We seek to deliver concierge-level care to all of our members without the traditional concierge price tag.
GENERAL
Lack of physical illness does not always equate health. Our focus is on health and wellness. We are available for consultation at any time for any of your questions or concerns. We believe there is a place for alternative medicine, such as accupuncture and various herbs, in getting you well and keeping your healthy.
We follow the tenets of osteopathic medicine:
- The body is a unit; the person is a unit of body, mind, and spirit.
- The body is capable of self-regulation, self-healing, and health maintenance.
- Structure and function are reciprocally interrelated.
- Rational treatment is based upon an understanding of the basic principles of body unity, self-regulation, and the interrelationship of structure and function.
MEMBERSHIP
We are a membership-based physician-only clinic. Our Direct Primary Care Concierge membership is all-inclusive, and insurance is not used for our services. We limit the total number of patients under our care to be 1/4 of a typical traditional practice. We purposely do not schedule 25-30 patients a day so we can be available to you, and have time for you when you need us.
We focus on prevention, and the membership model allows us to do that. Early and prompt treatment ensures the best health outcomes.
We do not otherwise discriminate or refuse membership to anyone based on pre-existing medical conditions, race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or any other statuses as protected by law or regulation.
At this time, we are accepting members only.
For patients without Medicare or with Medicare Advantage plans, please join us as a Direct Primary Care Membership.
If you have traditional Medicare (with or without a supplemental plan), our Limited Concierge Membership program is available to you.
Membership is ongoing, and needs to be kept current every month.
There is a one-time initial registration fee as detailed in the Membership Agreement.
Membership is month-to-month, and you may cancel at any time after the first month. Cancellation will be effective the next monthly billing cycle. A re-enrollment fee may apply when re-joining after a cancellation.
We reserved the right to restrict membership enrollment at any time.
Yes, you are welcome to restart membership at any time, subject to the service agreement, and membership pricing in effect at the time.
INSURANCE
Our membership structure allows us to provide you with prompt access to our health services. This is a membership service agreement, and not insurance.
We recommend that you purchase a high-deductible catastrophic health plans for unexpected medical costs such as
- Surgeries
- Medical procedures for chronic conditions, such as dialysis
- Advanced medical procedures such as EGD, Colonoscopy, Heart Stress Test, Heart Catherization, …
- Ancillary services such as Physical Therapy, Advanced Nursing Care, Rehab services
An alternative to purchase insurance is to join a health cost sharing program for unexpected health needs and expensive non-covered services such as surgeries, medical procedures, or complicated fractures requiring orthopedic care, etc.
Not sure which one to join? We have compiled a table comparing the six major health cost sharing programs for your review.
You can use insurance if you are on our Limited Concierge Membership program.
If you have a high-deductible plan, our affordable and transparent flat-fee pricing with our membership is for you.
We are not contracted with any Medicare Advantage plans, Medicaid, Tricare Prime and ChampVA. At this time, your insurance or HSA cannot be used for payment of monthly membership.
Why membership?
30% of your health insurance premium is spent on administrative costs, and likewise, 30% of the funds we received from the insurance carriers are spent on staff to satisfy administrative burdens. Without such expenses, we can pass the savings in cost and time to you – our members, our patients. Our main goal is to take care of you. The membership fee allows us to do so effectively and efficiently at a high quality in a setting that emphasizes health care instead of sick care.
If you have original traditional Medicare only (with or without a supplemental plan), you are welcome at our practice as a Limited Concierge member.
If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, you can join our full Direct Primary Care program, since we are not in network with any Medicare Advantage plan.
The insurance mandate expired at the end of 2018. There is no longer a penalty for not having insurance.
PAYMENT
Full payment is due at time of service, with upfront and transparent pricing.
Most procedures have an additional fee for cost of supplies, medications, etc.
We do not charge a facility fee.
Third-party services, such as advanced laboratory or radiology tests, are available at outside facilities. You can choose to use your insurance, or go through us instead. We work hard to get you preferred pricing on most services outside the clinic.
The service rendered by the local specialist is not covered under the membership fee. Many specialists offer self-pay discounts for patients without insurance. You can also join a health cost sharing plan or get a high-deductible health insurance plan for these larger expenses.
SERVICES
We are available by phone, text, email, or video chat. In most cases, we can help you with your concerns without requiring a trip to our clinic, saving on your time away from work.
As above, we are available by phone, text, or video chat. Before we can provide remote care, Texas law requires that we should already have a pre-existing doctor-patient relationship, and you have to be in a state (other than Texas) that allows such services. Please contact us first as state regulations change regularly.
- Supplies or medications associated with any in-office procedures
- Medications for joint injections, allergy injections, materials for splinting, sutures for lacerations, etc.
- Third-party lab services
- Analysis for any skin biopsies, Pap smear, or blood tests
- X-rays, CT, MRI, ultrasounds, or other radiology tests
The membership fee does not cover medications.
You can get them just as you are now through any pharmacy of your choice.
We have our own pharmacy in house to pass these discounts to you. Our in-house pharmacy only dispenses generic medications. We do not dispense any controlled medications. Most brand medications can be purchased at a lower cost than full price with discount programs.
HSA DEDUCTIBILITY
It is different from one insurance carrier to another. It is best that you check with your carrier for explanation.
At this time, you cannot yet use your HSA funds towards a Direct Primary Care membership. Though the Affordable Care Act allows you to do so, the Internal Revenue Service does not officially consider our membership as a medical expense. Please check with your plan for guidance.
