FAQ | Dr. T Primary Care

What is Concierge Medicine, and why is it right for me?

The concierge medicine model is one in which each patient who is a member of Dr. T Primary Care pays an annual fee that covers most of the primary care received in-office, as well as enhanced services not normally available in a traditional medical practice, such as a close connection with your physician, Dr. Tuteja; direct access to Dr. Tuteja via a secure portal; same day or next-day sick appointments during normal business hours; unhurried office visits; short in-office wait times; and personal interactions by Dr. Tuteja with specialists for care coordination. There will be no other bills from Dr. T Primary Care unless you exceed the number of covered visits, as explained below. This new approach is really a return to old-fashioned care. It is a smaller, more intimate practice that allows you to have a personal relationship with your physician. The goal is to provide care that is more responsive, thorough, and individualized.

What does the Annual Fee cover?

• One comprehensive annual physical exam per year: a thorough head-to-toe assessment, a review of age-based preventative screenings, and a deep dive into healthy lifestyle practices (including nutrition, exercise, sleep, and stress management).
• Lab test sample collection for a standard set of lab tests once a year, to be billed to your insurance by the performing lab: blood counts, kidney and liver tests, cholesterol levels, diabetes screening test, vitamin D levels (for women), thyroid levels (for women), prostate antigen levels (for men age 50 and up).
• Lab test sample collection for disease-appropriate tests, also billed to your insurance by the performing lab.
• One screening EKG per year for men over the age of 50, and for women over the age of 55.
• Up to 11 additional EKGs and up to 11 additional lab test sample collections per year as necessary based on symptoms and chronic conditions.
• Diagnostic imaging orders, the imaging services to be billed to your insurance by the imaging center.
• Up to 11 additional office visits per year, beyond the annual physical exam.
• Access to a convenient and simple patient portal for scheduling appointments, viewing your medical data, and communicating with Dr. Tuteja after hours (see “How can I reach Dr. Tuteja after hours and on weekends” for details).
• Same-day or next-day appointments.
• Short in-office wait times.
• Coordination with specialists.
• Coordination with the hospital team during hospitalizations if needed.
• A truly personal connection with your physician, Dr. Tuteja.

How much is the Annual Fee, and what payment options are available?

The annual fee depends on age, with a discount if you enroll within the first year that the practice is open.

$2300 age 18 to 64 if paid in full at the beginning of the membership year, or $600 quarterly.

• If you enroll within the first year that the practice is open, the up-front annual cost is $2000, or $525 quarterly.

$2600 age 65+ if paid in full at the beginning of the membership year, or $675 quarterly.

• If you enroll within the first year that the practice is open, the up-front annual cost is $2300, or $600 quarterly.

Is the Annual Fee refundable if I move or simply decide that this practice is not right for me?

Yes, the Annual Fee covers services available to you while you are in the practice. If you have paid the Annual Fee in full up front, and leave the practice for any reason, a pro-rata portion of the Annual Fee based on whole months remaining in the year will be returned to you. (If you have already received your Annual Physical Examination for the year, then $1000 will be deducted from any pro-rata refund owed to you.) If you have paid a quarterly fee and choose to leave in the middle of the quarter, a pro-rata refund will be provided based on whole months left in the quarter.

Do I have to pay a co-pay?

There are no co-pays for services covered under the Annual Fee. For each visit beyond those covered under the Annual Fee (the annual physical and 11 additional visits per year), the office will collect a fee of $20. For each additional EKGs beyond the annual screening EKG and additional 11 EKGs per year, there will be a $20 fee. For each lab test sample collection beyond the screening labs and additional 11 labs per year, there will be a $20 fee.

I already have good health insurance–why should I pay extra to join this Practice?

While most insurance plans cover primary care office visits and other services, patients often have difficulty in obtaining timely appointments with their doctor and rarely have adequate time for their concerns to be fully heard and addressed. Despite their best intentions, physicians are frequently left feeling rushed and unable to fully address wellness and preventive health approaches.

Dr. Tuteja’s membership model provides a level of personal service not generally found in a traditional primary care medical practice – direct access to Dr. Tuteja via a secure portal, office visits of more than 15 minutes, and true coordination of your care with specialists and other physicians handled personally by Dr. Tuteja. In providing you with more individualized attention and time, Dr. Tuteja will be able to help you prevent problems before they happen and will be able to teach you how to take control of your own health.

Is this an insurance plan? Do I need to keep my existing health insurance?

This membership model is NOT an insurance plan, and you will need to keep your existing health insurance to pay for specialist physician services, laboratory tests, imaging and diagnostic tests, prescription drugs, hospitalizations, and other services provided outside of the practice.

Can the annual fee be applied towards my insurance plan deductible?

