Direct Primary Care
Starting January 1st, 2024, Dr Kristina Bahrou and Tree of Life Wellness will not be accepting or billing any insurance plans.
I understand the importance of personalized care, unhurried visits, and direct patient-doctor communication; many of you have also expressed appreciation for this type of primary care. By transitioning to a direct primary care model, I can continue offering these benefits without the constraints imposed by insurance reimbursement. Many private practice and integrative medicine doctors who provide personalized care do not accept insurance plans. This is because insurance reimbursement for the time and effort we provide for each patient is insufficient to maintain a practice. A conventional medical practice can get around this issue by having a much higher volume of patients, much shorter appointments, and less personalized care. I’ve worked in these practices and felt I was providing subpar medical care. That is why my own practice is mindfully unconventional.
The new model will help maintain the high level of communication and accessibility you’ve come to expect from me, covering many of those additional interactions outside of appointments.
DPC Fee Schedule
Monthly fees:
Option A – Includes two 30-minute in clinic or video visits per MONTH, additional appointments will be billed at $60 / 30 minute visit
Children 0 to 18 - $60 / month
Adults - $85 / month
Option B – Includes four 30-minute in clinic or video visits per YEAR, additional appointments will be billed at $60 per 30-minute visit.
Children 0 to 18 - $ 45 / month
Adults - $50 / month
Option C - includes one 30-minute in-clinic visit per year, additional appointments will be billed at $60 per 30-minute visit. This is NOT an option for infants and children under 2 years of age due to the frequency of appointments.
Children 2 to 18 - $30 / month
Adults - $35 / month
Included in monthly fee – not charged as additional appointments
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Brief calls, text, emails, portal messages
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Medication refills
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Requests for referrals that do not require an appointment/exam
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Requests for lab testing
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Triaging urgent issues / need to go to ER
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1-2 page paperwork or letters needed
All patients are required to be seen in clinic once per year to maintain active patient status.
One well visit annually is required for individuals 40+ due to yearly recommended screening discussions.
10% discount per member for individuals in the same household.
I reserve the right to indicate the need for an appointment OR recommend an adjusted option based on a patient’s communication needs.
I will do my best to be available after hours and on weekends but request that non-urgent issues be saved for weekday business hours.
Consultation visits: $150 for an initial 45 minute new patient visit. $100 per 30 minute follow up visit
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This is NOT primary care. You cannot make these appointments if you require ongoing care including medication refills, screening tests, etc.
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This does not include ANY communication outside of visits – no email, texts, message or phone follow ups. All questions, paperwork and follow up must be completed in the time allowed.
I reserve the right to indicate the need for an appointment OR recommend an adjusted option based on a patient’s communication needs.
I will do my best to be available after hours and on weekends but request that non-urgent issues be saved for weekday business hours.
You may cancel your membership at any time – please provide a 30 day written notice.
You may choose a different plan at the end of the contract year.
Superbills will NOT be provided as I will not be doing any kind of insurance coding.
Frequently asked questions:
- What happens with labs? Imaging? Referrals to specialists or physical therapists?
-- This should not change and will still be billed to your insurance. There are occasional insurance plans that require that these orders be placed by an in network physician. You are responsible for verifying this with your insurance.
- Can I use FSA/HSA funds to pay for your services?
-- It is imperative that you speak with your insurance provider for HSA and accountant for FSA funds, in speaking with other DPC doctors, it should not be an issue to use these accounts to pay for the monthly fee and per appointment fees. A letter of medical necessity can be provided as needed.
- Do all members of the family have to choose the same option, or can we choose different options based on need?
-- Family members can choose different options based on need.
- Is there a discount for large families?
-- Families including 4 or more individuals who are my patients can receive an additional discount. Please email me directly for rates.