A Virginia physician is opening a direct primary care office where patients pay a monthly subscription fee to cover their care costs, The News & Advance reported.
Five things to know:
1. Andrew J. Anderson, DO, will open Boonsboro Direct Primary Care this month in Lynchburg, Va.
2. Boonsboro DPC does not accept insurance, and patients do not have a copay or co-insurance. Instead, individual patients, couples and a family of five will pay monthly fees of $80, $135 and $165, respectively, according to the report. The monthly fee covers various physician services such as comprehensive physicals, well child visits, preventive care, flu/strep testing, referrals to specialists, sick/acute visits. Blood draws are also included, although the lab testing fee is not. Services not covered by the monthly subscription fee include hospitalizations, specialist care, physical therapy, surgery, emergency room visits and immunizations.
3. Dr. Anderson plans to only accept 600 patients, who can take up to 60 minutes at each visit.
4. He recommends that patients keep insurance for severe injury or illness, according to the report. Dr. Anderson also pointed out that chronically ill patients may need coverage to cover medication, specialist and hospital costs.
5. Overall, Dr. Anderson told The News & Advance, the direct primary care setup aims to give patients more time with their physician.
Read the full story here.
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