ABOUT PREMIER PATIENT HEALTHCARE

Q: What is Premier Patient Healthcare? [Read More]
Q: What is the relationship between Premier Patient Healthcare and Springfield Family Medicine? [Read More]
Q: May I come in for a free introductory consultation? [Read More]
Q: What are my options if I choose not to join the membership practice? [Read More]
Q: I have heard terms like “concierge medicine” and “retainer practice”—are they different from a membership practice?
[Read More]

BECOMING A PREMIER PATIENT HEALTHCARE MEMBER

Q: What are the benefits of becoming a member of Premier Patient Healthcare? [Read More]
Q. I am healthy and only need to see a physician for my annual examination. How does this new model benefit me? [Read More]
Q: I spend 6 months out of the year in Florida--is it still a benefit to sign up? [Read More]
Q: How do I join? [Read More]
Q: May I join at any time? [Read More]

MEMBERSHIP FEES

Q: What does the membership cost? [Read More]
Q: Do I have to pay the membership fee all at once? [Read More]
Q: What if I want to end my membership? [Read More]
Q: Does my insurance cover the annual membership fee? [Read More]
Q. Is the annual membership fee tax deductible? [Read More]

HEALTH INSURANCE/MEDICARE

Q. Will I still need health insurance? [Read More]
Q: I am a Medicare patient--how does my insurance plan apply to this program? [Read More]
Q: Do I still have to pay my co-pay? [Read More]

PARTICIPATING PHYSICIANS

Q: What happens if I have an emergency? [Read More]
Q: What happens if I need to go into the hospital? [Read More]
Q: How do I contact my physician after hours? [Read More]
Q: What happens when my doctor gets sick or is on vacation? [Read More]
Q: When can I schedule appointments? [Read More]
Q: What do I do when I need a specialist? [Read More]

Q: What is Premier Patient Healthcare?
A: Premier Patient Healthcare is a medical management company focused on delivering exceptional individualized, personal medical care to its members. What we have to offer is a return to old fashioned, patient-based medicine after years of insurance dictated, volume-driven treatment. We present our members with solutions to their frustrations related to the current healthcare crisis by making available enhanced services above those of a traditional primary care practice.

In order to provide such exceptional services, we believe that it is important to remain focused on our core values. Patients come first—Premier believes that it is time to focus on you. A typical primary care physician has more than 3000 active patients. Premier will limit enrollment to 600 patients per participating physician, thus allowing us to exceed expectations by providing the personal medical attention you desire. Your time is valuable—we realize that your time is important and thus we allow you to schedule day or next day appointments, as well as schedule as much time as you need with your physician. Offer exceptional support—Premier and your affiliated physician will always be available to you. Patients are provided access to their participating physician 24 hours a day/7 days a week. [^ top ^]

Q: What is the relationship between Premier Patient Healthcare and Springfield Family Medicine (SFM)?
A: SFM will still exist to provide primary care services to patients that do not become Premier members. However, since July 2006 , Dr. Montalbano has only be seeing Premier members. Beginning June 1, 2008, Dr. Brideau became a participating Premier Patient Healthcare provider and is enrolling patients in the Premier model. SFM provides dedicated professional staff to support the Premier Patient Healthcare practice, and shares space with Premier Patient Healthcare.

At this time, Dr. Brideau will continue to see patients through Springfield Family Medicine, until he has reached his Premier cap limit of 600 patients. If you are one of Dr. Brideau’s patients or one of Dr Montalbano prior SFM patients and would be interested in joining as a member, please inquire at (703) 373-3718. Dr. Brideau and Dr Montalbano will provide support to each other when patients need to be seen and their Premier physician is unavailable due to illness or vacation. [^ top ^]

Q: What are my options if I choose not to join Premier?
A: For those patients electing not to become a Premier member, you will still be able to see other Springfield Family Medicine physicians or Nurse Practitioners (NPs) for office visits. However, you also may elect to choose a doctor outside the practice and Springfield Family Medicine will assist you in transferring your records to the new practice. [^ top ^]

Q. May I come in for a free introductory consultation?
A. Of course. We welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss your health care needs and the benefits of a Premier Patient Healthcare membership. You may schedule a consultation with one of our patient liaisons by calling (703)373-3718. New patients interested in the Premier model are encouraged to meet with our doctor for free exchange of philosophy and discussion of the ideal doctor/patient relationship. [^ top ^]

