How does this all work?

First Priority Integrative Care is a small, independent integrative medicine practice characterized by a direct, financial relationship between the physician and the patient. It takes health insurance out of the equation. We provide integrative medicine services and annual physicals in exchange for the consultation fee. This helps restore the doctor-patient relationship of the past, unencumbered by insurance company policies and provider-network constraints. Is there a Commitment?

There are no minimum visit requirements and no annual contracts. Please pay each visit ahead of time.

Do You Take Health Insurance?

First Priority accepts cash, check, and credit card payments. We do not participate in any insurance plans, including Medicare. We focus on delivering excellent healthcare services, focusing on you as an individual. We see no reason for any insurer to have a say in the quality or cost of your family's care.

However, many insurance plans other than Medicare may reimburse a portion of physician charges. It is essential to check with your insurance company to learn your benefits. If you have an HSA (Health Spending Account), you can designate pre-tax dollars for healthcare, your employer may contribute, and your money stays with you even if you leave your job. An FSA (Flexible Spending Account) is another way to fund your care.

I already have good insurance. Why would I pay extra to join this practice?

Most of our patients have excellent medical coverage but still lack convenient access to the medical care they need. At First Priority, we remove the complications associated with traditional insurance, which limits access to physicians, and time is lost in waiting rooms, or when you finally get to meet your doctor, the appointment feels rushed as the office is backlogged. All of our appointments, whether in person or online, are at least 45-60 mins in duration, allowing us enough time to understand and answer all your health-related concerns.

If I have Medicare, can I still join First Priority Integrative Care?

Yes. You must sign a waiver declaring that neither you nor your representative will directly bill Medicare for our services. Medicare will not cover any portion of our fees for membership or additional services (and Medicare requires our patients to sign a document acknowledging that they agree to a private relationship with First Priority Integrative Care). Your Medicare coverage with all other doctors, hospitals, and facilities remains intact and is not affected by this waiver. Medicare will usually cover any laboratory testing, imaging, medications, or hospitalizations ordered by our practice.

How much does it Cost?

The initial intake visit costs $250, including a 60 - 75-minute appointment.

Monthly Membership for DPC:

• 1 Monthly Membership: Per age groups -

  • 18 -39 - $99/ Month

  • 40 & Up - $119 / month

  • Small Business Plan ( up to 5 employees )

  • currently not seeing anyone with Medicare above 65yrs

  • One time registration fees of $85

  Non - Membership Pricing

  • Annual Physical, Surgical Clearance - $250

  • Follow up - $150

  • Health optimization - $450 - 90 mins (includes blood tests covering 70+ biomarkers, done before appointment)

  • Womens Health Consult - $450 - 90 mins (includes comprehensive blood tests measurements for FSH, LH, DHEA-S, Prolactin, SHBG, Testosterone, Estradiol (E2), and over 70 additional biomarkers before the appointment)

What is your cancellation policy?

A cancellation fee of 50% of the visit will be charged if you cancel within 24 hours of your appointment. We want to let you know that Zoom meetings and telehealth are offered instead of an in-person visit if you cannot come in person. Thank you for being so understanding.

An HMO covers me. Do you know if I can still join the practice?

Yes. However, if you belong to an HMO, a doctor in that HMO’s network must act as your Primary Care Provider (PCP) for required approvals and referrals. You may still join as long as you understand that for your HMO, Dr. Rao cannot act as your PCP, nor will they cover the cost of the professional fee. Further, invoices cannot be submitted to your HMO for reimbursement.

Should I Cancel My Insurance?

No, you will still need your insurance to cover services not provided by our practice, like Hospital admissions, ER visits, Surgery, and specialty care (Orthopedics, OB-GYN, etc.)

We suggest you opt for a lower-cost, higher deductible plan offering lower monthly premium coverage. You can pair this with a health savings account to save for catastrophic events that should be few and far between. On average, your primary care physician can handle 90% of healthcare concerns. You may want to opt for a Health Share plan if you are young and healthy.