How to get more migraine patients

Migraine treatment is a service some patients pay for themselves and others ask their insurer about, and how it is described shapes who books and what they expect. Many callers mention headaches that keep coming back, throbbing pain on one side of the head, nausea or sensitivity to light and sound with the pain, changes in vision before a headache, headaches that get in the way of work, school or family life, or store-bought pain medicine that has not helped. This guide is for owners, coordinators and front desk teams in neurology practices, headache clinics and primary care practices: what MedlinePlus says about migraine, its diagnosis and its treatment, which claims to avoid, and how to turn requests into well-informed evaluations. Here, the clinician, whether a neurologist, a headache specialist or a primary care doctor, evaluates the patient and decides on the treatment plan, and talks it through with the patient.

SearchAn adult looks for care near them.
Your pageWhat you treat, who sees them, one way to book.
Call or formThey call or send a request.
Front deskBooks the visit and never guesses a cause.
Clinical teamThe clinician decides the plan.

How a new patient request reaches your practice.

1. Know what migraine treatment is and is not

The MedlinePlus migraine topic page says “Migraines are a recurring type of headache.” and “They cause moderate to severe pain that is throbbing or pulsing.” The MedlinePlus migraine article says “A migraine is a type of headache.” and “It may occur with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light and sound.”

Care starts with an evaluation, not a set package of visits. The MedlinePlus migraine article says “Your provider can diagnose migraine headache by asking about your symptoms and family history of migraines.” and “There is no specific test to prove that your headache is actually a migraine.” The migraine topic page says “An important part of diagnosing migraines is to rule out other medical conditions which could be causing the symptoms.”

Only a licensed clinician evaluates the patient, and the clinician decides whether blood tests, imaging or other tests are needed. The front desk does not say whether a caller has migraine, another type of headache or another health problem or which treatment they need.

Some callers wonder whether their headaches come from something else, or mention other symptoms with them. The MedlinePlus migraine article says “Only your health care provider can determine if your symptoms are due to a migraine disorder or other condition.” The MedlinePlus headache article says “Some headaches may be a sign of a more serious illness. Seek medical help right away for any of the following:” and lists “This is the first headache you have ever had in your life and it interferes with your daily activities.”, “Your headache comes on suddenly and is explosive or violent. This kind of headache needs medical attention right away. It may be due to a ruptured blood vessel in the brain. Call 911 or the local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency room.”, “Your headache is “the worst ever,” even if you regularly get headaches.”, “You also have slurred speech, a change in vision, problems moving your arms or legs, loss of balance, confusion, or memory loss with your headache.”, “Your headache gets worse over 24 hours.”, “You also have a fever, stiff neck, nausea, and vomiting with your headache.”, “Your headache occurs with a head injury.”, “Your headache is severe and just in one eye, with redness in that eye.”, “You just started getting headaches, especially if you are older than 50.”, “Your headaches are associated with vision problems, pain while chewing, or weight loss.”, “You have a history of cancer and develop a new headache.”, “Your immune system is weakened by disease (such as HIV infection) or by medicines (such as chemotherapy medicines and steroids).” The migraine article says “Call 911 or the local emergency number if:” and lists “You are experiencing the worst headache of your life.”, “You have speech, vision, or movement problems or loss of balance, especially if you have not had these symptoms with a migraine before.” and “A headache starts suddenly.” The MedlinePlus stroke page lists “Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg (especially on one side of the body)” and “Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or understanding speech” among its symptoms and says “If you think that you or someone else is having a stroke, call 911 right away.” If a caller reports any of these during the call, tell them to dial 911, then tell the clinical team. The MedlinePlus headache topic page says “Get medical help right away if you have a headache after a blow to your head, or if you have a headache along with a stiff neck, fever, confusion, loss of consciousness, or pain in the eye or ear.” If a caller reports one of these, tell them MedlinePlus says to get medical help right away, then tell the clinical team. The front desk does not say whether a headache is migraine or comes from another condition, does not judge other symptoms, and does not tell callers which foods, drinks or triggers to avoid; staff note it on the intake form and pass it to the clinician, and pass any other symptoms to the clinical team promptly.

