Frequently Asked Questions

"What?!?"

An altogether typical response to Celebrate’s proposal for medical care.

What is Celebrate Primary Care?

Celebrate Primary Care is Gainesville’s first direct access medical practice, a pattern of family health care that is immediate, thorough, comprehensive, specific, easily affordable, and very, very personal.

Is Concierge Medicine the Same as Direct Primary Care?

The terms are often used interchangeably, and essentially refer to the same thing. Direct primary care is a healthcare model focused on putting the patient first. That means treating them when they need it, never rushing patients through appointments, and being proactive with healthcare treatment plans. The provider-patient relationship is just as the name suggests – direct. Direct primary care clinics don’t accept insurance, rather they choose to work directly with the patient, providing wholesale labs and prescription prices along the way.

What sets Celebrate Primary Care apart from other practices?

We have shrugged the bureaucracy. We have shredded red tape. In refusing to recognize any interference with the sanctity of the patient/provider relationship, we have returned family practice medicine to its root values of clinical excellence for and compassionate knowledge of every patient. In every aspect of family health care, and custom health care, we promise accessibility, convenience, and affordability.

Will I still benefit from Celebrate Primary Care even if I don’t require frequent medical attention?

Of course. We might argue that everyone benefits from a service tailored directly to them. That’s why we offer custom healthcare. Our practice is devoted to the maintenance of your good health, to the enhancements of your daily experience that only physical well-being can bring.

In wellness and therapeutic care alike, our great ally is time. Large amounts of precious, irretrievable time given to you as you wish. Every visit, for whatever reason, will be easy-going in its absolute thoroughness, relaxed in answering your questions and addressing the need of the moment. Then, as the months and years go by, we’ll build a comprehensive, intimate knowledge of your health, invaluable understanding available in no other regimen of care.

Does Celebrate Primary Care accept health insurance?

No. Happily, no.

Perhaps the most critical distinction in our model of care centers on a direct, personal relationship between you and your medical provider. That directness carries over to our business model as well. While the tender mercies of an insurance company might apply to the fixing of a damaged fender on your automobile, we see no reason for any insurer to have a voice about either the quality or the cost of your family’s health care.

We forgo insurance payments in order to save our patients from the arbitrary, intrusive decisions that inevitably follow with third-party payors. Furthermore, this direct fee-for-services arrangement frees us from the typical contractual agreements that prevent physicians from offering wholesale prices on laboratory tests, imaging, and medications.

As a patient of Celebrate Primary Care, will I still need health insurance?

Yes. We recommend that our members continue to carry both a major medical plan and a health savings account, thereby ensuring financial help should hospitalization or referral to a specialist be necessary. We do not have insurance agents on staff.

Can you help me find affordable insurance for my family or my business?

Healthcare sharing is a great option that works really well with our direct primary care model. We do not have insurance agents on staff.

If I have Medicare, can I still join Celebrate Primary Care?

Yes. We have an opt out form for you to sign stating that you understand that we do not bill through Medicare. Medicare will still cover any laboratory testing, imaging, medications, or hospitalizations prescribed by our offices.

Are my monthly care fees to Celebrate Primary Care tax deductible?

Unfortunately, no. Your retainer is not yet defined as a “medical expense” in most states and as such is not deductible. The American Academy of Private Physicians, however, is lobbying hard to win rightful deductibility for these expenses. In the meantime, consult with your tax consultant to clarify tax consequences in your particular circumstances.

What happens if I need to go to the hospital or see a specialist?

In providing superb care with an unprecedented level of access, we seek to prevent or reduce hospitalizations and specialty referrals. In those instances where those types of care are required, we will certainly continue to serve you during your hospital stay or to work closely with any specialist. In some cases, depending on the level of care and the sorts of expertise required, we may rely on those specialized caregivers to manage your treatment.

Can children become members of Celebrate Primary Care?

Yes. We are happy to accept the children (birth to 17 years of age) of our enrolled clients. At this time, we are not able to provide routine vaccinations for young children but we will happily work with you to arrange these.

Can I contact my provider after hours? And how?

By all means, yes! Because illness and injury do not respect regular office hours, you may contact your provider when you need to. You can email, text or speak to your provider on the phone.

What if I need medical attention while I’m away from home?

Naturally we provide such care – yet another freedom we enjoy together as a result of our independence from the restrictions of third-party payment. Because we know you well, we can streamline your care when you’re sick away from home. In the age of telemedicine, many illnesses can be diagnosed and treated with a simple conversation by phone or webcam. We’ll locate the nearest pharmacy and order the medications most appropriate for your present circumstances.

Are my medical records ever shared with insurance carriers or pharmaceutical companies?

We maintain scrupulous standards of privacy. We are never obligated to provide any third party with a copy of your records, unless you specifically ask that we do so.

How will I know if the providers of Celebrate Primary Care are right for me?

Please schedule a visit to discuss your needs for health care, a visit that will be free and unconditional. It’s the only reasonable way to begin what, we trust, will be a long, productive, altogether healthy friendship. Get in touch here!