BENEFITS OF DPC
Why Direct Primary Care?
Our direct care model focuses on what truly matters—high-quality, personalized care, without the interference of insurance companies. With more time to spend with you, and reduced paperwork to slow us down, we’re free to provide the care you deserve.
Unlimited preventive care and chronic condition management
Direct access to your doctor
No co-pays, no hidden fees
THE PROBLEM
The insurance-based healthcare system isn’t working for patients or doctors.
It’s set up to prioritize quantity over quality, pushing doctors to treat symptoms rather than focus on prevention and overall health. In the insurance-based model, doctors (and the health systems for whom they increasingly work), make more money if a patient is sicker. This leads to overdiagnosis, overtreatment, inflated costs, and worse outcomes. Patients become an insurance code number, and doctors are frustrated with the amount of time devoted to billing practices, rather than patient care.
Patients lose. Doctors lose.
THE SOLUTION
Why Direct Primary Care Works
Better Patient Care
The best medicine is achieved in a trusting physician-patient relationship. With fewer patients, and without insurance dictating our doctor’s decisions, we can take the time to dig deeper into health concerns and find the best solutions. Fewer referrals and quicker care mean fewer complications down the road.
More Personalized Attention
In Direct Primary Care, we don’t rush through patient visits. Instead of seeing dozens of patients a day, we give each person the time and attention they need. You'll also have after-hours access when necessary, creating a strong, trusting relationship between you and your doctor.
Lower Healthcare Costs
With more accessible primary care, we resolve 80% of health concerns in-house, reducing the need for costly specialist visits or emergency care. Overall, healthcare costs drop by 20-30%, with fewer surgeries, lower medication expenses, and reduced costs for labs and imaging.*
*See Mechley AR. Direct Primary Care: A Successful Financial Model for the Clinical Practice of Lifestyle Medicine. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2021 Apr 15;15(5):557-562. doi: 10.1177/15598276211006624. PMID: 34646107; PMCID: PMC8504342.
FAQ
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Direct Primary Care (DPC) is an emerging model that delivers high-quality, accessible care for a flat monthly fee. The focus is patient-centered medicine that makes both patients and physicians happier. By cutting out insurance, DPC practices like ours focus solely on you, offering comprehensive primary care services. Your doctor may also negotiate lower prices on labs, imaging, and even medications.
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Your membership includes:
An annual physical
Up to 24 visits per year without co-pays
Usually same-day or next-day appointments
Direct access to Dr. Marvinsmith via phone, text, and email
Video visits through secure platforms
For a full list of Tidepool’s Membership Services, please review here.
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Traditional primary care focuses on volume, with doctors commonly assigned 3,000 patients, and taught to bill and code visits for insurance reimbursement. In DPC, we prioritize quality over quantity, limiting our practice to 300 patients. Without insurance dictating when, how, and what to treat, we can focus on your health. This allows for longer visits, greater accessibility, direct communication with your doctor, and more personalized care.
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No, Tidepool Family Medicine does not accept or bill insurance. Instead, we charge a simple monthly fee covering most primary care services. We recommend patients keep insurance for catastrophic events, like hospitalization. A high-deductible plan with a lower premium pairs well with our practice, as we offer discounted rates on labs, imaging, and medications.
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Yes, your insurance can still be used at other doctors’ offices, hospitals, and pharmacies. However, some HMO plans require you to have an in-network primary care provider for referrals and certain services, which may not align with a DPC membership. Please check with your insurer to ensure compatibility. We can help guide you if you have questions about your plan.
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Our goal is to minimize the need for specialist referrals by spending more time addressing your health concerns. If a referral is necessary, Dr. Marvinsmith will help coordinate and expedite it. You can see any specialist you prefer, and Dr. Marvinsmith works closely with local specialists and to ensure continuity of care.
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Yes, Medicare patients are welcome. However, we do not bill Medicare for our services, and you cannot submit claims to Medicare for our primary care services. Medicare will still cover things like lab tests, imaging, medications, specialist referrals, and hospital care.
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Even if you’re in good health, maintaining it is key. We offer customized care designed to keep you healthy and thriving. Regular check-ups help prevent potential issues, allowing you to live your best life.
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In a system where specialists often treat isolated conditions, your primary care doctor serves as the key coordinator of your health. At Tidepool, we take a holistic approach, ensuring your care isn’t fragmented. Dr. Marvinsmith will work with specialists and ensure you receive the best coordinated care possible.
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We are currently accepting patients aged 2 and older.
