Do you take health insurance? What is direct primary care?
No, we do not bill insurance. The reason why primary care physicians can only see you for a few minutes is because of the ever dwindling amount insurance companies pay out for primary care, forcing doctors to see even more patients just to maintain their practice. Additionally, insurance companies keep increasing the administrative demands of physicians, requiring them to submit paperwork that may not even have anything to do with your health. In order to get back to a more traditional medical practice we’ve decided to cut out the middle man and offer a subscription based service that gets you more for your money while allowing us to do the thing we love: help take care of your health while building a solid relationship.
Do you recommend that I keep my health insurance if I use your services?
Yes, the benefit of having health insurance is in the event of something catastrophic happening to you or your family, e.g. someone ends up in the hospital, gets diagnosed with cancer, etc. You should always choose the best insurance for your circumstances. If you plan on using Direct Primary Care for your basic needs then something like a low cost, high deductible plan with or without a Health Savings Account might be the best use of your hard earned cash.
Can I pay the monthly subscription with the funds in my Health Savings Account?
Unfortunately, no. The IRS currently views the DPC monthly periodic fee as a “health plan,” just like a standard monthly health insurance premium is viewed as a “health plan.” According to the IRS the DPC monthly membership fee is thus a second “health plan” and the amount is not a qualified HSA expense. However, you can use your HSA to pay for any out of pocket expenses, e.g. labs, imaging, prescriptions, etc.
Can I pay the monthly subscription with the funds in my Flexible Spending Account?
The answer is complicated but yes, some FSA groups consider this to be okay. Our recommendation would be to check with your HR and/or FSA manager.
What if I don’t have health insurance?
Then Direct Primary Care might be the best service for you! Not only are our subscription prices reasonable but we are able to provide labs and imaging at heavily discounted rates.
If I have Medicare can I still use Greenleaf Direct Primary Care?
At this time we are not able to take patients who have Medicare. This will change shortly and we will announce when we are open for enrollment. We currently offer a waitlist for those on Medicare who are interested in coming to us for the primary care needs.
What if I need to see a specialist or go to a hospital?
Our goal is to prevent the need for you to see a specialist or be hospitalized, but in the event that happens we will communicate closely with your specialist and any physician overseeing your care in the hospital.
How do I contact my doctor after hours?
You will be provided with a direct email and cellphone number that will allow you to get in touch with your doctor at anytime. We can easily accommodate a telehealth visit, or coordinate an office or home visit to provide any care you need.
Do you work with trans patients?
Yes, and we are comfortable managing gender-affirming care.
Are you comfortable with patients who live alternative lifestyles?
Yes, everyone deserves to have a doctor who understands them and works with them to help maintain their health in a way that is free of judgment and objective in its approach.
Do you prescribe PrEP?
Yes, we are comfortable prescribing and monitoring PrEP.
Do you prescribe medical marijuana?
The state of Georgia is very restrictive in the form of marijuana it allows for medicinal use as well as which conditions it will allow THC to be a treatment for. We are registered with the state as a medical marijuana prescriber that can help with your registration. Schedule an appointment to find out if you qualify for Georgia’s Low THC Oil program.
Do you practice natural medicine?
While board certified in allopathic medicine, Dr. Estep is also certified in medical plants and can create treatment plans customized to your needs and preferences.
Do you prescribe controlled medications like opiate pain medications, benzodiazepines, etc?
These medications have been shown to be useful for the short term treatment of acute medical conditions. When it comes to chronic conditions requiring these medications I reserve the right to refer you to a specialist who is more familiar with managing these medications on a long term basis.
Do you prescribe and manage buprenorphine for opiate use disorder and/or chronic pain?
Yes
Do you prescribe and manage low dose naltrexone?
Yes
If you have any questions please contact us to set up a time with the doctor so that he can answer any questions or concerns you may have.
Greenleaf Direct Primary Care 