Question 1

What sets Magnolia Direct Family Care apart from other clinics?

Accepted Answer

We prioritize the patient experience by providing an inclusive, relaxed environment.  Dr. Cook believes in whole person care and takes time to get to know her patients.  You will not be a "number" here.

Question 2

What is direct primary care?

Accepted Answer

DPC is a revolutionary model of healthcare designed to bring primary care back to where it belongs - between the doctor and patient.  It was started in response to rising healthcare costs, confusion, and frustration around insurance coverage, but also the rushed, impersonal nature of traditional primary care settings. We cut out the middle man, providing you with quality primary care for a fixed monthly fee that grants you access to same-day or next-day appointments, 30-60 minute office visits as well as streamlined communication with your doctor, minimal wait times, and price transparency.

Question 3

Who benefits from direct primary care?

Accepted Answer

DPC is beneficial to a wide variety of patients. If you are uninsured or underinsured, you may find yourself putting off doctors visits for fear of high costs. Our membership model aims to take the "guess-work" out of the cost of care.
 
For patients who are insured, you may still struggle to get timely appointments or to find a doctor who you feel has the time and capability to listen to your concerns. Dr. Cook values the doctor-patient relationship above all else, and over time is able to develop a deep understanding of your healthcare needs in order to tailor a treatment plan that works for you.

Question 4

Does Magnolia Direct Family Care accept insurance?

Accepted Answer

Fortunately, no, which is why we can offer such high quality, affordable care. When we contract with insurance companies, we are beholden to insurers to approve or deny treatments and to determine the cost of your care. Clinics that accept insurance have to see more patients in less time in order to offset the costs of insurance billing. Our clinic works directly with you, collaborating to make the healthcare decisions that are best for you and your family. No deductibles, surprise bills, or costly co-pays.

Question 5

How can DPC benefit me if I have Medicare or "good insurance"?"

Accepted Answer

It has been said that "good insurance doesn't necessarily equal good healthcare," and Dr Cook has seen many instances of this firsthand, both with her patients and in her own family. There remains a lack of price transparency in the traditional insurance model. For example, one facility may charge >$1000 for a certain imaging test, while another may only charge $350 for the same test, but that information isn't readily available to patients. Even though someone might have "good insurance," if they have a $1000 deductible, they would be out this much out of pocket right away. What Magnolia Direct Family Care offers is the time and commitment to navigate all this and make sure patients know what they are paying for.
 
Magnolia Direct Family Care also affords us the ability to maintain a smaller patient panel and give more individualized attention to patients. We want to be available to you when you need us.  Our goal is to keep you healthy, out of urgent care, out of the ER, and out of the hospital as much as possible.

Question 6

Are there any contracts or commitments?

Accepted Answer

The short answer is no. We do have a "patient contract" but there is no financial commitment, so patients may cancel at any time. We want patients to feel like this is a valuable service, so if someone no longer gets "value" out of their membership, they can easily cancel.  No weirdness or hard feelings.  There is a $200 re-enrollment fee if membership lapses for more than 30 days.

Question 7

But what if I have insurance?  Why would I still pay for your service?

Accepted Answer

Good question and we're glad you have insurance.  We encourage patients to have some sort of insurance plan/catastrophic coverage for things outside of our clinic.  Although we don't accept insurance for our services, you can still utilize your insurance for things like imaging, specialists and hospitalizations.  
Think of us as an advocate to help you navigate the complicated insurance landscape.  Even people with "good insurance" are amazed at how much they still pay out of pocket when they factor in copays and deductibles.  We know how the system works and can still help our insured patients save money. Good insurance is a thing of the past.

Question 8

Will I still need insurance?

Accepted Answer

It is encouraged, but not necessary to be a member of Magnolia Direct Family Care. We recommend at least a high-deductible, low-premium plan or health share in conjunction with our membership in order to save you money monthly while retaining coverage for emergency situations. We do work with brokers who can assist in tailoring an insurance plan that pairs well with our direct care model, so we'll be happy to guide you through this if needed.

Question 9

What if I don't have health insurance?

Accepted Answer

No problem.  We realize lots of people either cannot afford or do not have access to health insurance.  We can provide primary care (which addresses 80-90% of day to day patient needs) with access to wholesale labs and medications.  Savings through this often pays for the membership.  Many times, we can keep patients from having to go to urgent care.

Question 10

What if I'm healthy and I don't go to the doctor that often?

Accepted Answer

Great question.  We do encourage at least one wellness visit per year to go over how you're feeling, if anything is new in your family, review risk factors and if you're due for preventative things like blood pressure screening, etc.  We believe in being proactive with health as well, so we WANT you to reach out with health concerns or questions along the way.  Imagine this:  you're sitting on the couch on a Saturday morning and see an advertisement for some amazing supplement.....now what if you could email your doctor to ask about it.  
Since we reduce the barriers to access, patients are able (and encouraged) to reach out to us about ALL THINGS HEALTH.  
This piece of mind is invaluable for many!

Audra Cook, M.D.
205 N Monte Vista
Ada, Oklahoma
580-722-5400

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