Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs

  • Direct primary care (DPC) is a growing model of healthcare that puts patients first. DPC practices do not bill or file insurance claims; instead, the patient pays directly for the services provided. This model of care provides freedom for both the physician and the patient, allowing us to provide personalized, patient-centered medicine. This model also allows physicians to have substantially fewer patients, so we can better individualize your care and provide comprehensive, reliable access to care.

  • BellaireCare is Bellaire/West U/Meyerland’s finest Direct Primary Care practice. We offer a pattern of family healthcare that is immediate, thorough, comprehensive, specific, easily affordable, and very, very personal.

  • We have cut the red tape of bureaucracy. The restrictions that typically leave physicians in a traditional healthcare setting buried in nonsense paperwork are lifted through Direct Care, allowing us to spend our time where it really counts: with patients. In refusing to recognize any interference with the sanctity of the patient-physician relationship, we have returned family practice medicine to its root values of clinical excellence for and compassionate knowledge of every patient. In every aspect of family healthcare, and custom healthcare, we promise accessibility, convenience, and affordability.

  • The terms are often used interchangeably and essentially refer to the same principles. Direct Primary Care is a healthcare model focused on putting the patient first. That means treating them when they need it, never rushing patients through appointments, and being proactive with healthcare treatment plans. The doctor-patient relationship is just as the name suggests – direct. Direct Primary Care clinics don’t accept insurance, rather they choose to work directly with the patient, providing wholesale labs, imaging, and other costs savings along the way.

    Concierge care doctors bill your insurance in addition to charging you monthly membership fees. Unlike Concierge care, the goal of DPC is to help most of our patients save money on their health care expenses. Unlike concierge care, we work to find patients the least expensive options for their care. We also do not require any long-term commitments. In addition, since we accept only a limited number of patients, do not accept insurance and therefore do not deal with insurance red tape, we are better able to focus only on taking care of patients. With Concierge care, you pay a lot more money, you have to sign a long- term contract and your doctors still have to deal with insurance red tape which distracts from their focus on you.

  • Of course.  Everyone benefits from a service tailored directly to them. That’s why we offer truly custom healthcare. Our practice is devoted to the maintenance of your good health, to the enhancements of your daily experience that only physical well-being can bring. We believe being proactive and preventing disease is paramount, but we are here for your reactive needs as well.

    At BellaireCare, we have the gift of time. Even better? We get to give the gift of time. Large amounts of precious, irretrievable time given to you as you wish. Every visit, for whatever reason, will be easygoing in its absolute thoroughness, relaxed in answering your questions and addressing the need of the moment. Then, as the months and years go by, we’ll build a comprehensive, intimate knowledge of your health, invaluable understanding available in no other regimen of care.

  • No. Happily, no. Perhaps the most critical distinction in our model of care centers on a direct, personal relationship between you and your doctor. That directness carries over to our business model as well. While the tender mercies of an insurance company might apply to the fixing of a damaged fender on your automobile, we see no reason for any insurer to have a voice about either the quality or the cost of your family’s care.

    We forgo insurance payments in order to save our patients from the arbitrary, intrusive decisions that inevitably follow with third-party payors. Furthermore, this direct fee-for-services arrangement frees us from the typical contractual agreements that prevent physicians from offering wholesale prices on laboratory tests, imaging, and medications.

  • Although we do not accept insurance, we still believe insurance is important to help cover hospitalizations and severe illnesses. Many patients in direct primary care practices have high-deductible, catastrophic insurance plans. We think our model is best compared to car insurance. We use our car insurance for major accidents and large expenses, not for routine oil changes and maintenance services. It is important to note, though, that the direct primary care model is not insurance and does not meet the criteria for insurance as set forth in the Affordable Care Act.

  • Yes. You need only sign a one-time waiver declaring that neither you nor your doctor in BellaireCare will directly bill Medicare for our services. Medicare will still cover any laboratory testing, imaging, medications, or hospitalizations prescribed by our offices.

  • Unfortunately, no. Your retainer is not yet defined as a “medical expense” in most states and as such is not deductible. Please confer with your tax consultant to clarify tax consequences in your particular circumstances.

  • In providing superb care with unprecedented sorts of access, we seek to prevent or reduce hospitalizations and specialty referrals. In instances where those types of care are required, we will certainly continue to work with your hospitalist during your hospital stay as well as work closely with any specialist. In some cases, depending on the level of care and the sorts of expertise required, we may rely on those specialized caregivers to manage your treatment.

