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Frequently Asked Questions
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What is Direct Primary Care?Direct Primary Care, or DPC, is a new way of providing primary care that has already helped a quarter million people stay healthier and spend less on healthcare. Patients at DPC practices receive ongoing primary care from their doctor with zero copays, no hidden medical costs, near-wholesale prices on medications and blood tests, and even their doctor's personal cell number. It's like having a doctor in the family. So how is this possible? Easy: direct primary care practices cut out middlemen like insurance companies, freeing themselves to provide great care at fair prices. Unlike traditional third party practices that serve the needs of insurance companies, direct primary care is for everybody; most DPC memberships cost less than your monthly cell phone or cable bill, for great care whenever you need it.
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Is Direct Primary Care the same as Concierge Medicine?No, Concierge practices typically bill insurance like traditional practices, but then also charge patients a “concierge” retainer fee in addition. Direct Primary Care is a healthcare model focused on putting the patient first. That means treating them when they need it, not rushing patients through appointments, and being proactive with healthcare treatment plans. The doctor-patient relationship is just as the name suggests – direct. Direct Primary Care clinics don’t accept insurance, rather they choose to work directly with the patient, providing wholesale labs, deeply discounted prescription prices, and other cost savings along the way.
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Do you take any form of health insurance at We Care DPC?No, we don’t bill or use health insurance at We Care. By removing the administrative and overhead barriers of insurance billing, we are able to deliver less costly and higher quality health care services, with our entire focus on you.
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Can I submit We Care charges to my insurance for reimbursement?No, We Care is not contracted with any private health insurance or Medicare. This allows us to spend all of our time and effort focused on you, our patients.
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Should I cancel my health insurance plan once I'm a DPC member at We Care?No. We recommend that you have health insurance for unexpected and catastrophic needs, which would cover you in the case of events such as a surgery, high end diagnostic testing, heart attack, stroke, or cancer care. What we offer at We Care DPC is primary health care, with an emphasis on care. We can take care of 80 – 90% of what you may need to prevent disease and manage chronic health concerns. We deliver a hassle-free health care experience at our office. Some patients continue their standard commercial insurance plans and opt-in to a DPC membership for the benefits of improved access to their own physician and additional savings on labs, medications, and more time with their caregivers. Some will utilize a major medical plan with a high deductible and health savings account (FSA/HSA) to ensure financial help should hospitalization or referral to a specialist be necessary but save on up front premiums. Others use health sharing ministries coupled with DPC care. Self-funded employers or small businesses may opt to offer a wrap-around plan with DPC for their employees
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Will I benefit from a We Care membership if I don’t require frequent medical attention?Of course. Everyone benefits from a service customized directly to them. That’s why we offer truly innovative healthcare. While we’re absolutely here for your immediate needs, proactive healthcare is the foundation of well-being, and that’s where we shine. We have the gift of time. Even better? We save you time. No long waits to schedule visits or 30 minutes spent in the waiting room before even seeing your doctor. We provide care by traditional office visit, phone, email, and video. Whatever makes sense for your need at hand. Wherever you are when you do need us.
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If I have Medicare, can I still join We Care DPC?YES. You need only sign a one-time waiver declaring that neither you nor your doctor will directly bill Medicare for our services. Medicare will still cover any laboratory testing, imaging, medications, or hospitalizations prescribed by our offices.
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If I don’t want to join the membership, can you help me find another doctor?YES. Do not worry! We will provide you with a list of doctors who are accepting new patients and will make the transition as smooth as possible.
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How do prescriptions and ordering of tests work?Your health care team will discuss medications and necessary testing with you. They will assist you in getting these items at affordable prices. If you have an insurance plan that covers these items, you can use your insurance coverage for these medications/tests.
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What happens if I need to go to the hospital or see a specialist?In providing superb care with unprecedented sorts of access, we seek to prevent or reduce hospitalizations and specialty referrals. In instances where those types of care are required, we can communicate with your hospitalist during your hospital stay as well as with any specialist. In some cases, depending on the level of care and the specific expertise required, we may rely on those specialized caregivers to manage your treatment.
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Can I contact my physician after hours?Because illness and injury do not respect regular office hours, you may call your physician after hours for triage of urgent health needs. Additionally, home visits and after-hours urgent visits may be available for an additional fee as schedules permit. You may always use our secure patient portal to access your medical record and then e-mail your physician. It is how we do custom healthcare. So, are you available 24/7/365? …Not exactly. We are primary care physicians. This means we can address most problems, most of the time. We are also a very low cost medical clinic. We are cultivating something sustainable, enjoyable and transformative. And it requires a partnership with our patients. In this age of instant responses and digital access, we are striving for sustainability. We ask our patients to utilize our services, in person or electronically, when they need us. We also ask that if matters can wait until clinic hours that they do, so that we can also find time to recharge and “unplug” with our families, just as we recommend our patients do for wholehearted living and wellbeing.
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What if I need medical attention while I’m away from home?Another perk of a DPC practice! Since we are independent of the restrictions of third-party payment, patients enjoy the freedom of care from their physician when and where they need it. Because we know you very well, we can streamline your care when you’re sick away from home. Many illnesses can be diagnosed and treated with a simple conversation by phone, email, text or webcam. We’ll locate the nearest pharmacy and order the medications most appropriate for your circumstances. If you need to be seen in person in your location while traveling, it’s possible we have a DPC physician colleague near you that we can coordinate care with.
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What services do you provide at We Care DPC?With your membership at We Care, we include a wide array of services. DO Treatments Covered: Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment Direct Primary Services Covered Covered Primary Care Health Services: Annual Wellness Examination Unlimited Scheduled Doctor/Nurse visits Care coordination with Specialists Pre-operative Clearance Visits Post-Hospitalization Care Coordination Well Child Exams Well Woman Exams School and Sports Physical Exams Work Physicals Smoking Cessation Chronic Disease Management Electrocardiograms (EKG) Allergy Shots Ear Lavage Minor Mole Removal Minor Laceration Repair Joint Injections Wound Care Skin biopsies Annual Flu Shots Rapid Strep Testing Examples of Available but Non-Covered Primary Care Health Services: Vaccinations (other than annual Flu shot)
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Do you make house calls?Yes, we make house calls as our schedule allows. We charge $100/house call. Membership to the practice includes any/all visits in our office or via virtual platform for no additional charge. We typically make house calls for members who cannot leave their homes.
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How does the membership fee work with my FSA/HSA?You should check with your individual provider/ benefits administrator.
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Is membership tax deductible?You should check with your accountant/tax advisor.
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Do you provide vaccinations?We believe in the benefits, safety and science of vaccination. Patients are strongly encouraged to keep immunizations up to date. We will help you track which vaccines are recommended and when. At We Care DPC, we will provide each interested patient with an annual influenza vaccine as part of membership. We will be unable to stock additional vaccines due to cost issues and inability to bill insurances. Patients/Families wishing to receive vaccinations have several options: insured: vaccination at an insurance-based clinic or urgent care insured: vaccination at a local pharmacy (check insurance coverage and age restrictions) uninsured: free/discounted vaccination through Public Health Department clinics
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Still Have questions? Call us or send an email. We are here to help!
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