Q: Are there any Co-pays or other additional charges for paying members during each visit?
A: No! Your paid monthly membership covers anything that Dr. Harpe and Trout Lake Clinic utilizes during the visit for care. Prescription medications that are dispensed from the clinic for treatment are not included in membership and will be paid for at the time of being dispensed.
Q: What happens if I need medical care after hours or on the weekend?
A: Paying members will be provided with Dr. Harpe’s cell phone # and email, for acute care needs that arise that cannot wait for a regular office visit.
Q: Can I bill my insurance for care provided by Dr. Harpe and Trout Lake Clinic?
A: No! Under Washington State current legislation for practicing Direct Primary Care clinics, as well as current Medicare and Medicaid mandates, physicians and patients cannot file for reimbursement of services provided by a Direct Primary Care practice. Currently, legislation is being presented under the Affordable Care Act, which if/when approved, would allow patients to pay their membership fees to Direct Primary Care clinics via their Health Savings Accounts (HSA).
Q: What happens when Dr. Harpe is on vacation or temporarily out of the Trout Lake area?
A: Notification will be sent to membership patients when Dr. Harpe has any extended vacation absences planned for their own planning/awareness. Dr. Harpe will still carry his cell phone and periodically check email when possible, to help patients with any medical questions/issues that might arise. If acute care requirements occur when he is not in the immediate Trout Lake area, then members may have to seek out care from a regional emergency room or urgent care clinic, if it cannot safely wait until his future return.
Q: Is there a cap or limit to the number of patients that can enroll in Trout Lake Clinic?
A: Yes and No! Dr. Harpe’s mission is to serve Trout Lake valley and nearby medically underserved rural communities. Therefore, there will be a cap of 50 patients that can enroll who live outside the towns of Trout Lake, BZ Corner, Husum, Glenwood, Appleton, and Snowden. Presently, there is no cap on members enrolling from these small towns, however, that may be reassessed in the future should enrollments peak to higher levels, which limits the effectiveness and availability of care delivery to members.
Q: Can I seek out acute care or nutritional education services from Trout Lake Clinic and not be an enrolled member?
A: Currently, the answer is yes; however, nonmembers will be charged a visit fee, and either hourly rate for nutrition services, or added costs/fees for medical care, supplies, and treatment based upon type of rendered care, timing of visit, and utilized supplies. Please refer to the individualized fee schedule for possible charges that may be assessed. Additionally, there is a possibility that memberships may reach a point that the clinic is determined filled to its care maximum, after which point non-member care service opportunity may no longer be possible.
Q: Are labs and radiology services included in the cost of a monthly membership?
A: Unfortunately, only those limited, non-CLIA labs which can be processed on-site at Trout Lake Clinic are included in your membership. Processing of other lab studies and Radiology services must be provided by an outside provider/medical vendor, and any fees for those services will be billed to the patient. That being said, Dr. Harpe has negotiated with several local medical service providers, to get significant reductions in cost for labs and radiology services for cash paying patients.
Q: Should I still maintain medical insurance if I become a member of Trout Lake Clinic?
A: Yes! Direct Primary Care practices are not medical insurance, and are intended solely to help support your primary care medical service needs. Maintaining Medical Insurance, of at least a “catastrophic” high deductible plan, is strongly encouraged for all members, as we never can predict when a significant medical emergency, hospitalization, or major medical care treatment requirement needing specialty care services or very expensive medications might arise.
Trout Lake Clinic 