Have questions?

Direct Primary Care is a membership-based approach to healthcare where you pay a simple monthly fee for direct access to your physician. It allows us to focus on personalized care, stronger relationships, and transparent pricing without many of the restrictions and frustrations of insurance-driven medicine.

• Both Direct Primary Care (DPC) and concierge medicine offer more personalized care, better access to your physician, and smaller patient panels than traditional practices. The biggest difference is how they work with insurance and how the models are structured.
• At Hitchcock Family Medicine, we practice true Direct Primary Care. We do not bill insurance for office visits or routine primary care services. Instead, patients pay a simple monthly membership that covers their care directly.
• Concierge medicine typically still bills insurance in addition to charging a higher membership or retainer fee. Concierge practices also tend to focus on a more high-touch, luxury-style experience with very small patient panels and enhanced convenience services.
• Direct Primary Care is designed to provide personalized, relationship-based care in a more transparent, straightforward, and accessible way.

No. We work directly with patients instead of billing insurance for primary care services. This allows us to keep pricing transparent, spend more time with patients, and provide more accessible, relationship-based care. You can still use insurance for specialists, hospitals, medications, or other outside services.

Yes. Many patients choose to keep a high-deductible or catastrophic insurance plan for major medical events while using Direct Primary Care for their everyday healthcare needs.

Your membership includes office visits, same- or next-day acute appointments, direct communication with your physician and care team, and many in-office procedures and tests. Members also benefit from access to our integrated in-house pharmacy and imaging services designed to make care simpler, faster, and more transparent.

As often as medically needed. We do not place arbitrary limits on visits, messages, or communication because care should be based on your needs, not billing codes.

Yes. Members have direct access to their physician and care team for urgent issues and communication outside of traditional office visits.

We make every effort to offer same-day or next-day appointments for urgent needs whenever possible.

We carry the annual flu vaccine and adult Tdap booster. For many other vaccines, the Tennessee Health Department is often the most cost-effective option.

No. Membership pricing is based on age only, not medical complexity or pre-existing conditions.

Membership fees are billed monthly through automatic payment using credit card, debit card, or ACH bank draft. Any medications, labs, imaging, or equipment charges are added to your monthly statement.

Yes. Your membership supports ongoing access to your physician and care team, including same- or next-day availability, direct communication, care coordination, and the infrastructure needed to provide highly personalized care. Much of the value of Direct Primary Care comes from knowing your physician is available when you need them, not simply from counting office visits.

Many patients value having an established relationship with a physician who knows them and can respond quickly when needs arise. Membership supports continuity, preventive care, easier access, and early intervention before small issues become larger problems.

Yes. You are free to see the specialists, hospitals, and healthcare systems of your choice. We help coordinate your care and communicate with outside providers when needed.

If you need emergency or hospital care, you may use the hospital or specialist of your choice. Our team will help coordinate your care, communicate with specialists when appropriate, and assist with follow-up after discharge. In an emergency, call 911 first.

Our on-site pharmacy offers many medications at transparent wholesale-based pricing, often significantly less expensive than traditional retail or insurance copays. Prescriptions can frequently be filled before you even leave the office, helping simplify care and reduce delays.

No. Direct Primary Care is not insurance and does not replace coverage for hospitalization or major medical events. Many patients choose to pair DPC with a high-deductible or catastrophic insurance plan for additional protection.

Many patients use HSA or FSA funds for qualified healthcare expenses associated with their care. We recommend speaking with your tax advisor or benefits administrator regarding your specific plan.

We do not bill insurance for primary care services. That is part of how we keep care more transparent, accessible, and personal.

Yes. We care for individuals and families of all ages, including children.

You may cancel your membership at any time with 30 days notice. Simply email your physician directly or contact our office at info@hitchcock.md.

No. The pharmacy is open to everyone. Patients from any provider, employer group, and the public are welcome.

No. we are self-pay only. We provide medications at transparent, wholesale pricing, often 70-90% less than traditional pharmacy prices.

Yes. Any licensed prescriber can send prescriptions electronically.

• Pick up at our Hixson location during business hours.
• Pick up from our secure 24/7 pickup locker at our Hixson location.
• Shipping to your home (in states where we are licensed).

• Once your prescription is ready, our pharmacist will first contact you for any required medication counseling. After your medications are loaded into the locker, you will receive a text message and email with a pickup code and QR code for access.
• When you arrive, you can either scan the QR code from your text/email or enter your pickup code at the locker. You’ll verify the patient’s name and date of birth, complete payment at the card reader, and the locker door will automatically open.

Prescriptions will remain in the locker for up to 7 days before being mailed to you.

• If you pick up your prescription in our office during business hours a team member will process your payment at that time (cash or card).
• If you pick up your prescription from our pickup locker, you will pay through the locker itself (card only).
• If we are shipping your prescription to you, we will charge the payment source we have on file for you when we ship your medication (card only).

We currently provide x-ray, ultrasound, and CT scans.

No. Imaging is open to everyone. Patients from any provider, employer group, and the public are welcome.

Yes. All imaging studies (x-ray, ultrasound, CT) require a healthcare provider’s order. Any licensed provider may order imaging with us; it does not have to be a Hitchcock Family Medicine doctor.

