Frequently asked questions
FAQs
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Yes! We see patients of all ages, from newborn to elderly and everyone in between.
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Direct Primary Care (DPC) is different from concierge medicine in several significant ways. Concierge medicine bills your insurance company in addition to a monthly membership fee. Additionally, membership fees are much higher in concierge medicine, as patients are typically not focused on saving money. At Premier Primary Care and Wellness, PLLC, we are dedicated to saving you money with discounted labs and medications and avoiding unnecessary testing and procedures.
Concierge also provides a very high level of availability, seeing patients 24/7/365. Our DPC model provides the availability you need to get the care that you need. We will answer texts or emails by the end of the next business day, often sooner. You can also call us at night or on weekends for urgent medical needs.
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We accept all patients regardless of age, race, gender, religious affiliations, insurance and favorite sports team. We simply do NOT bill your insurance.
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You are still able to participate at Premier Primary Care and Wellness. While you can still use your Medicare insurance for hospitalizations, labs, medications, specialist visits, etc., you may not submit your membership fee to Medicare for reimbursement.
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You may use your health insurance for other expenses for medical expenses besides our membership and medications dispensed in our office. We can bill your insurance for labs drawn in our office. You can also use your insurance to fill prescriptions at your favorite local pharmacy, as well as to cover labs, hospitalizations, specialists visits…anything else your insurance covers!
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Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) are wonderful pre-tax dollars that can be used for health care needs. The services provided at Premier Primary Care and Wellness are considered “covered medical expenses” according to IRS regulations. If you have questions regarding utilizing your HSA/FSA to pay for your membership, we suggest you ask your tax professional.
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Life is unpredictable! We recommend everyone have some type of health coverage for possible large and unexpected medical expenses, such as major illnesses or accidents.
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In the unfortunate event that you are hospitalized, the hospital’s medical providers will care for you and charge your insurance, as appropriate. Although Dr. O’Keefe does not provide in-hospital care, she will help coordinate your care and services needed upon discharge. Follow up appointments for patients discharged from the hospital are offered either via phone, video or in person to review medications and ensure you receive the care you need.
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The membership not only covers premier primary care through extended office visits, annual physical/wellness exams, in-office procedures and testing, acute care visits, chronic disease management, in-office lab draws and access to your physician via e-mail, text messaging and telemedicine, with minimal office wait times.
Patients also have access to wholesale generic medications dispensed at our clinic and discounted labs drawn at our clinic.
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Congratulations! We strive to help all our patients achieve their optimal health! With that said, anyone who has ever become chronically ill or been in an accident was once healthy. Eventually, everyone is likely to become ill or injured. When that happens, you will have YOUR doctor available to you by phone, text or e-mail. In those times Dr. O’Keefe can often keep you out of an Urgent Care or Emergency Room by seeing you the same day or even after hours.
A typical Urgent Care or ER visit can cost over $100 alone in co-pays and you still don’t get your doctor, resulting in extra tests, imaging and costs that could have been avoided. By the time you are done, you have spent a years worth of your membership in one visit…and still don’t have a doctor to follow up with.
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If you are unable to continue your monthly membership, we require 30 days written notice, during which time you will still have access to our services.
If you are unsatisfied with your care, we would love the opportunity to discuss how we can improve. We also understand that financial hardships occur and ask that you reach out to us.
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If a membership is discontinued (either by choice or due to lack of payment), the member may contact Premier Primary Care and Wellness to discuss if re-enrollment is possible. A re-enrollment fee will be necessary for those able to rejoin.