Question 1

What is Direct Primary Care?

Accepted Answer

Direct Primary Care, or DPC, is a model of healthcare that allows patients and their doctor to work directly together without the limitations set by insurance and large hospital systems. DPC allows for personalized care, holistic care, and a true meaningful patient-doctor relationship. This is the way medicine should be!

Question 2

Is DPC the same as concierge medicine?

Accepted Answer

It’s very similar! Concierge medicine tends to be higher-priced and often billed annually. At Desert DPC, we bring concierge quality and convenience to our patients, all at an affordable price.

Question 3

As a member of Desert DPC, will I still need health insurance?

Accepted Answer

While health insurance is a not a requirement to be a member of Desert Direct Primary Care, we do recommend everyone have insurance or a health share plan for catastrophic events such as traumas, severe illness requiring hospitalization, or specialty referrals, if necessary.

Question 4

What does my membership include?

Accepted Answer

The membership covers excellent primary care with your doctor, including in-person visits, video calls, text or over the phone - and you never have a co-pay! This includes annual wellness exams, pre-op evaluations, chronic care office visits, follow-up visits, and treatment of acute illness - all with a focus on quality and convenience. Have a question or concern? You can just text/call/video/visit your doctor! Really, it’s that easy. No middlemen, no delays, no surprises.

Question 5

I don't get sick often; is this the right model for me?

Accepted Answer

Our practice is designed to benefit you when normal life and the unexpected happens. At a traditional large practice, you might not be able to get in quickly and instead be referred to an expensive urgent care or even more expensive ER - all for something that your primary care physician could have treated or prevented. A single visit to an ER or urgent care can carry a cost equal to months (or years!) of personalized care at Desert Direct Primary Care.

And even if you only visit the doctor a few times each year for physicals or checkups, it will be a whole new experience. Same-day or next-day appointments, no waiting, and a relaxed, casual atmosphere. You will receive a higher level of personalized care that you won’t find in today’s corporate-owned insurance-based practices.

Question 6

What should I do if I get sick while on vacation or out of town?

Accepted Answer

If you get sick while on vacation or out of town, don't worry! We're easy to reach and ready to help. We can discuss your symptoms, decide on the next steps, and call in prescriptions as needed to get you better quickly.

Question 7

Is care available outside of regular business hours?

Accepted Answer

Yes, care is available outside of regular business hours. Dr. Harris is available by phone for urgent questions and concerns after hours. She can often provide virtual care or meet you at the clinic over the weekend if needed. You can book appointments online anytime, and if you can't find a suitable time, just text us, and we'll fit you into the schedule. For non-urgent concerns, you can send a text or portal message, and we'll respond as quickly as possible.

Question 8

Do you provide medical care for children?

Accepted Answer

Dr. Harris specializes in adult medical care as a board-certified Internal Medicine Physician. While she has substantial pediatric training, she believes children deserve care from a Pediatrician or Family Medicine Physician with specialized training. Our vision is to provide comprehensive care for the whole family, and we are looking for the right physicians to join our team, especially a Pediatrician. If you know a great doctor, please refer them to us!

Question 9

Can you prescribe weight loss medications?

Accepted Answer

Yes!  Dr. Harris is dual Board Certified in Obesity Medicine and Internal Medicine. She has been prescribing medications for weight loss to patients with excess weight for several years. Dr. Harris understands obesity is a chronic disease process and works with her patients to find sustainable and affordable personalized treatments that can include medication, diet changes, and physical activity.

Question 10

Can you prescribe hormone replacement for menopause and perimenopause?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Dr. Harris has training in treating symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, both with hormone replacement therapy and non-hormonal medications.

Question 11

Can I keep my current primary care doctor and still get help with weight loss?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely! You can keep your current primary care doctor and still get help with weight loss. Dr. Harris offers a weight-loss only membership option, providing direct access to her expertise without the time constraints of insurance-based systems. This membership includes direct access to Dr. Harris during normal business hours, Monday through Friday.

Question 12

Can you prescribe narcotics?

Accepted Answer

Dr. Harris can prescribe appropriate pain management to established patients when needed for acute pain or new onset cancer-related pain, but will not prescribe chronic opioids for musculoskeletal pain. She feels strongly that this type of pain deserves a multimodal approach with a pain specialist.

There will never be controlled medications stored in the clinic. Dr. Harris does not have this kind of medication dispensing license. Controlled medications must be obtained from a pharmacy.

Question 13

What about controlled substances, can you prescribe them?

Accepted Answer

Certain medications have the potential to be a disservice to patients, instead of helping them heal. One example of that is opiates. Dr. Harris can prescribe appropriate pain management to established patients when needed for acute pain or new onset cancer-related pain, but will not prescribe chronic opioids for musculoskeletal pain. She feels strongly that this type of pain deserves a multimodal approach with a pain specialist.

Similarly, she does not prescribe benzodiazepines for anxiety. These should be continued by a trained Psychiatrist if necessary.

Question 14

Do you have medications you can dispense at the office?

Accepted Answer

Yes!  We at Desert DPC hate overpaying for our own prescription medications as much as you do. We also understand the anxiety that can come from uncertainty of what medications may cost at the pharmacy once run through insurance.  Therefore, we have an AZ medication dispensing license and purchase generic medications at wholesale prices to pass on these savings to our patients.  We are also happy to electronically prescribe medications to the pharmacy of your choice.

Question 15

Is it possible to use my insurance for lab tests?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can use your insurance for lab tests. We can order the necessary labs to a retail lab of your choice, and they will process it through your insurance. Alternatively, you can use our direct pay contracted prices with Labcorp and Sonora Quest to know the cost upfront and potentially save money. This way, we can closely monitor your health and treatment without insurance limitations.

Question 16

What is Internal Medicine?

Accepted Answer

Dr. Jaclyn Harris, DO is a physician who is residency-trained and board-certified in the specialty of Internal Medicine. Internal Medicine physicians specialize in comprehensive whole-body adult medicine.  They are the counterpart of Pediatricians who specialize in comprehensive whole-body medical care of children.

Question 17

Can you see Medicare patients?

Accepted Answer

Yes!  We do not bill any insurance for our appointments and time, but we do see Medicare-eligible patients within our membership fee model. Dr. Harris loves caring for patients in their 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and beyond.  **If you have a restrictive HMO Medicare Advantage plan, you may need to maintain a relationship with your insurance-assigned PCP as well.

Question 18

Why is there an enrollment fee?

Accepted Answer

The initial enrollment fee helps cover the necessary extra time our staff invests when a new patient first establishes care.  The re-enrollment fee is meant to discourage patients from cancelling membership when they feel well and then coming back when they are sick.  While we may still accept some patients back, we strongly believe the continuous membership subscription model is the best way to provide quality primary care.

Question 19

If I upgrade membership to full primary care, will I pay another enrollment fee?

Accepted Answer

No. We are honored you see the value in direct primary care and are happy to switch over your weight-loss only membership to full primary care at any time, without paying an additional enrollment fee.

Question 20

Can I use my Health Savings Account to pay for DPC membership?

Accepted Answer

Yes!  The federal government clarified HSA funds can pay for Direct Primary Care (DPC) memberships in the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), enacted as Public Law 119-21 in July 2025.  When you enroll as a patient of Desert Direct Primary Care, you can choose to enter your HSA payment information instead of a credit card or bank account.

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