FAQ's

Direct Primary Care, or DPC, is a model of healthcare that puts patients first by getting rid of the red tape by which most other traditional practices are restricted. You have direct access to your physician with no middleman including insurance agencies or healthcare administrations. This simple approach results in a closer relationship with your doctor and more personalized care that actually saves you money.

By paying a monthly membership to your doctor, you know what your primary care costs are going to be. You don’t have unexpected examination copays or costs. Procedures are included in the cost (or at a published price that you know prior to having the procedure). Your doctor has negotiated vastly cheaper prices for medications, labs, and imaging on your behalf—and again you know these costs beforehand. Your doctor is directly accessible to you and can help save you an unnecessary trip to urgent care or the ER.

But even more so, you now have the freedom to save on health insurance. Your primary care is taken care of by Firefly Direct Primary Care and thus, if you choose, you can elect to have a lower premium high-deductible insurance plan or participate in a health sharing ministry instead of full coverage. This way you are covered in case an emergency arises but can save hundreds a month simply by putting your trust in your doctors and not the insurance industry.

Firefly Direct Primary Care is Wauwatosa’s first Direct Primary Care practice. We offer a pattern of family healthcare that is immediate, comprehensive, specific, easily affordable, and personal.

We have cut the red tape of bureaucracy. The restrictions that typically leave physicians in a traditional healthcare setting buried in nonsense paperwork are lifted through Direct Care, allowing us to spend our time where it really counts: with patients. In refusing to recognize any interference with the sanctity of the patient-physician relationship, we have returned family practice medicine to its root values of clinical excellence for and compassionate knowledge of every patient. In every aspect of family healthcare, and custom healthcare, we promise accessibility, convenience, and affordability.

Of course. We might argue that everyone benefits from a service tailored directly to them. That’s why we offer truly custom healthcare. Our practice is devoted to the maintenance of your good health, to the enhancements of your daily experience that only physical well-being can bring. We’re here for your immediate needs, but proactive healthcare is important, and we’re here for that, too.

At Firefly we have the gift of time. Even better? We get to give the gift of time. Every visit, for whatever reason, will be easygoing in its absolute thoroughness, relaxed in answering your questions and addressing the need of the moment. Then, as the months and years go by, we’ll build a comprehensive knowledge of your health, an invaluable understanding available in no other regimen of care.

In providing superb care with unprecedented access, we seek to prevent or reduce hospitalizations and specialty referrals. When this type of care is required, we will certainly continue to work with your hospitalist during your hospital stay as well as work closely with any specialist. In some cases, depending on the level of care and expertise required, we may rely on those specialized caregivers to manage your treatment.

By all means, yes! Because illness and injury do not respect regular office hours, you may call/text/email your physicians any day and at any hour.  We invite you to arrange for telehealth or home visits, schedules permitting. 

Naturally we provide such care – yet another freedom we enjoy together as a result of Firefly’s independence from the restrictions of third-party payment. Because we know you well, we can streamline your care when you’re sick away from home. Many illnesses can be diagnosed and treated with a simple conversation by phone, email, text or webcam. We’ll locate the nearest pharmacy and order the medications most appropriate for your circumstances.

We maintain scrupulous standards of privacy. We are never obligated to provide any third party with a copy of your records unless you specifically ask that we do so.

Come get to know us! Schedule a free visit to discuss your healthcare needs. It’s the only reasonable way to begin what we trust will be a long, productive, and healthy relationship. Get in touch here!

Happily, no. Perhaps the most critical distinction in our model of care centers on a direct, personal relationship between you and your doctor. That directness carries over to our business model as well. While the tender mercies of an insurance company might apply to the fixing of a damaged fender on your automobile, we see no reason for any insurer to have a voice about either the quality or the cost of your family’s care.

We forgo insurance payments in order to save our patients from the arbitrary, intrusive decisions that inevitably follow with third-party payors. Furthermore, this direct fee-for-services arrangement frees us from the typical contractual agreements that prevent physicians from offering wholesale prices on laboratory tests, imaging, and medications.

Yes. We recommend our patients continue a major medical plan with a high deductible and health savings account to ensure financial help should hospitalization or referral to a specialist be necessary.

No. You can choose whatever insurance plan, carrier, or health sharing ministry works best for your needs. While generally we recommend high-deductible plans with an HSA or participation in a health sharing ministry, this is simply because it will save you money. Because we do not bill or inquire for insurance, you have the freedom to carry whatever insurance you desire.

Yes, you can still join Firefly Direct Primary Care without health insurance. While we recommend health insurance for your protection in case a medical emergency or costly expense occurs, we do not require it.

Absolutely. At your initial consult, we can discuss ways to find health insurance coverage options. 

Yes. You need only sign a one-time waiver declaring that neither you nor your doctor will directly bill Medicare for our services. Medicare will still cover any laboratory testing, imaging, medications, or hospitalizations prescribed by our offices.

Unfortunately, no. Your retainer is not yet defined as a “medical expense” in most states and as such is not deductible. There may be changes to this in future legislation. Please confer with your tax consultant to clarify tax consequences in your particular circumstances.

At this time, we are not able to provide routine vaccinations for young children but we will happily work with you to arrange these.

We highly encourage vaccination for all our patients but are willing to discuss our vaccination policies at your initial consultation.

Yes, we welcome sports medicine consults. These visits do not require a FireflyDPC membership.

Yes! This is considered part of your direct primary care, and is included.