What is Command Family Medicine?
We are an insurance free primary care practice that utilizes a membership model for the primary form of payment. This means you pay us the flat monthly fee just like a gym membership; you can then use us as much as you need to. You will never have to pay a co-pay again to see your family doctor.
What is this kind of practice called?
It is called Direct Primary Care. It is similar to Concierge Medicine where only cash is accepted to keep a physician on retainer. However, concierge typically implies expensive or only for the wealthy. Thus this has a different name altogether, direct primary care. We work directly with patients, which does not have to be expensive. If you decide become a member, you will quickly see that we can actually save you a lot of money. For more information on this unique model visit www.iamdirectcare.com.
Why do you not accept insurance?
Frankly, insurance that covers nearly everything complicates nearly everything. Could you imagine if you had to get insurance approval before you got your oil changed or new tires on your car? These are simple problems that can be expected if you own a car. Primary care is the same way. It is something that everyone can plan to use. With insurance coverage for primary care it has made it much more expensive than it needs to be. By not accepting it we are able to provide more affordable, accessible and higher quality care all at a lower price. Basically, we are able to be there for you when you need us because we are not drowning in red tape.
Do I even need insurance then?
Yes, insurance in appropriate situations is a very wise thing to have. We recommend getting at least a catastrophic or major medical plan to cover you in case an unpredictable disaster strikes. If you think about it, this is the true use for insurance. You have homeowners insurance so you’re covered if there is a flood or fire. You have car insurance so you have nothing to worry about (car wise) if you’re in an accident. We are even working with two fantastic insurance brokers who are helping build insurance plans for businesses that are saving them up to 50% on healthcare!
What if I need to see a specialist or go to the hospital?
In the current system, primary care physicians have to see more patients than they truly have time for. As a result, a patient may be referred to a specialist just because the physician does not have the time to ask more questions or perform the procedure needed. It is not that the physician is not capable of figuring out or fixing the problem; for the most part, it is lack of time. Therefore, by providing unheard of accessibility and time during visits we plan on avoiding a lot of unnecessary referrals. Another goal from our model is to get and keep you healthier and keep you from ending up in the hospital.
How can Command Family Medicine help my business?
This is where we really get excited. If you thought everything else you heard was awesome, just wait. In the current system, businesses that are required to provide health insurance are struggling to stay profitable due to rising insurance premiums. With the combination of direct primary care and a self-funded insurance plan, businesses can save enormous amounts of money. The way the combination works is really quite beautiful. With the employees getting the majority of their healthcare needs taken care of without filing an insurance claim, this leaves a large amount of the claim pool, from the self-funded plan, leftover at the end of the year. A percentage of the money goes back to the business to use as it would like. Businesses using this model with Atlas MD in Wichita have gotten between 25-50% of their claim pool back; this on top of saving money on a monthly basis. We can help your business save money that it needs to develop a new product or a hire a much needed employee. All the while, your employees you will be receiving fantastic care which will help decrease sick days. With our increased accessibility they will not have to waste half to a full day at the doctor; we can get them in with virtually no wait time. However, if they are not able to get away from work we can see them via video conference or phone call.
Can I become a member if I have medicare?
Yes! We now have 2 physicians (Dr. Nowlin and Dr. Lilly) who are able to see patients on medicare. We do not bill medicare, patients will still have to pay the membership. It is definitely a confusing issue, do not hesitate to reach out if you have questions.
Do you provide vaccines?
Currently we do not provide vaccines for children, but we will help get the shots that you need. We are able to provide some vaccines for adults.
Do you only provide services for members?
Up until 11/2018, we only provided care to members. However, now we provide select services to non-members as well. We have Xeo Laser treatments including hair removal available to non-members. Non-members can also receive regenerative medicine pain management treatments such as Prolotherapy and Platelet-rich Plasma (PRP) injections.
What if I need medical attention while I am out of town or on vacation?
Thankfully due to our access via all kinds of technology virtually 24/7, we should be able to get you the help you need in a majority of situations over the phone or email. If it is something that absolutely requires a face-to-face meeting, we will contact local direct primary care providers so that you can hopefully avoid an urgent care or ER visit.
What about Prescriptions?
We offer our cost on prescriptions to our members. Our partnership with Lawerence Drug allows our members access to their special compounding lab and the ability to have regular medications shipped and on auto-fill. Often, prescriptions are substantially less than traditional co-pay scripts. The cost savings on medications alone is often one of the favorite “perks” our members rave about. We do not offer chronic narcotics.