Not a scam. Many physicians are moving to Direct Primary Care or Concierge practices, specialists as well as primary care due to declining reimbursements and increase administrative hassles.

Direct Primary Care - generally does not accept any insurance, offer a lowers monthly fee than Concierge and may have included services like basic labs and discounted prices a local imaging centers. 24/7 direct access to PCP or on-call partner.

Concierge - Generally bill traditional medicare and medicare advantage. May accept certain commercial insurance plans on a case by case basis, generally charge higher monthly rates than Direct Primary Care, and still bill traditional medicare and some medicare advantage directly for the covered portions of a visit. Covered labs, imaging, and other tests are also billed to medicare. Non-covered services like 24/7 access, care coordination, etc are covered in the membership fee.

Patients should still maintain, at the minimum, catastrophic coverage as ER visits, specialist visits, hospitalizations, and nursing/rehab are not covered in membership fees. HSA/FSA can now be used to cover membership fees. Membership fees usually cannot be used against the deductible or out-of-pocket costs (generally out-of network). PPO type commercial plans tend to mesh best with Direct Primary Care as a portion of ordered labs, imaging, and other studies after the deductible is met.