Frequently Asked Questions About Our Preventative Care Offering
Q: What is different in the Preventative Care service that I would not get in the Traditional service?
Time, access, and focus on healthy aging are the key differences. With our traditional service, we still take care of all of your medical needs but there is less time to wonder about your health goals. Within the Preventative Care program, a premium service, the focus changes to PREVENTION. You will find that you have more time to spend with the doctor and you don’t just talk about your ailments. Scheduling your visits is a priority and you can get in to see the doctor typically on the same day you call. You will also be able to Email and call your physician after hours.
If the circumstance is such, Dr. Sitapara will also come to your home or
workplace for a visit. Dr. Sitapara will also discuss information you receive from other providers and any test results in greater detail. You can rely on Signature Medicine to go above and beyond traditional care service.
The most importantly aspect of this program is that Dr. Sitapara will be able to focus on preventive measures designed to support health and longevity rather than simply cure disease. A variety of diagnostic techniques can be deployed to arrest diseases or treat them early enough to the patient to maintain a healthy quality of life. See details on the website.
Q: What can I expect at Signature Medicine and with retainer medicine? You can expect and count on a higher level of wellness and health than you have ever experienced before. This is coupled with unparalleled service and
attentiveness to your needs. From the moment you walk in the door you will understand the difference. Dr. Sitapara and his staff love what they do and they are familiar with each and every one of their patients. They strive to help them in promoting and attaining an optimal level of health and wellness.
Q: How does my insurance work with this special service?
Your insurance will work the same way as if you were using the traditional service. The medical care you receive will be the same and that is what your insurance is covering. Most health insurance plans are fully compatible with your membership to the Practice. We will be happy to discuss your specific health plan with you. Your annual fee is for preventive care services that are not covered by insurance. You will still need health insurance to cover all other healthcare visits unrelated to your comprehensive annual preventive care examination, including office visits hospital stays and visits to specialists.
Q: What about the member fee?
In order to provide this specialized service. Signature Practice Management will charge an annual fee that will help cover the cost of the extra services and access. Signature Medicine partners with Signature Practice Management to provide the extra services and benefits that you as a member would benefit from. You have the option to return to the traditional practice at anytime and your fee will be pro-rated.
Q: My insurance already provides for an annual physical. What is different about this?
The limit of no more than 600 patients allows Dr. Sitapara to provide a preventative care physical examination that is dramatically broader than that which may be covered by insurance. After the physical examination, each patient receives a detailed written report and a personal wellness plan to be
implemented during the year. Each patient will also receive a Personal Health Record USB Flash key – an electronic format that contains the results of your physical examination, lab tests, EKG, summary medical history, and emergency contact information.
Q: Does my insurance cover the annual fee?
Most insurers view the preventive care services encompassed by the annual fee as non-covered services and, therefore, do not reimburse the annual fee.
Nonetheless, some insurers may cover a small portion of the annual fee. Insurance plans vary greatly, so check with your physician at the time of your physical examination. You should not join Signature Medicine expecting any reimbursement for your annual fee.
Q: Do patients of Signature Medicine’s Preventative Care program still require insurance?
Yes. Patients should still carry health insurance. Insurance is needed to cover medical expenses such as hospitalizations, surgeries, diagnostic tests (such as CT scans, MRI's, endoscopies, cardiovascular testing, blood work, etc), and specialist office visits and services.
Q: What is the best way to afford the membership fee?
Our Office Manager can discuss with you over the phone many ways in which you may actually lower you total healthcare costs by switching to this program. Among the options, many members are able to modify their insurance from a typical high premium, low deductible policy to a low premium, high deductible policy, and in doing so, actually save money using this approach. Other options include the possibility to apply the Preventative Care services fee towards tax deductible Flex Savings Account (FSA) or Health Saving Account (HSA). There
is also a flexible payment schedule. Periodically, we may run discounted memberships.
Q: Is their a discounted promotional program running now?
Yes. Currently, when someone signs up, 1 additional family member can join for free. Family & Group discounts are also available.
Q: Do I have to pay the annual fee all at once? No. A quarterly payment plan is available.
Q: What happens if I need the doctor after hours? Or away from home? Once you are a member of the preventative care service level, you will be provided with Dr. Sitapara’s cell phone number which will ring directly to him. There will be no third parties or answering services to contend with after hours. If you need the doctor, simply call him, no matter what time, no matter where you are and he will respond to your concerns.
