Is Direct Primary Care a form of insurance?
No. Direct Primary Care (DPC), is NOT an insurance product, nor does it replace the need for insurance for serious illness, specialist care or hospitalizations. DPC is a way to pay directly for the primary care services that you receive from Active Choice Healthcare through a flat rate monthly payment.
How can you spend so long with patients?
Active Choice Healthcare limits the number of enrollees to less than ⅓ of the typical practice, which means more time for each patient, and more available appointments.
How can you charge so little compared with insurance premiums?
We do not participate with any insurance or government sponsored healthcare programs, and the administrative time and cost savings is returned to patients in the form of improved access and lower fees.  In many cases, the full year of fees will add up to less than your deductible, making the service pay for itself if you are able to prevent just one urgent care or ER visit.
Does this replace my health insurance? Do I still need insurance?
Direct Primary Care does not replace health insurance. It is still important to maintain insurance coverage for serious illness and unanticipated medical expenses.  However, by pairing your Active Choice Healthcare membership with a high-deductible PPO health insurance plan (i.e. bronze level), you may be able to significantly reduce your insurance premiums, while gaining more comprehensive, convenient, and personalized healthcare services.  We have resources to help you select the best insurance based on your particular needs.
Do you participate with my health insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare?
No. We believe that the Doctor’s time belongs to his patients, not the insurance company, so your fees go directly to covering the cost of your care, not to the profits of insurance companies or government bloat. We do NOT participate with or bill any insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare for any services provided by Dr. Kropp or Active Choice Healthcare. We do not collect copays. Dr. Kropp has opted out of Medicare and other insurance plans so that he can focus on patients rather than paperwork.
I have an HMO. Can I still see Dr. Kropp?
Yes.  However, Dr. Kropp is not a participating provider.  HMOs control their costs by strictly managing every facet of members’ health care choices, and require referrals and testing to be submitted by an in-network PCP.   We recommend that patients choose a PPO plan.
Can I submit a bill to insurance myself for office visits?

We can provide you with the necessary form for you to request reimbursement for qualified services such as office visits.  However, we cannot guarantee that you will receive reimbursement from your insurance company. Medicare patients are prohibited by regulations from submitting bills for services provided by Dr. Kropp.

Can I use a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flex- Spending Account (FSA) to pay the monthly fee?
The IRS code that defines Qualified Expenses does not specifically permit the periodic fee structure of Direct Primary Care. Patients who wish to utilize HSA or FSA funds to pay for the periodic fee should consult with their benefits representative or accountant.
What if I need to see a specialist?
Hospital admissions will be managed by the hospital’s team. Because Dr. Kropp takes the time to fully assess problems in the context of the whole patient, many issues can be more thoughtfully managed in the primary care setting. We avoid reflexively generating costly referrals that can further fragment your care.  When we do seek input from other experts, Dr. Kropp makes the time to communicate directly with specialists or hospitalists, rather than relying solely on faxed office notes to coordinate your care plan. He will personally take the time to ensure that you fully understand the role and advice of the specialists that you encounter.
What if I am admitted to the hospital?
Dr. Kropp does not admit patients to the hospital. He maintains privileges at Concord Hospital, where he may visit his patients, access their medical records, and participate regularly in care planning with the admitting Hospitalist team.  His role is to advocate for patients and ensure that patients receive the highest level of care coordination from admission through discharge and follow-up.  He will take the time to be sure that you understand your inpatient care each step of the way.  
Do you visit patients at nursing homes or hospice?
Yes, current patients who enter short or long term nursing care may continue to receive primary care services from Dr. Kropp, provided they are at a facility where Dr. Kropp has privileges to attend to patients.  Dr. Kropp provides care to home hospice patients without the usual fee associated with house calls. Dr. Kropp does not accept new patients that currently reside in long term nursing care. 
Do you make house calls?
Yes, there are some situations in which the best way to deliver care to a patient is to visit them at home. Because of the added time and travel expense, these visits are available on a limited basis at the discretion of Dr. Kropp, and subject to an additional per visit fee.
Is Dr. Kropp really on call 24/7?
Dr. Kropp is committed to providing personalized care to his patients. Patients are able to directly dial Dr. Kropp after business hours for urgent matters that cannot wait until the next business day or are of a sensitive or timely nature that is not appropriate for text or email.  Dr. Kropp asks that patients understand that their doctor is a also a real person with a young family, who strives to lead his patients by example with an appropriate work-life balance. In the event of an emergency, patients should not try to contact Dr. Kropp first.  They should call 911 or proceed to the emergency room and contact Dr. Kropp once the condition has stabilized.
Do you have after hours appointments?

We understand that for many patients, 9-5 office hours would require them to take time off from work to visit the doctor.  If you don’t see times that work for your schedule, just ask and we’ll find a convenient time to meet your needs through an office or virtual visit.

What happens when the doctor goes out of town?
Dr. Kropp does periodically close the office to attend an educational conference or to vacation with family. During a scheduled absence, arrangements will be made for an alternate physician or qualified licensed provider to respond to phone calls to meet the urgent needs of patients. In the event of an unscheduled absence, we will make reasonable attempts to provide alternative coverage.
Can I meet the Doctor before deciding to enroll?
Yes.  We are happy to schedule a complimentary visit for you to meet Dr. Kropp and see if Active Choice Healthcare would be a good fit for you and your family.
Why should I pay every month if I'm healthy and only go to the doctor once a year for a checkup?
A long term relationship with a primary care doctor is one of the best investments you can make for your health. If your Doctor takes the time to get to know you over half a dozen unrushed wellness visits in as many years, that relationship can form the basis for the personalized care you will want should you experience an untimely illness or injury.  Also, with this model you may choose to consult or visit your doctor more frequently without fear of copays, deductibles, or costly per visit charges.  We welcome ongoing communication, questions, and wellness planning as an integral part of building our relationship with you. Healthy individuals tend to really benefit financially from this model when they make strategic health insurance choices and investments.  By choosing higher deductibles with lower premiums they can put the savings towards a Health Savings Account for unanticipated medical expenses, and lock in a fixed cost for their primary care. Don’t become one of those people with insurance who can’t afford to go to the doctor.  
Do I have to sign a contract when I enroll? What if I change my mind?
We want all of our patient to have an opportunity to fully review and understand what we do and how we do it at Active Choice Healthcare. For this reason we have our service agreement. which outlines our policies.  Ongoing longitudinal care is a core principle of the Direct Primary Care model, which relies on monthly fees in order to sustain the practice.  Termination and re-enrollment is strongly discouraged.
Do you offer routine vaccinations in the office?

We believe that immunizations are one of the greatest medical advances of the last century, and we require that pediatric patients be immunized according to the CDC recommended schedule.

However, because of the cost associated with obtaining and storing vaccines, we are not able to offer the vaccinations in the office.  We are happy to arrange for convenient alternatives for adult and pediatric immunizations. 

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