I have a DIRECT PRIMARY CARE practice.

The most important detail about my new practice for you to know is that I am not a provider on any insurance plans, nor do I bill insurances for services rendered.

It is a membership practice model, and patients sign up for a monthly fee that will get them the medical care that I have been trying to provide patients, without the problems with limited visit time, difficulties in getting appointments, and the rigamarole associated with large corporate practices.  I will have same day appointments, telemedicine visits when appropriate (which would be convenient for patients), after-hours availability by phone, (me, not a call service) etc.  Think of concierge medical care, but much more affordable.

If you do have insurance, that is a good thing, as labs, xrays, referrals could still be covered.  Exception would be some HMO’s who require a designated provider to order these, which could not be me.  But, there may still be some ways to work around this.

Cost is age-based.

60+ years of age:	$126/month
30-59 years of age:	$100/month
18-29 years of age:	$75/month
12-17 years of age:	$50/month

However, if there are two members in a household, the first is the full fee, but the second person is only HALF the fee, ie 50% discount.

So, a couple in their 50s, would pay $150/month.  If 60+ years of age, then for two it would be $189/month, etc.

There are multiple benefits to this type of practice for patients, but I am very aware that unfortunately, not all my former patients will be able to afford the extra cost.

Medical insurance is expensive, but the reason I chose this is it allows more people to get the care they are not getting in the large practices, due to volume pressures, and a large administrative burden on physicians and other providers.

I can see you multiple times in a month, and it won’t cost you any more.  No copays, no deductibles.

Instead of needing a patient panel of 2500-3000 patients, I will likely have a maximum of a few hundred.  This means I can schedule longer visits, they won’t be rushed, and compressed into a 10 or 15 minute time slot.  I will be much more available for appointments, including same day appointments.  I plan to use the convenience of Telemedicine when appropriate, saving patients the time for travel to an appointment, time off work, even potentially be available for after-hours interactions when necessary.  I am on-call for myself, 24/7 and weekends, for emergencies.  You won’t be talking to a stranger who doesn’t know you, and who will just leave a message for the doctor.

Some people use their HSA accounts to pay for the fee.  Other people who can’t afford the high premiums of health insurance will be able to come to my practice and get care for their chronic medical issues for the same low fee (though I recommend at least a form of “catastrophic” coverage for these people), and I am currently arranging for low cost labs and imaging as well, for patients without health insurance.

My office is located at 1300 Riverplace Blvd, Suite 105, Jacksonville, FL, downtown, across from the Ameris Building (Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse).

I am still building my website, NIOSODPC.com, and will be posting this information on that site, and more, so please visit that site in a few days, if you have questions.  You can also leave me a message on that site, which I encourage, and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.