Frequently Asked Questions
What is Direct Primary Care (DPC)?
Direct Primary Care (DPC) is a membership-based healthcare model where you pay a monthly fee directly to your doctor, bypassing traditional insurance. This eliminates the need for insurance claims, copays, deductibles, and long wait times, allowing for more direct access and a personalized experience.
What is SHINE DPC?
SHINE DPC is a family medicine clinic led by Dr. Frances I. Romero, offering comprehensive, patient-centered care through a membership model. For a predictable monthly fee, you get direct access to Dr. Romero, who spends more time with each patient and provides proactive, personalized healthcare.
What makes SHINE DPC different from other practices?
At SHINE DPC, you wonāt be rushed through your appointments. Dr. Romero has the time and flexibility to address all of your concerns, focusing on long-term wellness, prevention, and comprehensive care. Most services are included in your membership, and you wonāt face insurance-related delays or hassles.
Will I benefit from SHINE DPC if I don’t need to see a doctor often?
Absolutely! Even if youāre in good health, SHINE DPC is valuable for maintaining your health in the long run. Dr. Romero focuses on prevention and proactive care, so you can stay healthy and avoid future issues. Youāll have easy access to her via office visits, texts, or video calls, which are all included in your membership.
Does SHINE DPC accept health insurance?
No, we do not accept insurance for any of our services. SHINE DPC is based on a simple, straightforward membership model. This allows us to focus on care rather than insurance claims or red tape. However, we can still send lab work, imaging, and referrals to your insurance provider, and you can use your insurance for those services.
Can I submit for reimbursement through my insurance?
Because we do not bill insurance directly, our services are not eligible for reimbursement. However, many patients find the membership model to be more cost-effective and predictable compared to traditional insurance. You can still use insurance for labs, imaging, and referrals when applicable.
Do you accept Medicare?
Dr. Romero is "OPTED OUT" of Medicare, meaning we do not bill Medicare for primary care services. However, Medicare can still be used for labs, imaging, and specialist visits. Your membership covers primary care services directly with Dr. Romero, and we can help integrate your previous healthcare records.
How does ShineDPC differ from Concierge Care?
SHINE DPC operates during standard business hours, which allows Dr. Romero to provide focused, personalized care to her patients. While we donāt offer after-hours or emergency services, you have easy access to Dr. Romero during regular hours for urgent issues that donāt require emergency care. We also help coordinate emergency care if needed when we are available. Some smaller injuries can be sent straight to radiology or referred to wound care or other specialized area.
How much does SHINE DPC cost?
The monthly membership fee covers all routine care, including visits, messaging, prescription refills, and referrals with Dr. Romero. There are no hidden fees, no copays, and no deductibles. You will only pay additional costs for things like specialized labs, imaging, and medications, which can be submitted to your insurance provider.
How do I sign up for SHINE DPC?
To join SHINE DPC, simply complete the enrollment process by filling out the necessary forms and providing your medical history. Once you enroll, you will see your enrollment charged, weāll set up your patient account, integrate your previous medical records, and schedule your first appointment. Memberships start at the beginning of each month, and we usually schedule your first visit within 2-4 days. Please note as we do have limited spaces available we have a waitlist. We take patients as openings become available. Though we want to take everyone immediately, it is an important part of our practice to balance our existing patient commitments while continuing to expand care to more individuals in a manageable way.