Because the Annual Fee pays for some services that are not covered by insurance, your insurance plan might not apply the Annual Fee towards your deductible. Each insurance plan may approach this issue differently, so if you have more specific questions, you should contact your insurance company representative. Dr. Tuteja can provide you with paperwork at the time of your annual physical, or office visit, which you may be able to submit to your private insurance, but not to Medicare, TRICARE, or any HMO, to seek out of network reimbursement. (Again, different insurers approach this differently, so check with your plan.)

I’m covered by Medicare. Can I still join Dr. T Primary Care?

Yes; however, because Dr. Tuteja has opted out of the Medicare program, Medicare will not cover any portion of the Annual Fee or any services provided by Dr. Tuteja that are charged separately outside the Annual Fee (e.g., visits exceeding a total of 12 per year – the annual visit and an additional 11 visits). Dr. Tuteja will not submit any claims to Medicare and you may not submit claims to Medicare for payment for any services provided by Dr. Tuteja. Dr. Tuteja may continue to write prescriptions and orders for lab tests, x-rays, and other services needed outside of the practice, and your Medicare coverage will continue to cover all other physicians, hospitals, and labs. Participation in Dr. Tuteja’s practice will not affect your Medicare coverage for these other services in any way.

I’m covered by an HMO. Can I still join Dr. T Primary Care?

Yes; however, it is important to understand that Dr. Tuteja does not participate with any HMOs. If your HMO requires prior authorization from your primary care physician for specialist referrals, labs, and other services, Dr. Tuteja will not be able to perform that role. Also, Dr. Tuteja will not submit any claims to your HMO and you may not submit claims to your HMO for payment for any services provided by Dr. Tuteja.

I’m covered by TRICARE or am an active duty service member. Can I still join Dr. T Primary Care?

It depends. TRICARE For Life (TRICARE’s Medicare “wrap-around” product) specifically permits Medicare beneficiaries to privately contract with opted-out physicians; however, due to TRICARE For Life billing limitations, Dr. Tuteja will not submit any claims to TRICARE For Life and you may not submit claims to TRICARE For Life for payment for any services provided by Dr. Tuteja. If you are covered by any of the other TRICARE plans (including but not limited to: TRICARE Prime, TRICARE Prime Remote, TRICARE Standard, TRICARE Extra, TRICARE Reserve Select, TRICARE Retired Reserve, and US Family Health Plan), Dr. Tuteja will not able to provide services to you in her practice.

What if I need to be hospitalized?

You may be hospitalized at the hospital of your choice. Although the hospitalist service will be the attending physician of record, Dr. Tuteja will be in communication with the hospitalist to provide details about your health and to stay in the loop.

What do I do if I need to see a specialist?

Dr. Tuteja’s office can help to coordinate your appointment with the appropriate specialist(s) to best address your particular medical condition. Dr. Tuteja will closely monitor your progress while you are under the specialist’s care.

I have a Health Spending Account, Flexible Spending Plan, or a Medical Savings Plan through work. Can I use that to pay for the Annual Fee or other fees charged by Dr. T Primary Care?

In many cases, you may be able to use such funds to pay for all or a portion of the Annual Fee and other fees charged by the practice, but policies differ from plan to plan, so please check with your plan administrator.

How can I reach Dr. Tuteja after hours and on weekends?

The majority of questions and concerns should be directed to Dr. Tuteja during normal business hours on weekdays (8:30AM to 4:30 PM). During these times, you can reach Dr. Tuteja by calling the office at 240-630-1206, or by sending a message on the secure, user-friendly portal system. Dr. Tuteja will be able to address almost all of your concerns during business hours on a same-day basis.

Outside of business hours, for pressing matters that cannot wait until the next business day, Dr. Tuteja will be available through the secure portal which communicates directly to her cell phone.

If Dr. Tuteja goes out of town, you will be notified in advance. Dr. Tuteja will be available via the secure portal for matters that cannot wait until she returns.

May I meet with Dr. Tuteja prior to signing a contract to join the practice?

Absolutely! Please call the office at (240) 630-1206 for a no-obligation meeting to find out if Dr. T Primary Care is a good fit for you.

How do I join?

You may start the process by sending Dr. Tuteja an email at alisha.tuteja@drtprimarycare.com or by calling the office at (240) 630-1206 to request an enrollment package. You will need to sign a Physician-Patient Agreement and submit payment of the Annual Fee in order to become a member. Patients will be accepted in the order in which they join, and once the Practice reaches a maximum number of 400 members, she will not be able to accept any additional patients until an existing spot opens up.

I have a few more questions. What should I do?

Send Dr. Tuteja an email at alisha.tuteja@drtprimarycare.com or call the office at (240) 630-1206.