Frequently Asked Questions
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Who is eligible for membership?
Elder adults age 60 and over are eligible for membership. We do not provide pediatric or obstetrical care services at this time. There are many excellent care providers available in the Decatur area for pediatric and obstetric care and we would be happy to recommend other caregivers for these services.
Do you accept medical insurance?
No, we do not take insurance. Empower Family Medicine operates under a model called Direct Primary Care. Patients are charged a monthly membership fee for physician services.
Do you accept Medicare?
No, Medicare is not accepted at Empower Family Medicine. If you are a Medicare patient, you must sign an agreement stating that you will not submit your fees for reimbursement by Medicare. Medicare patients can join as members for the usual membership rate. Other services such as labs, radiology tests, consultant or hospitalist fees are billed to medicare as usual.
How much does membership cost?
The fee for an initial consultation is $170. If you then choose to enroll as a member, you will be billed $85 monthly via recurring bank or credit card withdrawal. .
What services does the membership fee include?
The membership fee includes an annual physical, office follow up visits as needed, and access to your physician through direct telephone, messaging and "virtual" visits online. Your physician may also make a courtesy call or visit to you in the hospital or rehab center to help coordinate your medical care. Home visits are available on a limited basis to practice members who are elderly and homebound.
What services are billed separately from the membership fee?
Fees for lab work, tests and imaging depend on your insurance plan. Most plans will cover labs ordered by Dr. Black, however some PPO plans will not. Most testing can be done at low fixed rates with the local lab and radiology service for which a fee scale can be provided. Any costs for urgent care, emergency room, hospital or specialist visits are billed to your insurance plan as usual. If you need an unusual or cost prohibitive test done and the rate being offered is out of network and unaffordable, we will refer you to another provider within your insurance network to have the test ordered at an in-network fee.
Can I be reimbursed from my health plan or health savings account for my membership fees?
If you have private health insurance, a health savings account or high deductible health plan, contact your insurance carrier directly to find out if your membership fees are reimbursable. We will provide a receipt as needed. Medicare does not reimburse for membership fees.
Why pay a membership fee when I already have primary care through my insurance?
Practice members:
*Enjoy more face to face time with your primary care physician to have your questions answered.
*See the same provider at every visit.
*Receive courtesy calls or visits from your doctor if at the hospital, rehab or nursing home to help coordinate care.
*Save money on low cost medications, lab testing and imaging services to help keep medical expenses down.
*Access a wider variety of services like functional and integrative medicine coaching.
*Receive medical advice directly from your physician by phone, video chat or messaging in between office visits.
Do you see people for consultation who are not interested in a membership?
Yes. Visits are open to individuals at the rate of $300 per hour consultation if there is scheduling availability. This includes a medical history, exam, diagnosis and treatment plan. Common reasons for consultation include second opinion visits, geriatric medicine consults, and physical exams for assisted living or nursing home placement.
What is your cancellation policy?
You may cancel your membership at anytime. Service will remain in effect for 30 days after notification of cancellation. Fees charged within 30 days of cancellation are non-refundable. Once membership is cancelled, you cannot re-enroll for 12 months from the month of cancellation.
How is payment for services processed?
Payments for initial visit or monthly service fees are processed using IntakeQ patient portal and Stripe. You can also pay be check.
How can I reach my physician?
Members of Empower Family Medicine can reach the physician at any time via telephone call or portal messaging to the doctor.
How are medication refills handled?
Medication refills are only completed at the time of an office visit. You will always be given more than enough refills to last until your next appointment. We do not accept calls or fax requests from pharmacies or patients for medication refills. When you see that you only have 1-2 months of refills remaining on your current prescription, it is time to schedule a visit to be seen in the office. If you run out of medication, pharmacists will often provide a 3 day supply to allow you time to be seen in the office for a medication refill.
Do you prescribe controlled substances?
We do not prescribe maintenance controlled substances. If you need a long term prescription for a narcotic, tranquilizer, stimulant, or controlled sleep medicine, then it must be initiated by your pain specialist, psychiatrist or sleep specialist. We can provide you a referral to these services as needed.
How is my health information secured to protect privacy?
The use of digital technology allows us to provide high quality care at a low cost. We do not discuss your health with others without your consent, but we do use electronic servers to store your medical information which can be subject to data breach. EFM is not responsible for data breach and release of your information from outside servers, including the Practice Fusion electronic medical record. We do not keep social security or credit card information on file.
How is care handled when my doctor is away?
Our goal is always that patients receive advice from their primary care doctor first in the event of an illness. Dr. Black takes vacation 3-4 weeks per year and is usually still available by phone. She is "off the grid" for 1-2 weeks a year. Practice members are notified in advance of these dates. Members are also given a complete copy of their medical history and medication list whenever significant changes are made. This can be presented to any urgent care, specialist, emergency or hospitalist physician if you need care when you or your doctor is travelling.
