itemized statements, also known as superbills.