Some callers ask for one specific treatment only, or bring a list of past prescriptions or a plan from another clinic. Book the evaluation the same way, give the price, do not promise which treatment the clinician will use or how the plan will look, and do not promise a plan based on an earlier prescription.

Do not present migraine treatment or a named medicine or technique as the only answer or as a sure fix. The clinician explains the options and decides on the plan with the patient.

Some visits involve a referral, often from a family doctor. Some patients come with a referral from their doctor and some without; staff check what the patient’s plan requires and do not promise anything either way. Make the hand off from referring clinicians easy, and never offer or accept payment for referrals. See also patient referrals for medical practices, how to get more TMJ disorder patients and how to get more sleep apnea patients.

2. Keep claims in line with the risk information

MedlinePlus gives a balanced picture of migraine treatment. Its migraine and headache pages and drug information pages point out the limits.

the MedlinePlus migraine topic page says “You may not always go through every phase each time you have a migraine.” and the MedlinePlus migraine article says “A headache does not always follow an aura.” and “Some of these medicines may not be safe for a pregnant or breast-feeding woman to take.”;
a MedlinePlus drug information page for a migraine medicine taken by mouth lists flushing, tingling, feeling warm or cold, drowsiness, tiredness, weakness, dizziness, upset stomach, nausea and muscle cramps as side effects and says “Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away”.

On results, the MedlinePlus migraine article says “Each person responds differently to treatment.” and “Some people have migraines only rarely and need little to no treatment.” The migraine topic page says the factors that can trigger a migraine “vary from person to person”. Do not promise fewer migraines, fewer headache days, an end to headaches, a number of visits, a time frame or any other outcome in ads or on the phone.

Treatment choice belongs in the exam room. The MedlinePlus migraine topic page says “Talk with your health care provider about which drug would be right for you.” Do not push a named medicine, technique or add-ons; the clinician explains the options after the evaluation and decides on the plan with the patient.

Write about patients with respect. Do not use fear copy about attacks, missed work or school, missed family time or what other people think, do not blame or shame people about their headaches, stress, sleep, diet, weight or age, and avoid shock images and deadline pressure. The MedlinePlus migraine topic page says “Researchers believe that migraine has a genetic cause.” and the MedlinePlus headache topic page says “Almost everyone has had a headache.” Do not use a named medicine or technique as an ad hook. Keep ad copy aimed at adults, and never target minors in ads or social campaigns. Do not build ad audiences from headaches, migraine or other health conditions, anxiety, low mood, past treatments, prescriptions, diagnoses, medicines or other health information.

Be careful with children and teenagers. Some callers will be parents; the MedlinePlus migraine topic page says migraines “can affect anyone”. If a parent calls about a child or a teenager with headaches, do not tell the parent that the child needs migraine treatment or that any treatment will fix it. For a minor, a parent or guardian books and consents, and the clinician decides whether and when treatment makes sense. If you text or email about an appointment for a minor, use the parent’s or guardian’s contact details and consent; see texting patients and the TCPA.

Avoid “migraine-free”, “pain-free”, “no more headaches”, “cure”, “permanent results”, “Botox”, “injections”, “triptans”, “CGRP”, “nerve block”, “neuromodulation”, “risk-free”, “guaranteed results”, “insurance will cover it”, “no referral needed” and “FDA-approved”. Better: “the clinician will ask about your headaches and what you have tried, examine you, explain the options and decide on a treatment plan with you”.

