Is Qliance Right for You?
You may have heard about “concierge,” “monthly fee,” or “retainer” medicine but perhaps never thought you would be in a position to join such a practice. To help you understand the details of this type of care, we have included below a short Q&A for you to review. If you have additional questions about Qliance' patient services, monthly care fees or how to register, or if you simply want to confirm that Qliance is right for you, please call our Qliance Member Services at (206) 381-3030 or email .
Scroll down to read the following information:
- Section 1: Becoming a Qliance Patient
- Section 2: Working with Your Qliance Provider
- Section 3: Emergency, Hospital and Specialty Care
- Section 4: Compatibility with Health Insurance
Section 1: Becoming a Qliance Patient
Do I have to be healthy or have health insurance to become a patient?
No. We do not screen prospective patients on the basis of health or insurance status— anyone can become a Qliance patient. Additionally, we do not pre-screen or decline to accept patients because of their age; race; religion; national origin; health condition, including the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability; sexual orientation; education; economic status; employment status; or citizenship.
Do I have to have a long-term contract?
No. Qliance patients register then pay for services on a month-to-month basis at the beginning of each month. There is no long-term contract.
Can I terminate my patient agreement at any time?
Yes. You are free to terminate your patient agreement at any time and for any reason or for no reason. To cancel your service agreement, please call Member Services at (206) 381-3030. Upon confirmation of your membership termination, we will close your billing account, prorate the balance of your monthly care fee and mail it to you within ten (10) business days. If you are transferring your care to another physician, your medical records will be forwarded upon request. Of course, if you are ever dissatisfied with your care, please let us know and we will try our best to address your concerns. Quality of care and patient satisfaction are our highest priorities.
If I cancel my patient agreement, can I re-register at a later time?
Yes. Qliance recognizes that you may choose to cancel your service agreement only to find that you want to re-register at a later time. In order to be fair to our patients who maintain a continuous relationship with Qliance, you will be required to pay the Qliance registration fee each time you re-register as a patient. Also, since we limit the number of patients at our practice, we cannot guarantee that there will be room if you wish to re-join at a later date.
Can I add family members to my billing account?
Yes. Spouses, domestic partners, children, parents of enrolled children and other family members can be added to or removed from your billing account at any time. Each patient will have his or her individual medical record and may request to have their care provided by a different health care provider if they wish.
Can I register my child but not be a patient myself?
Yes. As a parent, you may register your child (or children) without being a patient yourself. Please note that the monthly care fees for children are slightly higher if the children are registered alone (and not with at least one parent). Please see our Fees page for more details.
Can I get a discount on my monthly fee if I don’t use all the Qliance services?
No. We want you to make use of our services because we believe this will contribute to your long-term health.
If I become seriously ill, will my monthly care fee increase?
No. Your monthly care fee will not change based on changes in your health condition or the number of times you see your health care provider. Your monthly care fee will change however when you move from one fee schedule age bracket to the next or as part of a general fee schedule change. In either case, you will be given at least sixty (60) days notice of such changes and your actual monthly fee will not change more than once a year.
What happens if I miss a monthly care fee payment?
We ask that you make every effort to pay your monthly care fees on time, so we are able to provide our services at affordable prices. If you are paying by quarterly or annual invoice, payments received after the due date will be assessed a $10 late fee. If you are paying by monthly automatic funds transfer, a $25 fee will be charged for funds transfer requests that are not honored due to non-sufficient funds.
Section 2: Working with Your Qliance Provider
How often can I get care from my Qliance provider?
You may communicate by phone, email or in-person with your provider and use the services offered by Qliance as often as needed. We urge you to use our services when you need them. We feel passionately that early attention to your medical needs will make you healthier and reduce your long-term need for medical services.
Can I choose my own Qliance provider?
Yes. We want you to feel at home when you come to Qliance. Our medical staff is organized into personal care teams. Each team consists of a physician and a nurse practitioner who work together and have similar schedules to facilitate consultation with one another whenever necessary. The number of patients each team is responsible for is intentionally limited to ensure that we can provide quality care in an unhurried atmosphere. When you become a Qliance patient, you can request to work with a specific personal care team if that team has capacity. If you have no preference, we will assign one to you. To maximize continuity of care, your personal care team will provide your care whenever possible. If your personal care team is unavailable when you need to be seen, we will schedule you with another team. Each of our personal care teams, including those on-call after hours, have electronic access to your medical records.
Do you limit the number of patients you see at your practice?
Yes. To provide high quality, unhurried care, we limit the number of patients assigned to each health care provider. If his or her panel of patients is full, you will be assigned a registration number and placed on a waiting list.
Can I change Qliance providers?
Yes. You may switch Qliance providers at any time assuming that the provider’s panel you want to switch to has available capacity.
Do I need to have an appointment to be seen?
