What members usually ask before they sign up. Three chapters: the model, membership and access, and insurance and outside care. If your question isn't here, the meet & greet is the place to ask.
Direct primary care (DPC) is a membership model in which patients pay a flat monthly fee directly to the practice, and the practice does not bill insurance for primary care visits. The result is fewer patients per physician, longer visits, and direct relationships between member and physician.
Concierge practices typically charge an annual retainer on top of insurance billing. DPC charges only the membership fee — no insurance billing for primary care. The trade-off: you keep your insurance for outside care (specialists, hospitalization, prescriptions), but the membership covers all of primary care.
Possibly — Atrium membership may qualify as deductible medical expense under IRC §213(d) for itemized filers. We provide an annual receipt suitable for tax filing. Consult your CPA or tax attorney.
Pending federal legislation, DPC membership fees are not currently HSA-eligible. Outside-care expenses (specialist co-pays, prescriptions, hospitalization) flow through HSA/FSA + insurance as normal.
Each Atrium physician carries a panel of 320 members maximum. When a panel is full, no new memberships are accepted for that physician until a current member leaves. We have wait-lists; we do not run promotions to fill them.
Members receive their physician's mobile number at the first visit and a secure messaging app. Nights and weekends, the on-call Atrium physician (always one of the three) responds; median response time after hours is 14 minutes.
Yes — children 3 and up are covered under the Family or Family Plus tier. We do not see infants under 3; those should remain with a pediatrician.
Atrium is not an emergency service. Call 911 or go to the ER for chest pain, severe difficulty breathing, stroke symptoms, severe head injury, or uncontrolled bleeding. We follow up after every ER visit.
Yes. Atrium covers your primary care; you keep insurance for specialists, hospitalization, prescriptions, imaging beyond bedside, and procedures. Most members keep a high-deductible plan or HSA-compatible plan.
No — DPC membership is paid directly to the practice. Some employers reimburse membership through HRA or wellness benefits; ask your HR.
Your physician personally selects the specialist (we maintain a list we trust), calls them, hands off the chart, and reads the consult note. The specialist visit is billed to your insurance directly.
Of course. We coordinate with whomever you choose. We share preferences honestly when asked; we do not insist on our shortlist.
The meet & greet is 30 minutes, free, and the place where people typically ask the more personal questions.