  • Yes. We are happy to accept the children (5 to 20 years of age) of our enrolled clients. At this time, we are not able to provide routine vaccinations for young children but we will happily work with you to arrange these.

  • By all means, yes! Because illness and injury do not respect regular office hours, you may call your physicians any day, at any hour. We invite you to arrange for home visits, schedules permitting. If you prefer, you may also use our secure patient portal to access your medical record and then e-mail your physician. It’s how we do custom healthcare.

  • Naturally we provide such care – yet another freedom we enjoy together as a result of BellaireCare’ independence from the restrictions of third-party payment. Because we know you well, we can streamline your care when you’re sick away from home. Many illnesses can be diagnosed and treated with a simple conversation by phone, email, text or webcam. We’ll locate the nearest pharmacy and order the medications most appropriate for your circumstances.

  • We maintain scrupulous standards of privacy. We are never obligated to provide any third party with a copy of your records unless you specifically ask that we do so.

  • Come get to know us! Schedule a free, unconditional visit to discuss your healthcare needs. It’s the only reasonable way to begin what we trust will be a long, productive, healthy relationship

  • Yes! Happily. We believe this is an integral part of providing personalized care and providing access to all people regardless of ability, mobility, or transportation. This sets us apart from other primary care providers in the area.

    Home Visits: One included (free) Home Visit per member, per year within a 5 miles radius of the clinic.

    Each additional home visit will cost $50 per visit. 

  • Your care will be coordinated with specialists with as much detail as possible so that they are aware of your health history and the reason for the referral. We will also work to make sure you are seen in a timely manner. Specialist fees can be billed to your insurance.

  • No, we think of our business model as an alternative to managed care. However, we are not “alternative” in in the way we practice medicine. We provide evidence based medical care.

  • We provide routine women’s care including routine gynecological exams, pap smears, birth control, breast exams, menopause management, evaluations and treatments of routine gynecological conditions, referrals for breast imaging, etc.

  • No, we do not see patients in the hospital. However, we can easily obtain your records and coordinate your care with your hospital doctors if needed. However, we hope to decrease hospitalizations to a minimum through excellent preventative care.

  • We are able to treat acute pain without any reservations. For chronic pain, we have a cautious and conservative approach to using narcotic/opiate medications. In general,  if patients are on chronic narcotic pain medications, we will refer patients to a pain management physician as needed. That said, each patient’s needs are assessed and addressed on an individual basis.

  • For the time being, insurance companies do NOT recognize our membership fees as a reimbursable expense but some members are able to use FSA/HSA money to pay for membership fees.

  • In most cases, yes, your insurance plan will continue to operate as usual at other doctor’s offices, hospitals and pharmacies etc. However, it depends on the type of plan you have: PPO plans do not require a designated primary doctor for referrals, medications, tests, etc. so BellaireCare physicians can order or refer just as any other doctor would do and you can use your insurance to pay for those services. However, HMO plans require an in-network designated primary doctor for access to other services. In this case, you will not be able to use your insurance without electing an in network primary doctor through the HMO. This is something to keep in mind. Many times, we are still able to offer HMO patients affordable cash pay options for tests and procedures. Traditional Medicare patients will be able to use their Medicare elsewhere for services we order or referrals. Patients with Medicare Advantage plans may in some cases require an in-network primary care doctor for orders and referrals and so are advised to check with their plan.

  • We are comfortable managing depression and anxiety including prescribing medications related to these conditions. However, we generally have a conservative and careful approach when using certain medications to treat anxiety or depression and will refer patients to a psychiatrist if we feel it is needed. We do not manage schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, and will refer to psychiatry for these conditions.

    We manage ADD/ADHD diagnostic criteria are et accordingly.

  • No, we require scheduling all visits beforehand. However, we are able to accommodate most patients the same day or next day. A quick phone call or message is usually all that is required.

  • We offer discounted labs and imaging, but we are also able to bill your insurance for these services, if desired. We will work with your insurance to obtain necessary imaging (x-ray, ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI) and to refer you to the specialists needed to assist in your care.

  • Yes! We will readily be available by phone, email or text. We will work to accommodate your schedule. You will always be able to reach a doctor in case of emergency, both after hours and on the weekend. We will also work to help you avoid urgent care or the emergency room if we can. If emergency care cannot be avoided, we will help you navigate your emergency and determine if the emergency room is the best place for you. All in all, direct care means that we are here for you, no matter what the health-related circumstance.