What is Direct Primary Care?

Direct Primary Care (DPC) is a novel model of delivering superb and personal primary care to patients for a simple and affordable monthly fee. Similar to a gym membership, your monthly fee gets you direct access to your doctor at a time that you need and for the amount of time that is necessary. Insurance is not required to be a member and most services and procedures are included in the monthly fee. There are no co-pays, middlemen, corporations or other third-party interests getting in the way. It’s just you and the doctor.

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What is Amplified Care?

Amplified Care is Northeast PA’s first Direct Primary Care Office.  We offer a pattern of healthcare that is immediate, thorough, comprehensive, specific, easily affordable, and very, very personal.  Amplified Care means quality, hassle-free healthcare.

 

 

​Is this Concierge Medicine?

No. Concierge Medicine practices charge a much higher and usually unaffordable fee, and they also bill your insurance company. Direct Primary Care has a much more budget-friendly monthly price that most families can afford, and we will not bill your insurance. Like Concierge Medicine, Direct Primary Care will deliver personalized care. It’s an affordable luxury.

 

 

What does the monthly membership cover?
The monthly membership covers excellent primary care that includes open access to our services. Feel free to visit us in our office, or you can call, text, or e-mail us when you need us. You can schedule your annual wellness exam, receive basic office procedures, and optimize your health while under our care. Our members will also have access to discounted generic medications, at cost laboratory testing, and at cost imaging.

 

 

Is there a sign-up free to join?

There is no sign-up fee. Just sign-up for the monthly membership, enroll in the easy monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual payment system and start accessing great care. It’s that simple.

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Are Amplified Care’s monthly fees eligible for HSA or FSA reimbursement?

You may want to check with your human resources department regarding the use of Health Savings Accounts (HSA’s) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA’s) as possible payment options for your annual membership. If you are unable to use these funds to pay for the annual membership fee directly, there is a good chance that you can still use your HSA/FSA as reimbursement for certain services provided through our office.

 

 

Is my membership fee at Amplified Care tax-deductible?

Unfortunately, it is not. Your membership fee is not yet defined as a “medical expense” in most states, and therefore, it is not tax deductible. The American Academy of Private Physicians, however, is lobbying hard to win rightful deductibility for these expenses. We advise that you discuss this further with your tax preparer or accountant.  Anything we order such as labs, radiology, and medications can be applied to HSA, HRA, FSA, or out of network deductible.

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If I am a healthy person, does it make sense for me to be a member?

Yes. We will not only see you when you’re sick without making you wait, but we will also be available to you to discuss healthy lifestyle choices and to provide guidance in making medical or health decisions. Feeling stressed? Give Dr. Godfrey a call or text to see what can be done to reduce this stress. The current medical system should value preventative medicine, not reactive medicine. With the monthly membership, you can have this assistance without additional cost.

 

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Does Amplified Care accept health insurance?

No.  What makes our model distinct is that it centers on a direct, personal relationship with you and your doctor.  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 care.

 

We forgo insurance payments so that our patients may be saved from the arbitrary, intrusive decisions that inevitably follow with third-party payers.  Furthermore, direct-fee-for service arrangements (through insurance) would prevent us from being able to advocate for our patients and prevent us from offering discounts on many generic medications, at cost laboratory testing, and at cost imaging.

 

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Can I call or see you anytime I want?

Not exactly. Dr. Godfrey is available after hours by phone for urgent matters and via email, portal, and text for non-urgent matters. You can expect a reply via text or email within 24 hours if you choose to communicate that way. We do have office hours and ask you to contact us during working hours with questions that are less than urgent. 

 

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Do I still need insurance if I am a member of Amplified Care?

Although not required to be a member, we recommend having health insurance for emergencies, hospitalizations, and specialist care. When paired with a catastrophic plan/high deductible plan, a membership fulfills the Affordable Care Act’s requirement for full insurance.  Many patients may choose to use their current insurance or switch to a high deductible plan when joining our practice.

 

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Will Medicare or Medicaid cover my membership?

Direct Primary Care offices do no bill Medicare or Medicaid for your membership or other services we provide.  At this time, we are not accepting Medicare or Medicaid patients, but we are planning to do so in the near future.  Please call to add your name to the waiting list!  As soon as we have enough patients on the waiting list, we will be able to take action to allow Medicare and Medicaid patients to join as paying members.

 

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Can I be seen at Amplified Care if I am not a member?

We are trying to cultivate a superb doctor-patient relationship and do require a membership to be seen. We encourage you to schedule a meet and greet with Dr. Godfrey to see if this practice is right for you.

 

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What is not covered with a membership?

• Care given by providers outside of our practice is not covered.

• Medications are not covered but many generic medications are offered at discounted prices.

• Laboratory testing is not covered, but we have a contract with a lab to purchase lab testing at discount prices.  These savings are passed directly to you.

• Imaging is not covered, but we have access to imaging services that provide discounts for those paying cash.

• Vaccines are not currently offered, but we hope to offer them in the future. In the meantime, your local pharmacy and the health department are great places to have these done.

 

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Do you prescribe narcotics or controlled substances?

For the most part, no. We will prescribe these medications in the rare case they are needed and for a short period of time; we will not prescribe “maintenance” narcotic or controlled substance prescriptions for new patients. Not following our controlled substance policy will result in a discharge from our practice.

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Are my medical records ever shared with insurance carriers or pharmaceutical companies?

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.

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Will you visit me in the hospital?

Dr. Godfrey does not have hospital privileges, but she will coordinate closely with the hospitalist team to ensure you receive the best possible care. And, of course, she is available via phone, text message, portal, or e-mail while you are in the hospital should you have any questions.

 

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What if I need specialist care?

Most patients will choose to use their current health insurance if they need to see a specialist.  We will be able to contact the specialist directly to discuss your care completely. Some specialist visits may be avoided by seeing us in the office first!

 

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What happens if I have an after hours emergency?

• If you are having a life threatening emergency, call 911 immediately.

• For non-life threatening emergencies, call the office and we will return your call as soon as possible. If your health concern is an emergency, Dr. Godfrey will recommend you go to an emergency room or urgent care center. If it is safe to wait, Dr. Godfrey will see you ASAP the next business day.

• For routine after hours questions, please text or email the office, and we will respond within 24 hours.

• Urgent care or emergency visits are not covered in your membership, however having access to your physician after hours may help you avoid an unnecessary visit to the ER.

 

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How do I sign up for Amplified Care?

You can call our office at 570-514-4664, or you can send us a message through our contact page to get things started!

 

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Do I have to live in Scranton to be a member of Amplified Care?

No, we see patients throughout Northeast Pennsylvania.