FAQs

How do I join Wellscape Direct MD?

I offer an complimentary non-clinical appointment to review all that Wellscape Direct MD offers, to answer questions, and to see if it might be a good fit for you. I am also happy to provide information by email and phone.

Can I cancel my membership?

I ask that you consider giving your membership a three-month trial, to get the full benefit of what is offered and so we can get to know each other. However, you are free to cancel your membership at any time by providing a written notice 30 days in advance of the cancellation date.

Who can join Wellscape Direct MD?

I am currently accepting patients who are 13 years old and older.

What should I do if I have a health concern outside of office hours?

For an emergency, please call 911 directly. 
You are welcome to contact me by phone, secure text message, or email for non-urgent after-hour concerns.
For urgent concerns, I am happy to triage your concern and ask that you call the office to reach me.

 

What if I have a medical emergency?

For an emergency, please call 911. 
Although I don’t provide after-hours urgent and emergency services, I am available to help triage and coordinate any urgent need you might require.

What if I’m admitted to the hospital?

Hospitals in the greater Boston area use teams of “hospitalists” to take care of patients who get admitted to the hospital. These are specialists who are experts on hospital medicine.
Although I do rely on the hospitalists to take care of you if you are admitted to the hospital, I will be in communication with them, and you, to make sure they have the information needed for your care, that I am included “in the loop,” and to help facilitate your discharge and follow-up care.

What if I don’t have insurance?

You are welcome to join Wellscape Direct MD! However, I will suggest we discuss options for insurance coverage – to meet your potential healthcare needs outside of what is offered at Wellscape Direct MD. For additional information, please also refer to “Do I need insurance?” under FAQs.

What if I have Medicare?

No problem! However, I have “opted out” of Medicare which means the services I provide cannot be billed to Medicare – either by me or by you. However, you can still use your Medicare insurance to cover other medical services and costs allowed by your plan, for instance, labs, imaging, specialty care, etc.

Can I use my HSA, HRA, or FSA to cover membership costs?

  • Unfortunately, at the current time, the IRS hasn’t acknowledged clearly that Direct Primary Care is a healthcare service (and not a form of insurance), which has muddied the waters when it comes to utilizing HSA/HRA/FSA funds to cover DPC memberships.
  • Your financial advisor and/or human resources representative may best advise you on these matters.
  • There are proposed bills in the US House and Senate (the Primary Care Enhancement Act, H.R.6015 and S.1989) that would help to clarify these issues.
  • Additional information is provided at these links:

What is Direct Primary Care?

Direct Primary Care (DPC) is an alternative model of primary care that is gaining popularity across the US. DPC prioritizes the patient-doctor relationship, minimizing the influence of outside forces such as insurance companies, large healthcare organizations, and government. It places the emphasis on you, the patient, and puts your healthcare decisions directly in the hands of you and your doctor. When primary care is valued, your doctor is enabled to know you as an individual, to be accessible to you as your initial contact for your care, and to be your advocate within the larger healthcare system. It does this through a reasonable monthly fee that is directly between you and your physician.

DIRECT PRIMARY CARE:

  • Helps you to take control of your own healthcare
  • Prioritizes and supports the patient-doctor 
primary care relationship
  • Offers pricing designed to be reasonable and 
transparent
  • Is not insurance
  • Is not concierge medicine (distinguished by cost 
and the role of insurance)
  • Is supported by the American Academy of Family Physicians
  • Is an option for employers who want to offer healthcare to employees

How is Direct Primary Care different from Concierge Medicine?

Although there is some overlap between these models, typically Concierge Medicine has higher membership fees and also bills your insurance (and therefore you may still have co-pays for office visits, etc.).

Do I need insurance?

  • Wellscape Direct MD is not insurance.
  • It is still recommended that you have a health insurance plan to cover those situations for which insurance was intended: emergencies and hospitalizations; additionally, for your healthcare needs outside of what is offered at Wellscape, such as specialist care and higher-cost testing; and to meet the requirements of the Affordable Care Act and Massachusetts Healthcare laws.
  • Please note that Wellscape will not bill your insurance for covered services, nor provide bills for submission to your insurance company.
  • Part of my job as your primary care physician is to make sure we utilize outside services wisely and only when necessary. Additionally, I will negotiate with outside services to provide the lowest costs possible as a cash-based fee; alternatively, you may opt to use your insurance for those outside services as the coverage allows.