FAQs
The monthly fee allows Dr. Pencek to spend as much time as needed with patients to get to the root of their problems, discuss their goals, and focus extensively on prevention and lifestyle medicine. Additionally, it allows for increased accessibility so that when you get sick you can easily be seen by Dr. Pencek every time. Our practice model allows us to be incredibly thorough and thoughtful in our care. We focus on getting to the root cause of your problems together and partner directly on your health in a way that is not possible in the current traditional/insurance-based practice model. If you are looking for a more personalized experience, reach out to learn about how our practice can help. Oftentimes, avoiding the cost of one ER visit or a few urgent care visits makes up the cost of your entire annual membership.
Hometown Health provides concierge style care but is technically a direct primary care practice. Traditional concierge practices charge a membership fee and also bill your insurance and collect copays from you. Direct primary care practices are membership based only, so you will not have to pay co-pays to be seen in our office.
We can see patients with or without insurance, but we do not bill insurance directly for visits with us. We will use your insurance for the big stuff like specialist visits, medications, and labs/imaging but not contracting directly with insurance for primary care allows us to offer better care. The unlimited appointments, texting access, small panel, and same/next day and virtual appointments are all included in your monthly membership fee, so you don’t have to worry about additional insurance fees/co-pays every time you see us. We do not contract directly with any insurance plans because we believe it leads to rushed, inadequate care.
You are welcome to become a member of our practice whether you have insurance or not. We do recommend that everyone carry medical insurance for emergencies, but it is not required for membership.
Our healthcare system focuses more on “reactionary” medicine - meaning treating you for a disease once it develops. There is much less emphasis placed on preventing disease and helping people live well. One of the best ways you can invest in your health is by establishing a long-term relationship with a doctor who knows you and can help you focus on your overall wellness. Also, in the traditional healthcare system, it is extremely difficult to be seen when you are sick. This often leads to delay in treatment or inconvenient and expensive urgent care/ER visits when you have an unexpected illness. The ability to call/text or be seen by your own personal doctor as soon as an issue comes up can often help you deal with a surprise illness before it gets worse. This usually can prevent the hours long wait and hefty bill you would incur in the urgent care or ER.
When you go to the doctor does it take 3 hours out of your busy day? Do you spend 90% of that time filling out repetitive forms, talking to support staff, and waiting in the lobby or exam room? Do you feel like you have time in your annual appointment or sick visit to talk about your problems? Are you able to speak with your doctor on the phone or via text? Are you able to be seen by your doctor when you are sick or do you often have to pay a high fee to go to an urgent care or be seen by someone you don’t know? Hometown Health is designed to provide an alternative to the standard subpar care that most are currently receiving via their “insurance based” primary care. We provide our members with direct access to their doctor. This enables you to be seen in a timely manner when you are sick and to establish a long-term relationship with a physician who knows you well.
Insurance can be used for labs, medications, and imaging. Additionally, we have negotiated deeply discounted “cash pay” prices from labs and imaging centers. We pass these significant savings on to our members if they wish to pay for these things outside of insurance. Sometimes the cost of these tests at the prices we have negotiated is cheaper than the co-pay with your insurance.
Internal medicine doctors (sometimes known as “internists”) are doctors who specialize in adult medicine (age 18+) and are experts in solving complex diagnostic problems. They are well versed in primary care, hospital medicine, and chronic disease. They provide comprehensive care and can assist in coordination of your care with other specialties to ensure we are looking at the “big picture”. We do not see children, but we hope to one day add a physician with pediatrics training to the practice as we grow!
Due to specific government rules surrounding Medicare/Medicaid and direct primary care practices, Hometown Health cannot currently enroll Medicare or Medicaid patients. We love taking care of the Medicare aged population and Medicaid patients, and we plan to offer memberships to these patients soon. If you have Medicare or Medicaid and are interested in joining our practice, contact us to be added to our waiting list, and we will reach out as soon as we are able to care for you.
Dr. Pencek is well trained in hospital medicine and has practiced at many of the hospitals in the Baltimore area. If you are admitted to the hospital, she will check in with you, your family, and the doctors in the hospital to ensure they are aware of your medical history and answer any questions they have about your care outside the hospital.
We accept HSA payments. Please discuss with your accountant or employer if you can use your HSA to pay for your membership.