3. Answer first-call questions honestly

How much does it cost? Give a clear starting price, say what it includes (the evaluation, follow-up visits, any in-office treatment, whether medicines and tests are extra) and that what the clinician finds, the treatment plan the clinician recommends and how many visits it includes affect the total. Say whether the evaluation, follow-up visits and any in-office treatment are priced separately.
Does insurance pay? Do not promise coverage. Coverage varies by plan, so the practice checks each patient’s plan.
Do I need migraine treatment? “We cannot tell that on the phone. The clinician will ask about your headaches, how often and when they happen, how long you have had them, what you have already tried, your health and medicines, examine you and talk with you about the options and whether treatment makes sense.”
Can I be treated if I am pregnant or take other medicines? Do not answer either way. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, plans to become pregnant and current medicines are questions for the clinician; staff note them on the intake form and the clinician talks them through at the evaluation.
Who does the work? Give the clinician’s name and real credentials. Let callers check them with the state medical board.

When a caller asks about insurance, staff take the plan details and say the practice will check; they never say the treatment will be covered.

Leave screening to the clinician. Your intake form can ask the patient’s age, the reason for the visit, what the headaches feel like and where the pain is, how often they happen and how long the patient has had them, any other symptoms with the headaches, any family history of migraines, what has been tried, past migraine treatments and prescriptions, any referral from the patient’s doctor, the referring clinician, current medicines, health conditions and whether the patient is pregnant, breastfeeding or planning a pregnancy; for a minor, the parent or guardian fills it in. A MedlinePlus drug information page for a migraine medicine says “tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding.” Never tell a caller to stop a medicine by a certain date, and never suggest a medicine, a product, a device or a home remedy. Headache care advice is for the clinician to give. The front desk does not judge how urgent a call is. Pass any report of flushing, tingling, feeling warm or cold, drowsiness, tiredness, dizziness, nausea or muscle cramps after a migraine medicine, any other new or unusual problem while using a migraine medicine, a possible pregnancy while using a migraine medicine, a change in the headache pattern or pain, treatments that no longer help, headaches that are worse when lying down, headaches that get worse, headaches that have just started, headaches with vision problems or pain while chewing, symptoms that get worse, or a caller who says they feel low, anxious or overwhelmed about their headaches to the clinical team promptly. If a caller says they are thinking about killing or hurting themselves, stay with them and tell them to dial 911 if it is an emergency or to call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, as MedlinePlus advises, then tell the clinical team. The MedlinePlus migraine article says “Schedule an appointment or contact your provider if:” and lists “Your headache pattern or pain changes.”, “Treatments that once worked no longer help.”, “You have side effects from your medicine.”, “You are taking birth control pills and have migraine headaches.”, “Your headaches are more severe when lying down.” The drug page says, for serious side effects such as pain, tightness, pressure, or heaviness in the chest, throat, neck or jaw, slow or difficult speech, faintness, shortness of breath, weakness or numbness of an arm or leg, a fast, pounding or irregular heartbeat, difficulty breathing or swallowing, swelling of the eyes, face, lips or throat, a rash or hives, a change in vision or seizures, to “call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical treatment”. If a caller who uses a migraine medicine reports one of these during the call, also tell the caller to get emergency medical treatment. The MedlinePlus heart attack page says “If you are having symptoms of a heart attack, you should call 911, even if you are not sure it is a heart attack.” If a caller reports chest pain or pressure during the call, tell them to dial 911, then tell the clinical team. The clinician decides whether someone is a candidate and which treatment is suitable. Front desk staff only collect the answers. Use the new patient phone script for the rest of the call, and book the evaluation, not the treatment, while the caller is on the line.

4. Plan the evaluation, treatment visits and follow-up

The MedlinePlus headache article says “Your provider will ask many questions to learn about your headaches.” and “Diagnosis is usually based on your history of symptoms.” Tell callers that the choice of care comes after the exam.

Make second opinions easy, and give patients time to talk through the plan, care at home and any medicines with the clinician first.

For the evaluation and treatment visits, ask your clinicians for written notes on preparing for the visit, what to bring, such as a list of the medicines already tried and a headache diary if the clinician asks for one, any referral the patient’s plan asks for, care at home as the clinician sets it, warning signs and follow-up visits. The MedlinePlus headache article says “A headache diary can help you identify your headache triggers.” The MedlinePlus drug information page for a migraine medicine says to keep a written list of all medicines and supplements and “Bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor”. Share them with callers and parents early. Aftercare depends on the treatment; the clinician gives exact instructions and sets the follow-up schedule.