Q: I have heard terms like “concierge medicine” and “retainer practice”—are they different from a membership practice?
A: No. As these terms are generally used, they refer to a new approach to practicing medicine whereby physicians focus greater attention on wellness and preventive care through enhanced services such as comprehensive physicals, nutrition counseling, lifestyle improvements, and access to their physicians. Due to the additional time allotted to each patient for this approach, physicians limit the size of their practice. In exchange for enhanced services, members pay an annual membership fee. [^ top ^]

BECOMING A PREMIER PATIENT HEALTHCARE MEMBER

Q: What are the benefits of becoming a member of Premier Patient Healthcare?
A: Premier Patient Healthcare will allow you access to enhanced professional patient care, as well as many other conveniences. Our participating physicians will focus on you. In addition to wellness and preventive care, the limited number of patients that each physician may enroll affords several enhancements to the way you have experienced the interaction with your physician in the past. Your membership fee ensures you: [^ top ^]

• A comprehensive Premier Personal Health Assessment is performed annally. In addition the patients are encouraged to get a physical fitness evaluation conducted by a certified athletic trainer and one-on-one lifestyle nutritional consultation for adult members. The dietitian and the fitness consults are optional and available on a fee for service schedule. 
• Your physician will act as your advocate when you need a specialist, providing you with access to the best consultants in this area as determined by the years of experience your Premier Physician has had working with these specialists. 
• Your physician will conduct personalized research on your medical concerns, including determining country specific medical needs for traveling as well as immunization recommendations.
• Your medical record will be maintained in an Electronic Health Record format, improving quality of care and facilitating portability. 
• Secure website access to request appointments, prescriptions or ask medical questions
• Periodic newsletters covering topical and preventive healthcare issues will be available.
• Cosmetic evaluations are available at no charge, with discounts on our popular laser hair and wrinkle reduction, varicose veins treatments, skin tightening, as well as on physician services when administering our Botox, Juvaderm wrinkle fillers and MediFast weight loss programs.  
• 24/7 physician access via cell phone, as well as access via e-mail or fax
• Same day or next business day appointments for any medical reasons appropriate for in office evaluation.
• Unhurried, 30 minute minimum appointments
• Support personnel dedicated to assist members
• Private waiting area with access to phone and refreshments [^ top ^]

Q. I am healthy and only need to see a physician for my annual examination. How does this new model benefit me?
A: Currently, you may only need to see your physician when you are sick or need an annual exam. However, the Premier model allows you and your physician to focus on preventing illness and maintaining wellness, so you don't have to be sick to benefit. In addition, while an annual Premier Personal Health Assessment is beneficial, illness is unpredictable. If you do become ill, your physician will be available immediately. For many people with busy lifestyles, one of the biggest benefits to being a member is knowing that you have quick and easy access to your physician. [^ top ^]

Q: I spend 6 months out of the year in Florida. Is it still a benefit to sign up?
A: Yes. If you spend a portion of the year out of the area, we will coordinate your care with physicians and hospitals in that area. Additionally, we have the ability to provide your physician in Florida or elsewhere with an electronic version of your medical records to help ensure continuity of care among your providers. Further, remember we are only a phone call or email away or you can access our secure website to communicate specific health questions to your physician.
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Q: How do I join?
A: Please call Premier Patient Healthcare at (703)373-3718. If you have any questions one of our liaisons will assist you. [^ top ^]

Q: May I join at any time?
A: Yes. You may join us at any time, but each participating physician’s enrollment will be limited to the first 600 patients and their spots will fill up quickly. We encourage you to make the decision soon. We will maintain a waiting list once we are fully subscribed. [^ top ^]

MEMBERSHIP FEES

Q: What does the membership cost?
A: Annual membership fees are as little as $4.00 a day. The annual membership fee is $1500 for individuals over age 18. Children under the age 18 may be enrolled at an annual fee of $500 per child. All children under age 18 are FREE if both their parents are enrolled as a Premier Patient Healthcare member. 
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Q: Do I have to pay the membership fee all at once?
A: Yes, on enrollment in the Premier Program the total fee is expected and can be paid in check, cash or credit card. On each subsequent anniversary of your enrollment into Premier Patient Healthcare, your annual renewal fee will be automatically charged to a valid credit card. (Visa and MasterCard are accepted). [^ top ^]

Q: What if I want to end my membership?
A: You may cancel your membership at any time with a thirty day notice and your annual membership fee will be refunded in part based on the length of your membership participation and services accessed. [^ top ^]

