
		Home \| How it Works \| For Employees \| For Employers \| Contact Us

How Does DirectCareMD Work?

DirectCareMD is not an insurance program...

Insurance, a means of sharing the burden of unexpected risk, should be carried by everyone who can afford it to protect from large expenses that could seriously hurt a working family. But, most illnesses of most people, most of the time could be well addressed in the office of their family physician at a reasonable cost. Doctor charges, however, must be inflated to cover the costs of preparing, collecting, processing and reconciling their fees when submitted through an insurance company. The convenience (and pre-tax funding through the employer) comes at a cost in the monthly premium.

DirectCareMD operates on this forgotten premise...

It is simpler, cheaper, and more satisfying to maintain a direct relationship with a family doctor – with guaranteed access and a commitment to work only for the patient.

DirectCareMD seeks to maintain the convenience – and the pre-tax employer funding - without the added expense.

DirectCareMD is simple...

The employer pays the physician(s) of each enrollee through DirectCareMD a flat monthly fee of $35.00 for all of the primary care services their participating physician can personally deliver in his or her office. For an additional $10.00 per month, basic in-office laboratory and X-ray services are included.

Physicians in turn pledge to provide appointments for enrollees on the same or next business day and to be available (or provide "coverage") for telephone or e-mail consultation continuously. There are no co-pays.

DirectCareMD is a good program for small employers who simply cannot afford medical insurance for their employees. It removes all barriers to primary care medical services. It is also the perfect program to couple with a high deductible insurance plan in a Medical Savings, Medical Reimbursement, or "Cafeteria" plan.

Available only through employers...

To keep cost low, DirectCareMD is available only through employers. All persons eligible by an objective, non-discriminatory criteria (for example, those employed more than 30 hours weekly or more than 3 months, or all salaried individuals, etc.) must enroll. Family member coverage may be individually selected. There must be at least 5 enrolled persons per account. All covered persons are billed through their employer via a monthly preauthorized charge to a single credit or debit card - billed after the month of coverage. If notified by the 25th coverage begins the next calendar month.

You might recognize the convenience and predictability of this retainer arraignment to be similar to the maintenance agreement many businesses have on their copy machine – but in this case, they help to protect their most important asset: their employees.

What's Included? The details...

Primary Care Services

To be rendered by or under the supervision of Specialists in Family Medicine, certified by the American Board of Family Medicine:

• General medical care both urgent and ongoing of men, women, and children
• School, work, camp, and sports physicals. (Not FAA)
• Vision and hearing screening
• Mental and emotional health
• Breast and Pap smear exams
• Birth control
• Sexually transmitted disease exams and treatment
• Newborn care
• Routine childhood immunizations
• Diseases of the skin
• Treatment of burns, lacerations and nondisplaced fractures
• Excision or biopsy of suspicious skin lesions
• Treatment of warts
• Drawing of blood or taking of other lab specimens
• Hospital care by the Family Physician (if a particular physician attends hospitalized patients)
• Basic urine testing, vaginal smear and urine microscopy, pregnancy tests, ECG.

Excluded: vasectomy, colposcopy, sigmoidoscopy (may be offered for a fee), Consultations by other specialists (including pathologist or radiologist).

Note: both the inclusions and exclusions listed here are examples only, neither list is exhaustive.

Laboratory and X-ray

If available in the office of the physician selected, for an additional $10.00 per month:

• CBC (Complete Blood Count)
• Glucose, electrolytes, liver enzymes (ALT, AST), kidney screening (BUN, creatinine), uric acid. Hgb A1-C, Urine micro-albumin
• Hepatitis ABC screening
• Chlamydia and Gonorrhea screening
• Standard Chemistry Screening Panels (Chem 7, 12, basic, comprehensive)
• “Mono,” and “Strep” testing (note pregnancy testing is included in the basic package).
• X-rays of the chest, arms, legs, feet, hands, abdomen, pelvis, hips, spine, neck, skull.

Excluded (may be offered for a fee): cultures of urine or blood, tissue studies by a pathologist, HIV testing and other tests seldom required or not typically available in a doctor’s own laboratory. Other X-rays not listed due to complexity or the necessary services of a radiologist.

Note: both the inclusions and exclusions listed here are examples only, neither list is exhaustive.

Heritage Family Medicine of Olympia, participates in DirectCareMD. In fact it is the first medical practice in the Olympia, WA area to do so. DirectCareMD is a new program. As it matures other well qualified Family Physicians will be invited to join.

Information for Employers

If you are an EMPLOYER who is interested in providing primary healthcare to your employees for only $35 per month, DirectCareMD may be just what you are looking for - a simple, and affordable solution.

Employers, learn more...

Information for Employees

If you are an EMPLOYEE and you would like your employer to offer DirectCareMD, please click below for additional information.

Employees, learn more...