No. We are a self-pay only imaging center. That means no insurance hassles, no surprise bills, and no prior authorizations. You pay a clear, upfront price a the time of your scan.

No. We are self-pay only, which allows for transparency and significantly lower pricing.

Yes. Even if you have insurance, you can self-pay for imaging in our office. You can even use the Tennessee Right to Save Act to apply that cost to your insurance deductible; ask us for more information.

Yes. Many patients use HSA/FSA funds for imaging services.

Yes. All imaging requires a provider order. We coordinate directly with your provider.

Most studies can be scheduled within a few days, sometimes even same day!

All studies are read by board-certified radiologists. Results are sent directly to your ordering provider, who will review them with you.

We will have your study read by our radiologist and results sent to your ordering provider within 2-3 business days.

Yes, patients may request a digital copy of their study images and final report once it has been read by our radiologist.

That’s no problem. We accept all outside orders and send results back to your provider.

Each provider and staff member needs their own secure login. Use our Request Access Form and we’ll get you set up.

Cervical dysplasia means that some cells on the cervix look abnormal. These changes are usually caused by high-risk HPV. Dysplasia is not cancer, but some higher-grade changes can become cancer over time if they are not monitored or treated appropriately.

If your Pap smear shows abnormal cells, we may recommend additional testing such as an HPV test or a colposcopy. These help us better understand the type and extend of the cell changes and guide next steps.

A colposcopy is an in-office procedure where we closely examine the cervix using magnification after applying solutions that help abnormal areas stand out. If we see any areas of concern, small biopsies are taken and sent to pathology. It usually takes about 15-20 minutes and is similar to a Pap smear in terms of positioning.

LEEP stands for loop electrosurgical excision procedure. It is a procedure that uses a thin wire loop with electrical current to remove abnormal tissue from the cervix. It is commonly used to treat high-grade cervical dysplasia and also allows the tissue to be sent to pathology for further evaluation.

Sometimes, yes. LEEP is an important and effective treatment for many patients with high-grade cervical changes. Our role is to help you understand why it was recommended, whether it clearly fits your results, and whether other reasonable options exist.

We take time to review your Pap, HPV, colposcopy, and pathology results carefully, then explain your actual risk in plain language. Our approach emphasizes comfort, dignity, shared decision-making, and evidence-based care, so you understand the safest options before moving forward with monitoring, colposcopy, treatment, or referral.

Yes. Many patients come to us after being told they need a colposcopy, LEEP, repeat biopsy, or closer follow-up. We can review your records, explain what the results mean, and help you understand your options.

Imiquimod is a topical medication that stimulates the immune system. It has been studied as a possible treatment option for certain cervical dysplasia cases. It is not right for everyone, but for carefully selected patients, it may be part of a non-surgical treatment plan.

No. Imiquimod is not FDA-approved specifically for cervical dysplasia, so its use for this purpose is considered off-label. Off-label treatment can be medically appropriate in selected situations, but it requires careful counseling, shared decision-making, and close follow-up.

No. We do not treat cervical cancer. If your results suggest cancer or a condition that requires specialist care, we will help you understand the concern and coordinate referral to the appropriate gynecologist or gynecologic oncologist.

Not always. Mild dysplasia may just require monitoring. If cell changes are moderate or severe, we may recommend treatments such as topical medications or procedures to remove the abnormal cells and prevent progression.

No. You do not need to be a Hitchcock Family Medicine member to be seen in the cervical dysplasia clinic. This is a cash-priced service, and we provide clear pricing up front, so you know what to expect before your visit.

You can schedule a consultation even if you’re not a current patient. We’ll review your results, walk you through the process, and work together on a plan that fits your comfort level.

Yes. We can see patients from outside the Chattanooga area for cervical dysplasia consultations, second opinions, colposcopy, and selected treatment options. If you already have Pap, HPV, colposcopy, or pathology results, we recommend sending those records before your visit so we can review them carefully and make the appointment as useful as possible. Some situations may still require coordination with a local OB/GYN or gynecologic specialist, especially if ongoing procedures, pregnancy care, or close follow-up are needed.

Yes. In most cases, cervical dysplasia is caused by certain strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV). Many women will contract HPV at some point, and most infections go away on their own—but in some cases, the virus causes abnormal cell changes in the cervix.

Our model focuses on transparent pricing, direct access to care, reduced healthcare fragmentation, and lower-cost pharmacy and imaging services. Many employers find this approach helps reduce unnecessary ER visits, specialist referrals, delays in care, and overall healthcare spending.

Yes. We frequently work with self-insured employers, level-funded plans, and other alternative health benefit arrangements.

Yes. We work with employers to develop solutions tailored to their workforce, goals, and benefits strategy.

Yes. Employers may choose to utilize individual services or combine multiple offerings depending on the needs of their organization. The greatest savings and impact come when DPC, Imaging, and Pharmacy are combined.

Employers may choose to provide pharmacy benefits through direct employer arrangements with transparent pricing rather than traditional PBM structures. This can create significant savings on many medications.

Yes. Employees may still use their insurance for hospitals, specialists, surgeries, or other outside healthcare services while utilizing our direct-care services for primary care, pharmacy, and imaging.