Direct Primary Care
Healing people.
Healing the practice of medicine.
Welcome to wellness.
What is Direct Primary Care (DPC)?
Imagine a visit to your doctor:
that wasn’t rushed
where all your questions were answered
who was able to bridge modern medicine, nutraceuticals, herbalism and other alternative forms of medicine
where he or she understood the importance of nutrition, and could explain it to you
THIS IS DPC. THIS IS Allegheny Integrative Medicine.
DPC stands for Direct Primary Care. It means exactly what it says – it is a direct relationship between a physician and patient without anyone in between them. This relationship has a variety of benefits and reestablishes the wholesome, therapeutic environment being lost in today’s HMO and Universal healthcare settings. Yes! Even European countries are dissatisfied with their “free” healthcare and are seeking alternatives, like DPCs.
How does a DPC work?
DPC practices are cashed based. The patient pays a one-time onboarding fee and then a small monthly fee thereafter directly to their physician. The monthly fee covers reasonably unlimited direct communication and hourly office visits (see fee schedule below). That’s it.
Allegheny Integrative Medicine, PLLC (AIM) is not only general practice, but offers integrative approach to medical care. Integrative medicine can mean a lot of things. At AIM, Dr. Hare practices a combination of modern Western medicine with Functional medicine and Ayurvedic knowledge. Your health is approached in a whole-body manner. There is no problem that exists in isolation.
Dr. Hare is a board-certified Family Medicine physician and sees patients of every age. Read more about Dr. Hare here.
AIM will be accepting new patients this spring, 2025.
For more information, please contact us at:
hello@aimedicine.life
(413) 478-3567
Commonly asked questions:
Q: Why do you not take insurance?
A: The answer to this is complex. I have a blog article that explains why here. In short, insurance companies run everything about how your doctor practices. If your doctor takes insurance, she literally cannot afford to spend more than 15 minutes with you at a time. You also must come in person to be treated. Insurance companies are the reason medical care costs are astronomical in this country (and others!). By stepping out of the insurance scam game, I am able to create the best practice for my patients (and myself!).
Q: So, can I still use my insurance outside of your practice?
A: Yes! You can still use your insurance for anything outside of our office. This includes any medications we prescribe, any specialists or services you are referred to (like physical therapy or imaging studies).
Q: Do you do telehealth?
A: Yes. DPCs were the pioneers for telehealth. Because you have an intimate relationship with your physician (i.e. your DPC doctor knows you well) and you already pay your doctor for services, you do not need to come into their office ever little concern. As a DPC patient it is routine that you would conduct a great deal of interaction remotely, if you wish. A quick FaceTime with your physician while you are at the pharmacy saves everyone a lot of time. DPCs thrived during COVID lockdowns because they had these communication systems in place… and because of their great relationships with their patients :)
Q: Are there hidden fees?
A: No. Sometimes there may be an added fee for services. Some procedures or tests done in office may have a small additional cost. For instance, a urinalysis (a urine test done to determine if a person has a bladder infection) would be $5. As a DPC patient, that is what your visit would cost that day, total. However, if you came in for a routine physical where lab work was ordered, you would have no additional charge that day. Of course, all hands-on therapies (like shirodhara or peri-steam) are separate services and are charged outside of DPC memberships.
Q: What do you mean by unlimited direct communication?
A: Call or email anytime during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm. Monthly members can reach out with any question or concern they have during business hours. If I do not immediately answer I usually get back within an hour pr so.
Q: Is monthly membership for people 99 years and older really $1/mo?
A: Yes.
An integrative DPC focuses on chronic issues.
Integrative medicine supports your healing journey with all chronic conditions, such as:
Allergies
Asthma
Autoimmune diseases
Alzheimer’s dementia
Cancer
Chronic Pain
Coronary Artery disease, atherosclerosis, heart attacks and strokes
Depression/anxiety
Diabetes
Eczema and other skin issues
Fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic EBV infection, and other post-viral syndromes, including Long Haul CoVID
IBS/IBD
Gout
Helicobacter pylori chronic infection
HIV/AIDS
Chronic Lyme disease with Co-infections
Multiple Sclerosis
POTS
What does a DPC cost?
