Membership Questions
The fee covers excellent primary care through unlimited office visits, annual wellness exams, well child exams, sports physicals, school physicals, basic office procedures, in office labs and procedures, acute illness or minor injuries, 24/7/365 access to your doctor, little or no wait times in the office for your appointment, and much more. It basically covers everything that we would do in the office.
Yes. Non-members can call and schedule appointments for exams and procedures. Non-members are required to pay increased prices on all services and procedures in addition to an office visit fee. For a complete list of non-member prices go here.
Yes, there is a one-time sign-up fee for members of $50. No, we do NOT require a signed contract.
The fee covers non-member office visits. The base fee will cover a routine office visit. There may be added charges depending on time, type of services and complexity of medical decision making. Any added charges will be discussed prior to services being administered to patients.
Yes. We are happy to accept the children of our enrolled clients (birth through 18 years of age).
General Questions
Direct Primary Care (DPC) is care offered directly by the primary care provider (Towne Center Health) to the consumer without the need of insurance. The consumer pays an annual or monthly retainer fee that includes most of the primary care needs. This eliminates the financial burdens on the providers when interacting with insurance carriers. It allows the provider reduced paperwork, steady income, lower costs which allows lower charges, reduced paperwork, no interference on how to practice from the insurance companies, and added time with patients.
Please find a complete list of our prices here.
We do not provide nursing home care but will coordinate your care with the facility’s physician on an as needed basis.
We treat acute and chronic primary care problems, along with preventative health and maintenance issues.
TCH providers do not provide in-patient care but will coordinate your care with the hospitalists as needed.
No. Patient privacy is a natural benefit of this medical model. We will never provide any third party with a copy of your records, unless you specifically ask us to do so.
In the age of telemedicine, many illnesses can be diagnosed and treated with a simple conversation by phone or webcam. If appropriate, we’ll locate the nearest pharmacy and order the medication most suited for your circumstance. And if you need to go to the hospital or seek other medical attention we can advise you on that as well.
Absolutely, yes! You may contact Towne Center Health any day at any hour by telephone, email, messaging, Skype and FaceTime; our goal is to make contacting us as easy as possible. It’s how we do custom healthcare. After normal office hours please call or text 252-331-2624.
You would pay at the time of service or with the next month’s billing cycle.
Medicare & Insurance Questions
Yes, but it’s not a requirement for being a member of Towne Center Health. We do not replace insurance and we encourage our patients to carry a high deductible major medical plan or a plan with a health savings account, thereby ensuring financial help should hospitalization or referral to a specialist be necessary. You should consult with your insurance provider to help you find a plan that works best with our medical model and that will meet your specific needs.
Yes. However, your monthly membership fee cannot be submitted to Medicare for reimbursement. You must sign a waiver every two years that declares that neither you nor your doctor will directly bill Medicare for your membership fee.
Medicare and medicare supplemental insurance will still cover medical costs that you incur outside of Towne Center Health. For example, prescriptions that you fill at an outside pharmacy, or labs run at an outside lab, or hospital charges, physical therapy and imaging are covered, just to name a few. You do not lose your Medicare coverage for other medical needs just because you are a member of Towne Center Health.
Many times patients purchase high option health insurance plans that require little or no co-pay and that cover all lab costs and prescription costs. However, Towne Center Health members pay no co-pay and we offer labs and generic prescriptions at wholesale prices to our members. So, our members may find it worthwhile to change from a high option health insurance plan to a base health insurance plan.
Yes, our fees are covered. This is one smart method of paying for your health care needs with pre-tax dollars.
Direct Primary Care may qualify as reimbursable through your Health Savings Account (HSA) and may also qualify under the Affordable Care Act. Section 10104 of P.L. 111-148 (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) states: “The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall permit a qualified health plan to provide coverage through a qualified direct primary care medical home plan that meets criteria established by the Secretary, so long as the qualified health plan meets all requirements that are otherwise applicable and the services covered by the medical home plan are coordinated with the entity offering the qualified health plan.” See your insurance specialist for information.