Frequently asked questions
Direct Primary Care (DPC) Basics
What is Direct Primary Care?
Direct Primary Care, or DPC, is a model of healthcare that puts patients first by getting rid of the red tape that constrains traditional practices. How? It's simple: we don't accept insurance, and – believe it or not – this actually saves you money in the long run.
How will this save me money?
Will I benefit from Direct Primary Care if I don't require frequent medical attention?
Of course. Everyone benefits from a service tailored directly to them. That’s why we offer truly custom healthcare. We’re here for you if you're sick or hurt, but we also help you proactively maintain good overall health. Every visit with us will be thorough, relaxed, and as long as you need to address your health concerns. The longer you're our patient, the more we learn about your health and lifestyle, and the better we can help you maintain that health.
Is this the same as "concierge medicine"?
Not quite...The terms are often mistakenly used interchangeably, but they are not the same. Both DPC and concierge practices charge a periodic fee, however, under the concierge model, this fee only gets you access; that is, it doesn't actually cover any of your care. Instead a concierge practice still bills insurance for your visits. Under DPC, your visits and other care are included in your fee, plus you're provided with other incredible benefits like wholesale pricing for labs and radiology studies, deeply discounted prescription prices, direct digital communication with your doctor, and all the rest.
Want to know more about direct primary care?
What if I need labs or imaging done?
I have a lot of health problems. Do you charge extra?
Our monthly membership fees are the same price for every patient, regardless of pre-existing conditions. Some labs, tests, and procedures may cost extra but we will negotiate wholesale pricing on these! We will manage your health problems to the extent of our practice limitations and will refer to a specialist when necessary. And if a referral is needed, we will still be your quarterback and make sure everyone will be in the loop.
What if I need to go to the hospital?
What if the doctor goes out of town?
Dr. Sumner is always available via telemedicine and patients will be notified of any such events ahead of time. This is one of the big differences with Synergize DPC compared to a traditional practice – you will ALWAYS have access to your doctor. NOT just a nurse answering service. In the event you need to physically be seen while Dr. Sumner is unavailable, she will partner with trusted area physicians to ensure her patients receive quality care.
Membership and Benefits
So how much does membership cost?
See our prices on our pricing page. We charge a flat monthly fee, and in exchange you get unlimited office visits, wholesale prices on prescription medication, your doctor's cell phone number, and a whole lot more.
What does the membership cover?
What medical conditions do you care for?
We treat all kinds of common everyday problems like colds, flu, strep, rashes and injuries. We also treat more complicated long term medical problems like adult diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and thyroid disorder.
What happens if I need to go to the hospital or see a specialist?
For starters, having such unprecedented direct access to your doctor will prevent hospitalizations and specialty referrals in many cases. However when those types of care are required, we will certainly continue to work with your hospitalist during your hospital stay as well as work closely with any specialist. Depending on the level of care and the sorts of expertise required, we may rely on those specialized caregivers to manage your treatment.
Can children become members too?
Yes. We are happy to accept the children of our enrolled clients. See our pricing page for details.
What if I need medical attention when I'm away from home?
Of course – this sort of care is "baked in" to the DPC model. Because you'll have your doctor's email and phone number, you can reach out to us whenever you need, wherever you are. Many illnesses can be diagnosed and treated with a simple conversation. We’ll also locate the nearest pharmacy and order the medications most appropriate for your circumstances.
Are my medical records ever shared with government agencies, insurance carriers, or pharmaceutical companies?
We maintain high standards of patient privacy. We will never provide your health information to any third party unless you specifically ask that we do so.
When do I pay my fees for non-covered labs and procedures?
Charges will be added and applied to your preferred method of payment.
What if I decide to cancel?
We expect to have an open, honest, respectful relationship with you. If you have voiced a complaint that we cannot satisfy together, we will gladly allow you to terminate your membership.
Is my membership fee tax-deductible?
Unfortunately, this is somewhat unclear. You can use your HSA/FSA to pay for these services now, so please confer with your tax consultant to clarify tax consequences in your particular circumstances.
