How is direct care different from a traditional practice? There are many differences. Most notably, in a traditional practice a doctor may care for a few thousand patients. In a direct care practice, the number of patients is limited to a few hundred. This is intentional as it allows the doctor to focus on one thing: patient care.

Why the annual fee? The flat fee that patients pay for Dr. Griffin’s primary care services allows us to offer the highest level of personalized care and access possible. Additionally, the flat fee ensures that your primary care costs are predictable and transparent.

Why don’t you accept insurance? The level of care and attention we offer our patients wouldn’t be possible if we were on insurance plans. In general, insurance-based practices require large overhead, which is often met by maintaining high-patient volume. This can make it difficult to see your doctor in a timely manner and it often means less face-time with your doctor. But because we limit patient volume, our patients have peace of mind that Dr. Griffin will be there when they need him.

What services are included in the patient fee? Any services Dr. Griffin provides in the office, such as:

• Routine office procedures, including: EKG, cryotherapy, urinalysis, strep test, pregnancy testing, pap smears, spirometry, pulse oximetry, laceration repair, suture removal, B12 injections and joint/soft tissue injections
• Annual physical examination
• After-hours medication refills
• Certain adult immunizations (e.g., seasonal flu and Tetanus vaccines)
• Diet, exercise and stress-reduction counseling
• Well-woman exams
• School physicals

How quickly can I see Dr. Griffin? Our member patients enjoy same day and next day appointments, which start on time (no waiting!) and last as long as they need to.

What is not covered by the annual patient fee? The annual patient fee covers only the services you receive from Dr. Griffin. Services such as lab testing, radiology, hospitalization, and specialist visits will be covered according to your individual insurance plan.

Will my insurance reimburse me for the annual patient fee? No. But you may use your Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flex Spending Account to pay for Dr. Griffin’s services. The patient fee may also be deducted from your itemized taxes. Consult your employer or tax advisor for more information.

What if I have Medicare? There is no barrier to a Medicare patient’s relationship with us. The annual patient fee is for services that are not covered by Medicare.

What if I have an HMO? We currently do not accept patients with HMO insurance plans. If you have an HMO, only your designated provider may make referrals and order tests for you.

Can you help lower my other healthcare costs? We help patients research their options in terms of prescription drug costs, health insurance, out-of-pocket procedures and laboratory testing. Additionally, with our unique availability, patients know that they can call Dr. Griffin when they would otherwise seek medical attention at an urgent-care center or emergency room.

Is there a limit to how many times I can see the doctor? No. There are no limitations to the number of visits you may have.

Do you draw labs in-office? Yes. For our patients’ convenience, we draw labs in our office and send them out to either Quest Diagnostics or LabCorp.

What if I am hospitalized? Dr. Griffin will work closely with hospital staff to coordinate care. Dr. Griffin is on staff at local hospitals, which allows him to directly admit patients. Bills accrued during a hospital stay are the sole responsibility of the patient.

When do you make house calls? House calls are made when a patient is too ill to make it in to the office to see Dr. Griffin.

Can Dr. Griffin just see me in my home? Yes. Dr. Griffin sees a handful of patients solely in their homes or in the assisted-living facility where they reside. A separate fee is assessed for patients who request to receive home visits only.

Can I meet Dr. Griffin before joining the practice? Yes! It’s important that you meet Dr. Griffin to ask him questions about the practice and to make sure you’re a “good match,” so to speak. Call our patient coordinator to set up a complimentary consultation. (Please note that medical care and counsel will not be provided during consultations.)