• Animas Sanitas Primary & Aesthetics is a Direct Primary Care (DPC) provider. DPC represents a groundbreaking healthcare model where patients directly compensate their primary care provider, bypassing involvement with health insurance companies. Essentially, in this model, patients become the employers of their medical provider, fostering a direct relationship centered on patient-centered-care rather than health insurance bureaucracy.

• DPC practices provide a comprehensive array of services typically expected from a primary care provider's office, all covered under a flat, periodic membership fee. Beyond the scope of traditional fee-for-service medicine, patients often receive added benefits such as real-time technology virtual/telemedicine access to their medical provider, extended medical-visit durations, and highly tailored, coordinated, and thorough care management. Importantly, this approach eliminates additional visit charges and the influence of insurance companies, effectively removing the middleman from the healthcare equation.

• In traditional fee-for-service” medicine, patients often encounter significant stress due to numerous prior authorizations, billing complexities, and the pressure on medical provider to see an increasing number of patients in limited time frames. In contrast, DPC fundamentally shifts the focus away from the frequency of office visits and the volume of patients seen per day, which typically dictate a medical provider’s income in the traditional health-insurance model. This means fewer patient visits per day, allowing medical providers more appointment availability and extended time to devote to each patient. This personalized approach encompasses not only in-office consultations but also extends to phone calls and email communications, fostering stronger medical-provider-patient relationships and more comprehensive care.

• Both DPC and concierge practices have membership fees. With DPC, the fee pays for the visits and care patients need throughout the year without additional per-visit charges. Direct Primary Care (DPC) practices do not involve health insurance companies by definition. The care is “direct,” from medical provider to patient, and does not involve a third party. Concierge practices have an annual retainer fee but also charge for visits and often bill the patient's insurance for services rendered.

• By opting out of insurance, our focus remains squarely on you, the patient. Unlike traditional fee-for-service practices, where medical providers spend a significant portion of their time on administrative tasks such as insurance paperwork and phone calls with insurance companies, we are free from these burdensome requirements. This allows us to allocate our time and resources more efficiently, providing a more personalized and attentive experience for our patients.

• Insurance-based practices often face pressure to adhere to insurance company guidelines, potentially compromising the doctor-patient relationship and the quality of care. Without these constraints, we can prioritize your needs and preferences, ensuring that your healthcare experience is truly tailored to you.

• By eliminating unnecessary administrative tasks, we can dedicate more time during visits to address your concerns and provide comprehensive care. Additionally, our decision to forego insurance allows us to maintain a more manageable patient panel size, ensuring that each patient receives the attention and care they deserve.

• At Animas Sanitas Primary Care and Aesthetics, p.c. we aim to cultivate a sense of belonging and trust with our patients, treating them as valued members of our extended family rather than mere numbers. Our approach also enables us to offer extended visit times and enhanced availability through technology, further enhancing the patient experience.

• Yes - You still need health insurance to cover, prescription costs, hospitalization, emergency room visits, urgent care facilities, surgeries or procedures, specialist visits, labs, X-rays, or any other medical services outside of the primary care services, if your health and wellness requires it and as specified in your direct primary care patient membership agreement with Animas Sanitas Primary Care and Aesthetics, p.c.

• Additionally, relying on a is Direct Primary Care (DPC) membership by itself is not recommended. Direct primary care memberships give patients access to a variety of primary care. But people still need real health insurance in case they end up needing medical care that goes beyond basic primary care.

• Having a DPC membership might make you more comfortable with the idea of having a health plan with a higher deductible, or one that counts all services toward the deductible instead of covering things like office visits with a copay. That type of health insurance plan tends to be less expensive, but some people worry that they will avoid going to the doctor if office visits are subject to the deductible.

• Combining a direct primary care plan with an ACA-compliant health plan (purchased on-exchange or off-exchange) can be a good way to put those worries to rest. The Animas Sanitas Primary Care and Aesthetics, p.c. direct primarty care membership will allow unlimited access to a primary care provider who can take care of the patient’s basic needs and the regular-health insurance plan will be there as a safety net in case more significant or specialty care is needed.

• While many medical needs can be addressed through the primary care office, opting for a higher deductible, lower-cost health insurance plan alongside a direct primary care practice model can significantly decrease overall medical expenses for patients.

• Although we strongly encourage everyone to have some medical health coverage for catastrophic events as long as you pay the monthly membership fee you can join Animas Sanitas Primary Care and Aesthetics, p.c. direct care practice. Just to be clear - We are Not a health insurance program/company.

• Animas Sanitas Primary Care and Aesthetics, p.c. prides itself in providing equal access, non discriminatory care to all. Whether you need basic preventive care services or have multiple medical concerns; Animas Sanitas Primary Care and Aesthetics, p.c. board certified Adult and Geriatric Nurse Practitioner is highly trained to meet your primary care needs.

