Frequently Asked Questions

Direct Primary Care (DPC) practices simplify the way primary care is delivered by directly connecting a patient to a healthcare provider. As a patient, you pay a monthly membership fee to belong to the practice and have access to the provider and office services. The monthly membership fee eliminates the need for deductibles, co-pays, and complicated insurance billing. In exchange for your monthly membership fee, Peaceful Balance Health & Wellness (PBHW) takes care of your primary care needs.

We do not bill insurance for your care, with the exception of our participation with traditional Medicare. We can provide you with a record of your office visit when non-included services are performed & additional fees incurred, which you can file with your insurance company. We are considered a non-participating provider/out-of-network for all insurances except traditional Medicare.

As a member, you also have access to reduced pricing on blood work, medications, x-rays, and any other necessary testing. We will also assist you in finding patient assistance programs to help pay for your care when necessary. If you have health insurance you can use your insurance for labs, imaging, specialists, and hospital visits. We take a copy of your insurance card at your first visit to place it on file for testing sent out from our office.

While both DPC and concierge practices charge membership fees, there are two big differences between the models.

First, DPC practices charge a much lower membership fee than concierge. Concierge practices can charge several hundred or even several thousand dollars a month because they typically target high net worth individuals.

Second, concierge practices bill insurance and still operate in a fee-for-service model. DPC practices do not bill insurance for their members. However, hybrid DPC practices may still bill insurance for their non-DPC patients. PBHW bills only Medicare for office visits.

Yes, it is recommended. But not for the ~80% of annual healthcare needs covered by primary and preventative care. Patients should carry health insurance for protection against big expenses from unpredictable major medical events, like surgeries, cancer, car accidents, etc.

We recommend pairing a DPC membership with a high-deductible health plan or a medical cost-sharing product, like those offered by Sedera and Zion Healthshare.

Disruptors to the insurance market, like Decent Company, offer high-quality insurance that is designed to pair with a DPC membership.

There are services that PBHW provides that are not included in the price of your basic membership. Some examples include – house or office calls, repair of lacerations, removal of warts, moles, and skin tags, IUD insertion, endometrial biopsy, incision and drainage of abscesses, remote patient monitoring, and extended assessments (more than 60 mins) for conditions such as menopause and ADHD.

Please see the fee schedule for services that PBHW provides that are charged in addition to the membership monthly fee. PBHW will never perform a non-included procedure or service without explaining the procedure, how much it will cost you, and what other alternatives are available for your care.

When you enroll in PBHW you are committing to a six-month membership. If you choose to cancel your membership before this period expires, we will charge your card in full for the remaining amount due. After six months you may cancel your membership without penalty with 30 days’ notice. No refunds will be given for memberships canceled after the monthly billing date. After we are notified of your desire to cancel your membership we can no longer refill prescriptions, sign forms, or order testing for you. One (1) set of medical records will be transferred to a new provider at no charge. Additional copies of the medical record or copies for personal use will be charged according to the fee schedule. Records will be transferred to a new provider within 30 days of receiving a properly executed records release. All the details of membership are spelled out in the Enrollment Contract.

At PBHW we collect all fees and charges via the use of a credit or debit card. The initiation fee is charged at your first visit and the monthly fee is deducted automatically on a set day of your choice each month. Fees for non-covered services are billed at the time they are performed. We do not accept checks, cash payments, or do EFT withdrawals for monthly membership fees.

Yes, PBHW has three tiers of office visit membership levels. Each tier has specific benefits and restrictions. Please see our fee schedule for a breakdown of the benefits and limitations of each tier of membership. There is also a membership structure specifically for patients who desire to receive their care exclusively through home visits but who are not enrolled in traditional Medicare. We also have a program designed specifically for CDL truck drivers. Information on the House Call and CDL Driver plans can be obtained by special request.

Typically no, however, PBHW has several limited visit programs – called “Care Packages” – that allow patients to see Dr. Bock for a single condition or complaint. These programs are for a specified number of visits and are limited to care for a specific medical condition. They are billed as a package and cannot be applied to membership fees or purchased as individual visits. Examples of conditions we have developed care packages for are menopause, anxiety, depression, and weight loss. Lab work, diagnostic studies, and medications are not typically included in the “Care Package” cost. Please see our fee schedule for details on care package specifics and cost. Other medical problems unrelated to the care package will not be addressed by Dr. Bock or the staff at PBHW. During active care, patients may convert from a care package to regular membership with the cost of the care package being applied as the membership fee. No refunds will be given for early discontinuation of a “Care Package.” Patients who purchase a “Care Package” are not considered Primary Care Patients of Dr. Bock or Peaceful Balance Health & Wellness Services.

Nurse Practitioners (NP) are nurses with either a Master’s or Doctoral degree who specialize in the care of a population of people. Dr. Bock has board certifications as both a family nurse practitioner and as an emergency nurse practitioner. NPs then work for 2 or more years as a Registered Nurse (after earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing/BSN) and then attend 2-4 years of additional education in their specialty field (family practice, adult/gerontology, women’s health, psych/mental health, pediatrics, or neonatology). The NP must then pass a national certification exam and apply to the Board of Nursing for permission to practice. In Pennsylvania, a nurse practitioner is required to sign a business agreement (also known as the Collaborative Agreement) with a physician in order to practice.

Physicians earn a Bachelor’s Degree and then attend medical school for 4 years. They then attend a residency program to get specialized training in the specialty of their choice. Some physicians will attend additional fellowship training in a specific field. Physicians are also required to pass national certification exams in order to obtain a license to practice.

Nurse practitioner education is focused on how diseases like diabetes or high cholesterol affect their patients and their families. NPs look at patients holistically and consider many factors when developing treatment plans. NPs also focus more on wellness and preventative care than our physician colleagues. Research studies have shown that NP care is equivalent or superior to physician care in the primary care setting. Physicians and Nurse Practitioners work collaboratively to make sure patients are getting the best possible care for the conditions that impact their lives.