FAQ

Direct Primary care is a model of healthcare that focuses on restoring a trusting, therapeutic patient physician relationship. It puts the patient first, without the red tape and interference of insurance companies. DPC practices offer a full range of primary care services for a monthly or annual retainer fee, paid directly to the practice.

The terms are often used interchangeable; however, there are shared similarities and distinct differences. Direct Primary Care is a healthcare model that focuses on putting the patient first. This means limiting the practice size to get to know patients well, compared to the average physician who cares for 2,000 + patients. It means treating a patient when they need it, never rushing through appointments or having long wait times to see the doctor, and being proactive, instead of reactive, with healthcare treatment plans. The patient physician relationship is just as the name suggests—direct. Direct Primary Care practices differ from many concierge practices because they do not accept insurance, nor do they bill insurance for individual office visits. Rather, they choose to work directly with the patient, providing high value services with their memberships, such as wholesale labs, imaging studies and other conveniences along the way.

Living Water Pediatrics does not participate in any insurance plans and is considered an out-of-network provider on most plans. Upon request, we can generate a billing receipt for covered services such as well child checks and vaccinations. Reimbursement for out-of-network services varies widely with each insurance plan. Please consult with a representative from your insurance plan to learn more about the details of your policy’s coverage.

Yes. Living Water Pediatrics is not an insurance plan, nor is it a substitute for health insurance. We recommend that our patients continue with a major medical plan, such as a high deductible insurance plan with a health savings account, to ensure financial coverage for a catastrophic illness, hospitalization or specialty care. Please consult with your insurance agent or insurance representative to help customize an insurance plan that fits your specific needs.

Membership fees are charged monthly to your debit card, credit card or bank account. Membership fees can also be paid annually. A one-time enrollment fee is due at the beginning of services with Living Water Pediatrics.

Your membership fee does not count toward your medical insurance deductible. Some patients have Health Savings Accounts or Flexible Spending Accounts, which may allow for the monthly fees to be paid with pre-tax dollars. Please contact your health plan representative to find out about the details of your plan and consult with your tax advisor for potential tax benefits.

These services are not covered by the membership fee: Vaccinations: Our clinic has partnered with a local pharmacy to help with insurance coverage of childhood vaccinations. There is no charge to administer the vaccines in our practice. Specialty visits, hospital stays, surgeries, etc: Any medical services from other medical providers will be billed to your insurance plan.

Childhood illnesses and injuries are unpredictable. A broken bone, a late night fever, a sick child while traveling can all send families to seek urgent or emergency care unexpectedly. We have designed our practice to provide ideal convenience, accessibility, cost savings, and peace of mind for parents in these situations. We take care of our patients in a way that makes sense for your family.

We also believe that optimal health is not the absence of disease. We know that childhood health sets the foundation for chronic diseases later on in life, which is why we practice proactive, personalized medicine. Rather than the once-a-year snapshot of your child’s health, our practice offers year-round quality care, whenever it is needed. Living Water Pediatrics is committed to partnering with families to customize treatment plans to fit the unique needs of your child. We keep our practice small, so that we can provide a level of personalized care that is not possible in today’s large, busy pediatric practices.

At Living Water Pediatrics, we understand that children do not always get sick at “convenient” times. We have structured our practice to give you direct accessibility to our pediatricians, who know you and your child well. Call, email, text your child’s urgent medical need and we will get back to you in a timely manner. We provide after hours and weekend care on a case by case basis.

One of the membership benefits is travel medicine. When appropriate, we try to facilitate medical care via virtual medical visits, a phone call or email when families are traveling. We have the ability to call in prescriptions to local pharmacies and to help coordinate medical care at an urgent care or an emergency department in the event that it is necessary.

Yes, we offer house calls for members of our practice. We cover areas in Charlotte that are in a 10-mile radius of our office. If you are outside of this geographic area, please contact our office for additional details and accommodations that can be made for this service.

Yes. We know that every year, children need sports physicals to safely participate in their favorite sports activities. You do not have to wait until their “annual physical” to have this visit. We schedule sports physicals as same day and next day visits because we know your child well. There is no extra charge to have your sports physical forms filled out. This is just part of the benefits of your membership to our practice.

Yes. We offer special discounts for medical ear piercing, only available to members of our practice. You can have peace of mind that your pediatrician is ensuring that your child has a safe and sanitary ear piercing experience.

Since our practice does not accept insurance, we are free from contractual agreements of third-party payers. We have negotiated discounted rates on outside laboratory exams and imaging studies on behalf of our patients. All in office laboratory tests and medications are included as part of your membership. We provide medical supplies at wholesale pricing to our patients.

We pass this cost savings onto your family, so that you receive high value services with our memberships.

Choosing a doctor for your newborn’s medical care is an important decision for expectant parents. We offer free consultations to learn more about our practice and to make sure that we are the right fit for your family.

Living Water Pediatrics works closely with the hospitalist teams in Charlotte for pediatric hospital admissions. We have ongoing communication with your medical providers, so that we know about your child’s treatment course and plan. Our pediatricians act as your child’s advocate to make sure that they receive the medical care that they need and to coordinate follow up visits in our clinic.

Yes. When appropriate, practice members can use photos and video conferencing to communicate with our practice. In many cases, questions can be answered and diagnoses can be made (or ruled out) without an office visit. These visits can save families time and money. It is part of the benefits of your membership to our practice.

Living Water Pediatrics believes that vaccination is an integral part of pediatric care to prevent life threatening illness in children. In our practice, we encourage parents to have discussions about the risks and benefits of vaccines with our pediatricians. We understand that this health intervention is best accomplished within the confines of a trusting, mutually respectful relationship with your pediatrician and with the consideration of each child’s individual needs. We follow the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended vaccine schedule. Alternative vaccine schedules can be accommodated in our practice.

We feel that the decision to vaccinate is not only a public health issue, but it is also a personal decision for each family. Additionally, our practice feels that a child should not be left without a pediatrician as a result of their parents’ personal beliefs.

Please contact us to learn more about our practice and to schedule your free consultation today!

We are willing to see sick patients, who are not members of the practice, on a fee-for-service basis as our schedule permits. Well-child care is limited to patients, who are members of Living Water Pediatrics. We offer integrative medicine consultations for an in-depth exploration of chronic illnesses in children. We also offer lactation consulting and newborn care and medical ear piercing packages. You do not have to be a member of the practice to access these services. Please contact our office for more details about these services.

If you decide to leave Living Water Pediatrics for any reason, there is no penalty or fee. If you have a prepaid membership for the year, then we will reimburse you for the unused months. We require a thirty-day written notice for termination of membership.

Living Water Pediatrics provides a limited number of “scholarship memberships” to families at a reduced rate (or free of charge). In most cases, we reserve these memberships for medically complicated patients, who require significant care and would benefit from personalized care. Please contact our office for more details.

There are limited times during the year, where our pediatricians are not able to care for patients because of vacation or continuing medical education. During these times, our practice will have coverage from a local pediatric provider.