So I have A Lot of things going on with me medically.....like several rare diseases/disorders & a few run of the mill,
I started getting sick in my early 20's and was disabled with 'just' Narcolepsy with Cataplexy and Sudden onset Migraines that took up 20+ days a month...
And things jyst continued to pack onto that snowball over the years....and they keep coming at me.
They are listed in my profile & some hashtags. Feel free to message me with questions about them.
In seattle I lucked out with private complementary medicine practices that had a minimum of 30 min appointments.
I moved back to Raleigh NC in 2019 & had no problems finding some great specialists but it took me about a year (some bad 15 min Drs, some who told me they literally did not have the time to be a good physician because my medical history was complex...so I couldnt see someone fir a UTI, but panhypopituitarism? No problem.
Finally the person in charge of Dukes Primary Care section told me she thought i needed a Direct care physician (DCP).
I see Zane Lapinskies at www.fischerclinic.com/faq.html
DCPs are doctors that want to go back to the old day where they had less patients and could actually spend time with them.
Instead of having 2000-3000 patients, they generally limit themselves to 500. Instead of billing insurance they charge a monthly fee (usually between $50 & $100).
They can afford to do this because they dont bill insurance. Turns out dealing with insurance companies eats up about 60% of a practices income, so they have to have a lot more patients to make up for that.
DCP's dont bill insurance and you cant bill yor insurance for them.
HOWEVER for that fee,
You get a physician you never pay a copay to, all appointments are a minimum of 30 min, longer if needed, same day if needed, are available 24/7 by phone (also text and email) can do telemedicine, have no limit on the number of visits you can make a month, get really involved in your care (like researching and learning about your conditions, calling your specialists or other doctors to coordinate care, reading and staying on top of your medical situation, act as a guide and sounding board for complex things...and much much more).
You can often have labs done there for much cheaper than the coinsurance cost or they can refer you out to a lab that bills your insurance & your insurance covers your specialists medications tests mri's and all the costly stuff).
This can also be great if you have a high deductible health plan or need extra time & care.
I have met my maximum out of pocket on my medadvantage plan in the first 6 mos of every year for 10 years. Running out of space.
For me and all my conditions it has absolutely been worth it.
I love having a doctor that stays abreast of what is going on, can respond immediately and acts as a great sounding board.
The link above 4 DCP info.

#dcp
#directcare
#primarycare
#complexillness
#ChronicIllness
#copingwithlife
#askme

#imajenn