Monthly Membership Benefits
Membership means that you are officially a patient of Allegheny Integrative Medicine (AIM)/Julie Hare, MD. Depending on the level of membership and associated monthly fee schedule you select, you are entitled to a certain number of office visits with or without necessary therapeutic procedures, lab work, referrals, and house-calls, and direct reasonably unlimited communication (via phone, email and/or video) directly with Dr. Hare, Monday through Friday 9 am – 5 pm. There are two levels of membership at this time, please see descriptions below.
There are several levels if membership at this time, and certain services are also available Á la Carte. Please see detailed descriptions below.
Membership also includes regular member exclusive emails filled with seasonal tips and tricks as well as reviews of current topics. Monthly members also enjoy a 10% discount on all products and services in-office.
All patients are required to pay a one-time initial registration fee. This occurs once in a lifetime, it is not something you ever have to repeat. You do not have to sign up for a monthly membership to be a patient with us. In this case, you would register once and then pay an hourly rate (Á la Carte) when you wanted to be seen. You can sign up for monthly membership at anytime.
Initial Paperwork Fees
Initial paperwork with monthly membership sign-up: $50 one-time fee
Initial paperwork without monthly membership sign-up: $75 one-time fee
Monthly Fees
Basic Membership: $55/month for adults or solo child
This membership includes quarterly (every 3 months) 1-hour visits (in-person or remotely), up to one additional quarterly quick drop-in as needed for focused problems (e.g.: sore throat, sprained knee, etc) and reasonably unlimited communication via phone calls and emails (i.e. not daily, not exceeding 15 minutes). There may be additional fees for in-office testing (ex: $5 for a urinalysis), or minor surgical or other equipment and supply-intensive procedures, but these are usually minimal.
Additional office visits (in person or remote) are always available at the rate of $100/hr, billed on the quarter hour.
Coaching Membership: $95/month for adults or solo child
This membership differs in that it allows up to 1-hour office visits every month, in addition to the services covered under Basic Membership. This is ideal for people who are working on significant chronic issues and need a lot of face-to-face time.
Additional office visits (in person or remote) are always available at the rate of $100/hr, billed on the quarter hour.
Children Basic Membership: $15/mo with an adult
Children 0-17 years of age can be included in the Basic Membership of their custodial parent or legal guardian for $15/mo for each child. Otherwise, a solo child Basic Membership (not associated with an adult membership) is otherwise $55/mo. All children have the same office visit/telehealth service availability as adult members of the same level.
Additional office visits (in person or remote) are always available at the rate of $100/hr, billed on the quarter hour.
Children Coaching $30/month with an adult
This membership offers to children the same enhanced level of service that adult coaching members receive.
Additional office visits (in person or remote) are always available at the rate of $100/hr, billed on the quarter hour.
Century Club – 99 yrs and older
All adults 99 years and older pay $1/mo, this includes reasonably unlimited office/telehealth visits monthly. House call fees do apply, see below.
House calls: $ 100/hr additional fee for members, OR, Á la Carte hourly fee $150/hr
For any level or age of member, house calls cost an additional fee. For Basic, Coaching or Child Membership it is an hourly rate of $100/hr. If you do not engage in membership, an hourly rate of $150/ hr applies. Time is counted from the time the doctor leaves her home or office until she has returned. All house calls are charged the IRS standard of $0.70/mile for round trip travel. As an example:
EXAMPLE: If you hold a Basic Monthly membership, live 17 miles from my office and require a two-hour home visit then your cost would be: (34 mi x $0.70/mi) + (3 hr x $100/hr) = $323.80 total for the visit, payable immediately.
You MUST register as a patient at or prior to your first house call. House calls are in person. Telehealth visits are included in membership.
Á la Carte: $120/hr
You are not required to have a monthly membership to be a patient with us. In this circumstance, you would pay a one-time application fee of $75 and then $120/hr for any time spent during visits as you need, charged by the quarter hour. Please note: You MUST register once in order to be seen Á la Carte.
We conduct all patient-physician interactions under the guidelines of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). Learn more: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) | CDC
AIM will be accepting new patients this spring 2025.
For more information, please contact us at:
hello@aimedicine.life
(413) 478-3567