Who is eligible for membership?
Elder adults age 60 and over are eligible for membership. We do not provide pediatric or obstetrical care services at this time. There are many excellent care providers available in the Decatur area for pediatric and obstetric care and we would be happy to recommend other caregivers for these services.
Do you accept medical insurance?
No, we do not take insurance. Empower Family Medicine operates under a model called Direct Primary Care. Patients are charged a monthly membership fee for physician services.
Do you accept Medicare?
No, Medicare is not accepted at Empower Family Medicine. If you are a Medicare patient, you must sign an agreement stating that you will not submit your fees for reimbursement by Medicare. Medicare patients can join as members for the usual membership rate. Other services such as labs, radiology tests, consultant or hospitalist fees are billed to medicare as usual.
How much does membership cost?
The fee for an initial consultation is $170. If you then choose to enroll as a member, you will be billed $85 monthly via recurring bank or credit card withdrawal. .
What services does the membership fee include?
The membership fee includes an annual physical, office follow up visits as needed, and access to your physician through direct telephone, messaging and "virtual" visits online. Your physician may also make a courtesy call or visit to you in the hospital or rehab center to help coordinate your medical care. Home visits are available on a limited basis to practice members who are elderly and homebound.
What services are billed separately from the membership fee?
Fees for lab work, tests and imaging depend on your insurance plan. Most plans will cover labs ordered by Dr. Black, however some PPO plans will not. Most testing can be done at low fixed rates with the local lab and radiology service for which a fee scale can be provided. Any costs for urgent care, emergency room, hospital or specialist visits are billed to your insurance plan as usual. If you need an unusual or cost prohibitive test done and the rate being offered is out of network and unaffordable, we will refer you to another provider within your insurance network to have the test ordered at an in-network fee.
Can I be reimbursed from my health plan or health savings account for my membership fees?
If you have private health insurance, a health savings account or high deductible health plan, contact your insurance carrier directly to find out if your membership fees are reimbursable. We will provide a receipt as needed. Medicare does not reimburse for membership fees.
Why pay a membership fee when I already have primary care through my insurance?
Practice members:
*Enjoy more face to face time with your primary care physician to have your questions answered.
*See the same provider at every visit.
*Receive courtesy calls or visits from your doctor if at the hospital, rehab or nursing home to help coordinate care.
*Save money on low cost medications, lab testing and imaging services to help keep medical expenses down.
*Access a wider variety of services like functional and integrative medicine coaching.
*Receive medical advice directly from your physician by phone, video chat or messaging in between office visits.
Do you see people for consultation who are not interested in a membership?
Yes. Visits are open to individuals at the rate of $300 per hour consultation if there is scheduling availability. This includes a medical history, exam, diagnosis and treatment plan. Common reasons for consultation include second opinion visits, geriatric medicine consults, and physical exams for assisted living or nursing home placement.
What is your cancellation policy?
You may cancel your membership at anytime. Service will remain in effect for 30 days after notification of cancellation. Fees charged within 30 days of cancellation are non-refundable. Once membership is cancelled, you cannot re-enroll for 12 months from the month of cancellation.
How is payment for services processed?
Payments for initial visit or monthly service fees are processed using IntakeQ patient portal and Stripe. You can also pay be check.
How can I reach my physician?
Members of Empower Family Medicine can reach the physician at any time via telephone call or portal messaging to the doctor.
How are medication refills handled?
Medication refills are only completed at the time of an office visit. You will always be given more than enough refills to last until your next appointment. We do not accept calls or fax requests from pharmacies or patients for medication refills. When you see that you only have 1-2 months of refills remaining on your current prescription, it is time to schedule a visit to be seen in the office. If you run out of medication, pharmacists will often provide a 3 day supply to allow you time to be seen in the office for a medication refill.
Do you prescribe controlled substances?
We do not prescribe maintenance controlled substances. If you need a long term prescription for a narcotic, tranquilizer, stimulant, or controlled sleep medicine, then it must be initiated by your pain specialist, psychiatrist or sleep specialist. We can provide you a referral to these services as needed.
How is my health information secured to protect privacy?
The use of digital technology allows us to provide high quality care at a low cost. We do not discuss your health with others without your consent, but we do use electronic servers to store your medical information which can be subject to data breach. EFM is not responsible for data breach and release of your information from outside servers, including the Practice Fusion electronic medical record. We do not keep social security or credit card information on file.
How is care handled when my doctor is away?
Our goal is always that patients receive advice from their primary care doctor first in the event of an illness. Dr. Black takes vacation 3-4 weeks per year and is usually still available by phone. She is "off the grid" for 1-2 weeks a year. Practice members are notified in advance of these dates. Members are also given a complete copy of their medical history and medication list whenever significant changes are made. This can be presented to any urgent care, specialist, emergency or hospitalist physician if you need care when you or your doctor is travelling.