FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

DPC is an innovative primary care model in which the physician-patient relationship is at the heart of how medicine is practiced. DPC practices offer a full range of primary care services for a low monthly or annual fee paid directly to the doctor without the unnecessary and costly interference from health insurance companies.  DPC practices are very popular among patients and are spreading quickly across the country.

In a traditional primary care practice, doctors are compensated based on how they bill the insurance company and the quantity of patients they see, rather than on the quality of care they provide.

In my DPC practice, quality of care is the number one priority. By cutting down on the panel size of patients, I am able to spend quality time with my patients; they have easier access to appointment times; they are guaranteed to see me, not another provider; and they are able to reach out to me via e-mail and cell phone.

I accept patients regardless of their insurance, but I have chosen not to bill insurance plans.  My practice is designed to be unencumbered by the constraints and limited reimbursement from insurance plans so that I may better serve and care for my patients.  You will NOT be charged for office visits or co-pays. You only pay the flat monthly or annual membership fee that covers all comprehensive primary care services.

My model of practicing medicine results in significant savings:  money, paperwork and time!  The membership fee allows me to keep my overhead low, my practice small, and work directly for my patients, not the insurance company!

You do not need insurance to be a member of my practice.  If interested, we can have you speak to a trusted health insurance agent to customize an insurance plan that works in conjunction with DPC. Most patients have found that joining a DPC practice actually saves them money.

Absolutely! My private medicine model is particularly well designed to handle the more complex issues and medication management often associated with older patients. I can spend the necessary time to manage chronic diseases and optimize your health and wellness.

As I have opted-out of Medicare, it means I do not bill Medicare, nor can the patient bill Medicare for primary care services that I provide. However, Medicare will still cover any laboratory testing, imaging, medications, specialty referrals, and hospitalizations.

As your physician, I will contact the emergency room and hospital physician or anyone providing care during your stay to make sure they have the most accurate and up-to-date information they need to treat you. As your number one health care advocate, I will also communicate with you and your loved ones. In addition, I will visit you during your hospital stay and help coordinate your care with the attending hospitalist.

If you have a life threatening emergency, call 911 immediately. For urgent problems that are not an emergency, you can contact me 24/7. If necessary, I will meet you in the office to evaluate you. In fact, Direct Primary Care has been shown to decrease the number of ER visits and hospitalizations for members.

As a member of my practice, you can always call me and we can discuss the problem over the phone and if necessary I will direct you to the appropriate nearby care.  I will coordinate follow-up on your return home.

From time to time I will need to take a vacation. In advance of any vacation, I will notify my patients as to the dates and timeframe I will be out of the office.  In my absence, Dr. Jeffrey Gold (www.golddirectcare.com), a fellow Direct Primary Care physician, will be available 24/7. The coverage will be seamless and you will receive the care you deserve.

By spending more time with me, as your primary care physician, the need to refer you to a specialist will decrease significantly. However, in the event you need to be referred to a specialist, I will personally contact the specialist on your behalf to schedule an expedited appointment.

I do home visits on an individualized basis.  In addition, I have a Home Care Plan for those individuals who are homebound or live in a nursing home or assisted living facility.

Absolutely! I invite all prospective or interested members to schedule a complimentary face-to-face consultation. Please call 781-780-2461 to request a meeting with me.

Patients typically save money by joining. There are no extra co-pays, visit fees or deductibles to meet and I can handle the majority of your health issues. Research has shown that Direct Primary Care results in less expensive test ordering, less unnecessary medications, fewer referrals to specialists, fewer hospital and emergency room visits and savings on medications, labs, and imaging studies.

Membership is based on a flat monthly, aged-based fee.

Don’t forget, there are no additional visits fees, copays or deductibles.

Your membership may be cancelled with a 30 day prior written notice. If you have paid the year in full, you will be refunded a pro-rated amount.