Q: Can I first meet with Dr. Sitapara before I sign up?
Absolutely! You are welcome to come into Signature Medicine for a tour of our office and an overview of the premium service. Dr. Sitapara and all of our staff members encourage you to ask us questions and meet with us before making your decision. Please feel free to call us and schedule an informational visit at your convenience.
Q: How do I sign-up
Signing up is easy. Go to the Contact Us page and let us know that you want to join the Preventative Care service. We will send you the information you need as well as the membership agreement. After you complete your membership, you will receive a welcome packet that includes your membership card. This card will also give you access to all the mentioned benefits, with more to come. Once you are a member, schedule your first comprehensive wellness assessment and then you will be on your way to a healthier and happier you!
Q: What is your opinion of “alternative” or “complementary” medicine? While we do not provide alternative or complementary medicine directly, Dr. Sitapara believes that such modalities can be helpful for many patients in the appropriate situations. Signature Medicine works closely with many alternative medicine practitioners in the area and we will be happy to make appropriate referrals when necessary.
Q: What if I have to go into the hospital?
Dr. Sitapara will admit and supervise patients at St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne. If a patient chooses a different hospital for an admission, Dr. Sitapara will arrange for a hospitalist physician to supervise care and he will serve on a consultant basis to ensure appropriate management and progress. Q: What do I do when I need to see a specialist?
Dr. Sitapara will supervise and coordinate your appointment with the appropriate specialist(s) to best address your particular medical condition. You may certainly continue to see any specialists that you currently follow. Dr. Sitapara has a full spectrum of specialists he consults with and he will be able to closely monitor your progress while you are under a specialist’s care.
Q: For whom is this type of practice most appropriate?
We believe that Signature Medicine is most appropriate for anyone who takes their health seriously. Our patients are interested in receiving quality healthcare and wellness at service levels far beyond that which they have ever experienced. We have all kinds of patients: young, middle-aged, grandparents, those who are currently healthy, those dealing with chronic concerns; individuals with varying backgrounds, levels of education, income. We have patients from all walks of life who care about their health.
Q: Where do I go to get lab tests, x-rays and other diagnostic services? We operate a full service medical office and provide a number of in-office tests when appropriate. We can also draw blood samples for many tests right in our office. EKG’s, spirometry x-rays can be done in the office as well. Additional on-site testing services will be added. For advanced diagnostic testing, we will work with your insurance provider to find the most appropriate and convenient provider and location.
Q: What if I need prescription medicine?
Often we can get patients started on samples for long term prescription
medication. In the long run, prescription coverage via your insurance is the most appropriate method of sustaining medication supplies. And with the full benefits of electronic prescriptions, your prescriptions will be ready for you at your
pharmacy immediately after leaving the office. No waiting at the drug store. Q: When do you make a house or workplace visit?
With the availability we have for our patients at the office, these visits are rarely necessary. However, if Dr. Sitapara deems that such a visit is essential to your health and well being, it will be handled on a case by case basis.
Q: Will you be able to see my family members that are visiting me from out of town?
At Signature Medicine, we have a deep and strong family ethic and, like you, we desire optimal medical care for our families. With that in mind, we will make arrangements to see the visiting family of our members in times of need. The family or our members will be charged for the visit (which they may submit for reimbursement from their individual insurance providers) but they can expect the same level of care and service that our members enjoy.
Q: Can I use Signature Medicine to provide healthcare for my employees? Yes. The primary advantage of Signature Medicine as a healthcare provider is the exceptional level of service combined with the unparalleled medical care for your employees. Employee coverage includes, in addition to all previously
identified amenities, annual physical exams and pre-employment screening. The standard of care at Signature Medicine strives to increase overall health and early disease detection. Many of the members of this practice opt for larger deductible plans that require smaller monthly premiums. In many cases, a membership at Signature Medicine can actually decrease health care costs for both the company and employee.
Q: How does this work with my corporate benefits plan?
The annual fee may be paid through employer Section 125 plans, and is compatible with many flexible spending accounts (FSAs), medical savings
accounts (MSAs), and health reimbursement accounts (HRAs). The fee may also be paid through the newly established health savings accounts (HSAs).
Depending upon the type of plan in which you participate, the physician will provide you with a statement for your benefits administrator either before or at the time of your physical examination.
