Letter from Arizona Internists Founders

After years of navigating the complexities of traditional healthcare systems, we've decided to move to a subscription-based, direct primary care model.
Michael Germain, MD Danielle Wicklow, MD

Over the past decade of practicing medicine, it has been our privilege to contribute to the healthcare of many wonderful individuals. Our relationships with our patients have meant a great deal to us, and we truly value their trust in us. Progressively, we have found ourselves spending more and more time on paperwork, insurance requirements, and administrative tasks—time that takes us away from what we value most: caring for patients.

We have reflected on why we became physicians: to provide high-quality, personalized care to improve the well-being of our patients. Unfortunately, the current healthcare system often creates barriers between physicians and their patients, making it harder to provide the time and attention that patients deserve.

After much thought and consideration, we decided to make a change that will allow us to return to our values. We will be transitioning to a cash subscription-based care model, sometimes called 'direct primary care.' This may be a new concept for some, so we want to explain what it means, how it will look in practice, and why we believe patients will be much happier with this model.

What Stays the Same:

  • Your Ability to Use Insurance: You can still use your insurance for labs, imaging, referrals to specialists, and medical supplies. The key change is that we will no longer be billing your insurance company directly for our services.

What Changes:

  • Simplified Billing: Instead of dealing with complex insurance billing and unexpected charges, there will be a straightforward monthly fee that covers all of our services, regardless of the number of visits. This means no hidden fees or surprise bills.
  • More Time and Personalized Care: With fewer administrative burdens and no insurance constraints, we can focus entirely on you. We will have more time during appointments to address all of your concerns without feeling rushed.
  • Improved Access and Communication: We have invested in systems that allow you to communicate with us directly via phone, text message, and email. Without layers of bureaucracy, we will be able to respond more quickly and personally. The goal is to be so accessible that you will rarely, if ever, need to rely on urgent care centers for same-day or next-day needs.
  • Lower Costs for Labs and Imaging: By not being tied to insurance contracts, we can negotiate lower cash prices for lab tests and imaging services, potentially reducing your out-of-pocket expenses.
  • Focus on Preventive Care: Without insurance mandates and checklists dictating our visits, we can concentrate on what truly matters to you. Together, we will work proactively to prevent health issues before they arise, rather than reacting to problems after they occur.

We want to create an experience that feels like we are returning to a time when it was just you and your doctor working together for your health, without third parties in between. By stepping outside the current system, we can better care for our patients as we always intended.

To make this vision work effectively, we must limit the number of patients we accept into this new model. While the exact number is not yet determined, it will be a fraction of our current panels. We believe this is the best way for us to continue growing as physicians and return to providing a high-quality, patient-centered experience.

This model may be new to many, and there may be questions or concerns. Please review our frequently asked questions section to explain how this new model works and answer many of your questions. We suspect many of your concerns will be addressed there. In the meantime, please contact us directly if you have any questions.