Q & A
Why Membership?
What is direct primary care (DPC)?
Membership in a medical practice is an innovative way to provide high quality, comprehensive healthcare for a flat monthly fee. We have eliminated the insurance barriers to focus on the specific concerns of individual patients and families. We do everything possible to keep your costs of care in budget. We are patient centered, patient driven. We will not send you to the Urgent Care or ER unless it is an absolute need. If you are sick, we will take care of you.
Direct Primary Care is the common title assigned to this type of membership payment model.
What are the benefits of a direct primary care membership?
Put simply: your doctor is there when you need them.
Your office visits, telemedicine and electronic communications are provided at no additional charge.
Your doctor is YOUR DOCTOR, you will not see multiple “providers” of care.
You’ll be able to book a same-day or next-day appointment.
You can select 30 or 60 minute appointments, which have become unheard of in our modern practices. 10-15 minute appointments have unfortunately become the standard of care.
Dr. Capoocia is a Board Certified Family Medicine Osteopathic physician who has extensive training in pediatrics and geriatrics as well as general adult medicine. She is equipped to take care of 80-90% of your medical needs.
Gynecological exams, routine women’s health and menopause treatments
Non hormonal fertility awareness methods (Natural Family Planning and more)
Chronic conditions like asthma, type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, eczema, and thyroid disorders. Your doctor will work with you to formulate a long-term personalized management plan.
Urgent appointment for everyday problems like colds, flu, strep throat, rashes, burns, joint injuries, wounds, asthma attacks
Ear wax removal, splinter, ingrown toenail treatment, freezing of benign skin conditions— all included with monthly fee
Sports Injuries: Dr Capoocia is well versed in multiple sports, and martial arts. She understands mechanism of injury and what it takes to get an athlete back into play.
Osteopathic Manipulative Treatments— if multiple sessions required there may be additional fees.
Preventative screening assessment and referrals, ie: colonoscopies (we are not able to perform these in office) , vaccines, mammograms
LAB DRAW AND EKG in house, exclusive lab discounts available through our membership
Procedures: If you need a minor procedure like a mole removal, joint injection, stitches, or a osteopathic manipulation— Dr Capoocia will treat you.
Procedure fees are given up front. They are minimal to cover any extra supplies /medications or time needed.
Co-Managing your specialist care. If you have a medical issue that requires more specialized care, we will coordinate your care and work closely with the specialist to make sure there is seamless continuity of care.
Medical Ear piercing— $100, sterile earrings provided
After hours calls: we want to help keep you out of the Urgent Care and ER, we will take your emergency calls after hours nights and weekends
CDL/DOT physicals are also available
Do you take Insurance?
No. We contract directly with you to provide care. Without the administrative burdens of insurance plan, we are able to put our resources into the management and treatment of our patients and not towards overstaffing a referral/administrative department.
Insurance companies and Medicare require a great deal of extra staffing to keep us in “compliance” with the criteria they have decided makes up “good care”. Since we go above and beyond these criteria on a daily basis, we do not need to “click boxes” to show that we are excellent at what we do. Now we can spend more time listening to your needs, and let you decide.
Do you take Medicare?
While we do not accept payment from Medicare, you are able to use your Medicare benefits to pay for tests and procedures.
How much does direct primary care cost?
The typical monthly fee is about as much as your cell phone bill. That's a small price to pay for a level of care you cannot get anywhere else. Our pricing model is noted on a separate page.
The membership fee can often pay for itself. We have an established relationship with local laboratories and radiology centers. That means you can get blood tests, pathology screens, X-rays, MRIs, and more for lower cash prices.
Should I join a direct primary care practice if I'm healthy?
Absolutely! Your doctor will always be there for you if you're get sick or hurt. But we also work proactively to keep you healthy, happy, free of preventable diseases, and living a good lifestyle.
It's hard to break out of the mindset of the insurance-based healthcare system. In the current medical system, everything is centered around treating illness. It's very hard for a doctor to get paid by an insurance company for detecting early warning signs of diabetes or encouraging a lifestyle change to decrease risk of heart disease. Doctors just aren't rewarded for encouraging all-around good health.
By being in constant contact with your DPC doctor when you're healthy, you'll be able to stay that way. By the time you're being treated for a chronic disease, it's usually too late. But if you spend your healthy years under the watchful eye of a doctor that cares, you'll be able to stay out of the hospital for years to come.