Q: Does my insurance cover the annual membership fee?
A: Commercial medical insurance policies do not cover the annual membership fee. However, corporate benefit plans may reimburse all or a portion of the annual membership fee. Such plans include health savings accounts (HSAs), flexible spending accounts (FSAs) and medical savings accounts (MSAs). Your benefits administrator can tell you if this would be covered in your particular plan. [^ top ^]

Q. Is the annual membership fee tax deductible?
A. For many members the annual membership fee may be tax deductible. Please consult with your tax advisor for a final determination. [^ top ^]

HEALTH INSURANCE/MEDICARE

Q. Will I still need health insurance?
A: Yes, the membership is not a substitute for health insurance. All benefits provided by Premier Patient Healthcare are considered non-covered services and are not paid by commercial insurance plans. In addition to the annual membership fee, all members will continue to pay for medical services as they do in the current fashion. For example, our participating physicians will still bill insurance for office visits, hospital visits, consultations, lab fees and diagnostic fees and we will accept assigned payments for covered services and you will still use your health insurance for services outside our participating physician’s office such as specialist visits, hospitalization, lab tests, x-rays and prescriptions. To contractually remain a provider in most plans, our participating physicians are obligated to continue collecting any co-payments and co-insurance.

Please be reminded that you will still be responsible for non-covered services according to your Premier physician’s standard policy with respect to such non-covered services. Your Premier physician will continue to accept insurance. Springfield Family Medicine participates in several major insurance plans. For questions regarding insurance coverage, please call (703) 373-3718 and we would be pleased to help you. [^ top ^]

Q: I am a Medicare patient. How does my insurance plan apply to this program?
A: Although Medicare rules and guidelines are quite complicated, we do have the ability to accept you as a member, subject to Medicare regulations. Medicare will not be billed for the services that are included in the annual fee, such as the Premier Personal Health Assessment, because they are not a covered benefit under Medicare. Other services, such as follow-up office visits, will be charged as usual and co-payments, co-insurance and deductibles will remain unchanged. As in the past, you may use your Medicare coverage for laboratory fees, X-rays, other specialist physician services and hospital services. [^ top ^]

Q: Do I still have to pay my insurance plan’s co-payment?
A: Yes. Your co-payment is for medical services performed, not for the non-medical benefits provided by Premier, and is mandated by your insurance plan. Our participating physicians are required by your insurance company to collect the co-payment at the time of service in order to adhere to their policies. [^ top ^]

PARTICIPATING PHYSICIANS

Q: What happens if I have an emergency?
A: It is important to remember that we are not a substitute for calling 911 if a true emergency exists. However, if there is an unclear emergency situation, a call to your Premier Patient Healthcare physician is justified to help triage your situation. Your treating Emergency Room physician should be encouraged to contact your Premier physician for medical information and updates on your situation. [^ top ^]

Q: What happens if I need to go into the hospital?
A: Dr's. Montalbano and Brideau exclusively admit their patients and will serve as your Medical Attending Physician at Inova’s Mount Vernon Hospital. If you are admitted to a hospital where they are not on staff, they will none-the-less interface with your Attending Physician at that hospital and play a role as your advocate with respect to your medical needs. [^ top ^]

Q: How do I contact my physician after hours?
A: In regular practices, patients reach the office’s on-call physician who may not know you and only provide emergency consultation. However, with Premier Patient Healthcare, your personal physician will be available for you 24 hours a day, seven days a week. During regular business hours, you can reach us at our office number. If you need to reach us after hours, you will be provided with your physician's personal cell phone number and email address. If your physician is not immediately available, he or she will call you back promptly. If your physician recommends you go to the hospital Emergency Room, he or she will be in close contact with the treating physician and will see you there if necessary. [^ top ^]

Q: What happens when my doctor gets sick or is on vacation?
A: It will be a rare case when your doctor is not available. However, at the times when your personal physician is not available, Premier Patient Healthcare designated physicians will be available as on-call backup coverage. [^ top ^]

Q: When can I schedule appointments?
A: You can request appointments at any time online or you can schedule appointments by calling our office during normal business hours. For your convenience, you will have the ability to schedule same or next day appointments. [^ top ^]

Q: What do I do when I need a specialist?
A: Our staff will assist you with obtaining specialist appointments. In appropriate cases, your Premier physician will even accompany you to your specialist appointment. [^ top ^]