• Persons that are 18 years and older may become enrolled as patients with Animas Sanitas Primary Care and Aesthetics, p.c. We do not see pediatric patients for medical primary care.

Animas Sanitas Primary Care and Aesthetics, p.c. is committed to transforming healthcare delivery by offering personalized, accessible and high-quality primary medical care through our innovative telehealth and mobile services.

• Telehealth – Virtual Visits: The Animas Sanitas Primary Care and Aesthetics, p.c. primary care provider is able to see all patients over the age of 18 years old located within the State of Colorado.

• House-call Primary Care Service areas in Colorado: We are able to see all patients over the age of 18 to 100+ located within the Colorado counties of: Arapahoe; Custer; Denver; Douglas; Elbert; El Paso; Lincoln; Park; Pueblo; Teller.

Examples of Primary Care Services Offered:

• Preventive health and wellness (e.g., annual wellness exams, sports physicals, nutrition consultation, screenings)

• Chronic disease management (such as: High Cholesterol, Diabetes, COPD, Hypertension, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Hormonal Imbalances, Thyroid dysfunction, and more~

• Low Acuity Urgent Care, Illness - Sick Visits

• Mental health

• Minor injury

• Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)

• Post-hospitalization visits

• Prescription Medications

• Referrals for specialty care, physical therapy

• Vaccinations (as available)

• Rapid viral testing (FLU, STREP, COVID)

• Referrals/Orders for Labs and Diagnostics (e.g. EKG, Xrays, Ultrasound Imaging) However. (A referral order may be provided as needed to the patient. (Note - The patient is responsible for scheduling, completing and paying for other types of services not specified or covered in the Animas Sanitas Primary Care Patient membership agreement)

• Weight Management

• ~ And More ~

• Animas Sanitas Primary Care and Aesthetics, p.c. direct primary care membership only covers your primary care.

  —IT IS NOT Comprehensive Healthcare.

• Emergency services, ambulance services, rides- to-from medical appointments, gynecology services, pediatric services, mobile lab services, imaging and diagnostic services are not performed by this primary care provider. (This list is not an all inclusive list of services not covered by Animas Sanitas Primary Care and Aesthetics, p.c.)

At this time we are unable to actively enroll beneficiaries of federally funded insurance programs (i.e. Medicare/Medicaid and Tricare)

• Does this mean you can't enroll as a patient in Direct Primary Care if you have Medicare or Medicaid?

  Well, it's quite complicated - Let's tackle Medicare first. The initial statement about "billing Medicare for any Medicare-covered services" has a clause referring to providers who have opted into Medicare. Opting into Medicare isn't optional; it happens automatically when providers start their first job and get credentialed. This nationwide opt-in allows doctors and providers to participate in the Medicare system. However, to see a patient with Medicare, two things must happen: 1) the patient must sign a Medicare opt-out form, agreeing not to seek reimbursement from Medicare for services provided by the DPC practice, and 2) the provider in the DPC practice must also opt-out of Medicare.

• While patients can opt out of Medicare by signing a form, providers face a more complicated process. Opting out requires submitting a form to the Federal system, and the provider is then removed from the Medicare system nationwide for two years. Many DPC providers have other jobs while building their DPC practice, making opting out of Medicare impractical. Consequently, many DPC practices simply don't accept Medicare patients at all.

• A similar issue arises with Medicaid. In some states, patients and providers can opt out and still join a DPC practice. However, in states like Colorado, even this is prohibited. State-level regulations make it illegal, even punishable by jail time, to bill a Medicaid patient privately.

• Then, there's the option of Employer-sponsored enrollment. This occurs when an employer fully covers a patient's DPC membership as an employee benefit. When a third party, such as a business, pays the fees instead of the patient, it's possible to remain enrolled in both Medicare/Medicaid systems while being a member of a DPC practice. However, the specifics can vary depending on the state.

• No - Animas Sanitas Primary Care & Aesthetics, p.c. does not generally bill third-party payers (Commercial health insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, Tricare, VA etc.), which means that the you/patient is fully responsible for the cost of any care that isn’t included in the membership fee.

1) Complete a short membership application form and patient intake forms online.

2) The primary care provider, nurse practitioner, will contact you to schedule an initial consultation video/telehealth appointment to review your patient intake forms.

3) The patient will review and sign the Direct Primary Care Member Agreement, as well as the Monthly Payment Authorization Agreement, for a mutually agreed-upon membership plan lasting 6 months to 1 year.

4) A payment will be required dependent on the type of service required at the time appointment.

5) The patient will receive email with the subject line: “Patient Portal Invitation from Animas Sanitas Primary Care & Aesthetics p.c.” to access the Kareo/Tebra Patient Portal to streamline access for medical records, results, provider messaging, appointment scheduling, and more.

You may access the Tebra Patient Portal at<https://portal.kareo.com/pp-webapp/app/new/login?status=loggedout>

To access the Tebra/Kareo Patient Portal for your medical records, results, provider messaging, appointment scheduling, and more.