New Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Practice Opens
The new Grand Rapids clinic uses a self-pay model to offer patients more time with their care providers.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Alternative Medicine
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Grand Rapids practitioners Jackson and Lexi Gessell have merged their chiropractic and functional medicine clinics into a single practice. The new entity, Wellth Chiropractic and Functional Medicine, has moved to a self-pay model for most services.
Why it matters
By eliminating the administrative overhead associated with private insurance billing, the owners aim to spend more time on direct patient care. The shift is designed to provide residents with more tailored wellness and sports performance services.
The practice transition represents an operational model shift from insurance-based billing to a self-pay structure. While this change aims to increase face-to-face time, the impact on long-term clinical outcomes remains unknown.
The players
Jackson Gessell
A chiropractor who previously purchased McBride Chiropractic.
Lexi Gessell
A practitioner who opened Foundations of Health in 2024.
The details
The practice provides a combination of chiropractic care, functional medicine, and sports performance services at its Grand Rapids location. By moving away from insurance-based reimbursement models, the clinic bypasses standard administrative billing and claim submission workflows. Medicare remains the only insurance accepted by the new practice.
Timeline
2023: Jackson and Lexi Gessell married.
2024: Lexi Gessell opened Foundations of Health.
October 29, 2026: The practice hosts an open house.
Health Landscape
This move mirrors a broader trend among independent practitioners shifting toward self-pay models to prioritize patient interaction over insurance-based volume. It departs from the conventional fee-for-service model that currently dominates the musculoskeletal and wellness sector.
Residents should review their insurance benefits and out-of-pocket costs before scheduling appointments, as this clinic primarily operates outside of private insurance networks. Those managing chronic conditions should discuss with their physician whether a self-pay model aligns with their care needs.
The takeaway
The move to self-pay highlights an effort to prioritize appointment time over insurance administrative processes. Patients exploring this care model should specifically ask providers how their service fees compare to network-negotiated rates before committing to a treatment plan.
What happens next
The practice will host an open house on October 29, 2026.
Further reading
For more context on navigating non-traditional health care, see Alternative Medicine.
More information
To learn more about the practice offerings, visit the Wellth Chiropractic and Functional Medicine website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Grand Rapids Herald-Review.
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