Why a monthly membership fee?
What if I need to go to the Emergency Room?
How do I pay?
You may cancel your membership at any time for any reason by phone, message or mail. All charges, including membership fees, will continue to accrue until notice of cancellation is given.
Please call with any other questions.
What do you NOT do?
We do not treat chronic pain or carry narcotics in our office. We also do not provide prenatal care (obstetrics). At this time, we don’t provide vaccinations but please call with any questions or it will be discussed at visits as needed.
Insurance and Payments
Do you accept insurance?
I don't have insurance - can I still join?
Yes, we take care of any patient regardless of your insurance situation. Since we work completely outside of the insurance system, none of the billing for care here is eligible for insurance reimbursement.
As a patient, will I still need health insurance?
Yes. We recommend our patients continue a major medical plan with a high-deductible and health savings account. If you experience a major health issue, you will still need insurance to help cover it. We’re happy to refer you to insurance representatives who can help customize an insurance plan to your specific needs.
If I have Medicare, can I still join?
Yes. You need only sign a one-time waiver declaring that neither you nor your doctor will directly bill Medicare for our services. Even though Medicare will not pay us for any services you receive in our practice, your Medicare benefits will otherwise remain unchanged and can continue to be used for all other medical care received outside of our practice. Medicare will still cover any laboratory testing, imaging, medications, or hospitalizations prescribed by our offices.
How does DPC work with the Affordable Care Act/Obamacare?
Is the membership fee eligible for HSA or FSA reimbursement?
Yes! A recent executive order has enabled you to use your HSA or FSA to pay for membership, imaging studies, blood tests, and any pay-as-you-go visit costs. We also recommend that you consult your attorney or accountant to discuss this issue.
Is my membership fee tax-deductible?
Unfortunately, this is somewhat unclear. You can use your HSA/FSA to pay for these services now, so please confer with your tax consultant to clarify tax consequences in your particular circumstances.
I already have health insurance. Should I join?
Perfect! Like stated above, we believe it is important to have health insurance to help cover the big expenses. If you’re worried about “paying double”, don’t forget you already do! You pay once with your premium and then again with your deductible and out-of-pocket. At Synergize DPC, we will work to save you money by minimizing total out-of-pocket expenses with our predictable monthly fee and our value-rich clinic! Or better yet, change to a high deductible plan as this will most likely bring you the best savings when pairing it with our clinic. We’re happy to refer you to insurance representatives who can help customize an insurance plan to your specific needs.
Do you work with small businesses?
Yes. We’d love to talk to your business about helping offer an affordable and ideal healthcare solution to your employees!
About Synergize DPC
Can I contact my physician after hours?
The beauty of Synergize Direct Primary Care is that our enhanced access allows you time to speak to your doctor in the middle of the day and also after-hours. We will offer after-hours communication for urgent needs and emergencies, however communication will be triaged and your doctor has 24 hours to respond appropriately.
Why should I choose Synergize DPC?
Synergize Direct Primary Care is the solo Family Medicine practice of Dr. Felecia Sumner. This practice was founded because we believe your healthcare should be personalized, accessible, affordable and comprehensive. We don’t accept insurance because we believe the only people involved in your healthcare should be you and your physician.Because of the nature of our practice, we are not a walk-in clinic. We are by appointment only, though that appointment could be same day.
How many patients do you care for?
Our enrollment is limited to 600 patients. A traditional primary care clinic maintains approximately 3,000 patients and an urgent care typically see more than 600 in a week!! By keeping our total member enrollment low, we can continue to offer unparalleled access and individualized care!
What are your office hours?
Monday through Friday we maintain general hours of 9a-5p EST and we can arrange for visits outside of these hours if appropriate.
What is "telemedicine"?
If the doctor deems you don’t need to come in, let’s avoid the hassle. Many questions can be answered without an in-person visit, so we offer texting, email, phone calls, and video-conferencing to our members at no additional fee. We also offer home and work-site visits for an additional fee.