5. Price, finance and follow up

Self-pay patients may be entitled to a good faith estimate; see the good faith estimate guide.
If you advertise a discount, follow advertising prices and specials. Avoid deadline pressure on a treatment decision.
If you offer financing, follow the patient financing guide.
Before-and-after photos need written authorization and honest comparisons; see before-and-after photos. FTC guides treat a patient’s result as typical unless you disclose what patients can generally expect.
Follow up after the evaluation without pressure; see consultation to treatment. Track migraine treatment requests and referrals separately, from request to evaluation to treatment, and keep the notes the clinician needs for follow-up visits.

Where MediLeadGen fits

MediLeadGen sends practices requests from people interested in cash-pay elective treatments. Each request goes to one practice only, with the person’s consent naming that practice, at a fixed price per delivered request.

See how it works for practices

Questions practices ask

How do we get more migraine patients?

Answer requests quickly, give clear prices and what they include, introduce the clinician by real credentials, keep claims in line with the risk information, make referrals and second opinions easy, and book an evaluation where the clinician can ask about the headaches, how often and when they happen, any other symptoms, how long they have been there and what has been tried, examine the patient and explain the options before deciding on a treatment plan.

Can we promise callers fewer migraines or an end to headaches?

No. MedlinePlus says that each person responds differently to treatment, that there is no specific test to prove a headache is a migraine, and that some medicines may not be safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Staff collect intake answers only, and the clinician decides on the treatment plan with the patient after the evaluation.

What should the front desk do when a caller reports a reaction to a migraine medicine, or other symptoms with the headaches?

Collect the intake answers and pass any report of flushing, tingling, feeling warm or cold, drowsiness, tiredness, dizziness, nausea or muscle cramps after a migraine medicine, any other new or unusual problem while using a migraine medicine, a possible pregnancy while using a migraine medicine, a change in the headache pattern or pain, treatments that no longer help, headaches that are worse when lying down, headaches that get worse, headaches that have just started, headaches with vision problems or pain while chewing, symptoms that get worse, or a caller who says they feel low, anxious or overwhelmed about their headaches to the clinical team promptly. If a caller reports the worst headache of their life, a headache that starts suddenly or is explosive or violent, speech, vision, or movement problems or loss of balance, sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, or sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or understanding speech during the call, tell them to dial 911, as MedlinePlus advises, then tell the clinical team. If a caller reports a headache after a blow to the head, or a headache with a stiff neck, fever, confusion, loss of consciousness, or pain in the eye or ear, tell them MedlinePlus says to get medical help right away, then tell the clinical team. Tell a caller who uses a migraine medicine and reports pain, tightness, pressure or heaviness in the chest, throat, neck or jaw, slow or difficult speech, faintness, shortness of breath, weakness or numbness of an arm or leg, a fast, pounding or irregular heartbeat, difficulty breathing or swallowing, swelling of the eyes, face, lips or throat, a rash or hives, a change in vision or seizures to get emergency medical treatment. If a caller reports chest pain or pressure during the call, tell them to dial 911, as MedlinePlus advises for heart attack symptoms, then tell the clinical team. If a caller says they are thinking about killing or hurting themselves, stay with them and tell them to dial 911 if it is an emergency or to call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, as MedlinePlus advises, then tell the clinical team. The front desk does not judge how urgent a call is, say whether a headache is migraine or comes from another condition or whether a symptom is serious, or suggest a treatment, product or medicine; the clinician decides.

Does insurance cover migraine treatment?

Coverage varies by plan. Check each patient’s plan, and do not promise coverage in ads or on the phone.

General information for practice teams, not legal or clinical advice. Check device labeling, FDA requirements, state rules and your advertising with counsel and your clinicians. Last reviewed October 2026.

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How to get more migraine patients: a plan for practices