Yes. Because we value our patients’ time, we ask that you schedule an appointment before you come in. Doing so will allow us to provide better care and service for all our patients. If you have an urgent need, we will make every effort to accommodate you as quickly as possible.
How do I make an appointment?
Simply call the practice during office hours to make an appointment. For urgent care, we will schedule you to be seen as quickly as possible—typically same or next day. Appointments for preventive care such as routine physicals are usually scheduled within 30 days of your request. Please visit our Contact page to look up the phone number for your practice location.
If I make an appointment, will I see my own Qliance provider?
To the extent possible, we will schedule your appointments with your Qliance provider. However, since we are open seven days a week (excluding certain holidays), your Qliance provider will not be available at all times. If you need to be seen right away and your regular provider is not available, we will schedule you with one of our other physicians or nurse practitioners.
What determines if I see a physician or nurse practitioner when I am sick?
When you call to make an appointment, our staff will schedule you with a physician, a nurse practitioner or both depending on the nature and urgency of your medical need and your personal preference. Our physicians and nurse practitioners work as integral members of your personal care team, sharing similar work schedules so that they may consult with one another about your care as necessary.
Can I get my medical care at Qliance without becoming a member?
No. You need to be a registered patient to be seen by our health care providers. However, if you have an urgent need and you want to register and join the practice, we will make every effort to see you that day (or the next) so long as there is room for new members.
Can I contact my Qliance provider by phone or email?
Yes. You may phone your Qliance provider during office hours. If he/she is not available, you may either leave a message or, if urgent, ask to be transferred to another available physician or nurse practitioner. Emails should NOT be used for urgent care communications, as email is not always reliable. Email is fine for routine non-urgent appointment scheduling, prescription refill requests or non-urgent treatment clarification questions. Please be advised that because of the inherent nature of the communications technology, privacy cannot always be assured with emails.
Section 3: Emergency, Hospital and Specialty Care
What if I have to see a non-primary care specialist?
It is our goal to accommodate as many health care needs as we can for you. However, when your medical needs are beyond the scope of our primary care services, we will refer you to an appropriate specialist. We will provide that specialist with relevant portions of your medical record and the information needed to optimize your care. When his or her evaluation is completed, we will assist with follow-up and coordination of your subsequent specialty care needs. You will be responsible for paying for any of these outside services. If you have insurance, we recommend that you check with your insurance carrier to determine what will be covered.
What happens if I have an emergency?
Qliance does not maintain an emergency room and it is not equipped to care for someone experiencing a life-threatening emergency. If you have a life threatening medical emergency, you should call 911 immediately. For urgent, non-life threatening medical problems, you can call our office 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to speak with a physician or nurse practitioner on call. If you need to be seen during office hours, we will get you in as quickly as possible, usually on the same or next day. If your medical provider determines that you need emergency care, you will be referred to the nearest emergency room. In advance of your arrival, we will call the emergency room to let them know you are coming and give them your pertinent medical information. We will also confer with the emergency room physician after you have been evaluated to discuss your care and coordinate any follow-up needed.
Your Qliance monthly care fee does not cover ambulance, emergency room or other hospital services. If you are insured, your insurance carrier may cover emergency charges as specified in your plan. If you are uninsured, you may want to discuss payment options with the financial services coordinator at the hospital emergency department. Some hospitals maintain a low-cost or charity care program for low-income patients, or they can arrange a payment plan for you.
What if I need to be admitted to the hospital?
If you require hospitalization, your Qliance personal care team will refer you to an appropriate hospital and coordinate your admission. When you become a Qliance member, you can designate a preferred hospital or we can help you choose a hospital based on where you live or work and the services you might need. Your Qliance medical team will maintain contact with the attending physician caring for you at the hospital and will provide any necessary records and information to such physician. When you are ready to be discharged, your Qliance medical team will talk with your attending physician to coordinate appropriate follow-up care.
Your Qliance monthly care fee does not cover any costs associated with your hospitalization, except the coordinating care services of the Qliance staff. If you are insured, your insurance carrier may cover hospitalization costs according to your plan. If you are uninsured, you may want to discuss payment options with the financial services coordinator at the hospital. Some hospitals maintain a low-cost or charity care program for low-income patients, or they can arrange a payment plan for you.
Does Qliance include imaging services other than basic x-rays?
No. If you require any of these additional tests, you will be referred to a radiology specialist. As with other outside services, you will be responsible for paying for any of these outside services. If you have insurance, we recommend that you check with your insurance carrier to determine what will be covered.
Does Qliance offer maternity care?
No. Qliance does not offer maternity care services. If you are pregnant when you become a Qliance patient or become pregnant while a patient, we can refer you to an appropriate maternity care provider. You can continue to get other primary and preventive care services at Qliance while you are pregnant and your Qliance health care provider will coordinate as necessary with your maternity care provider. In-hospital newborn exams can be provided by a pediatric specialist at your hospital. Post-hospital, you can register your new child as a Qliance member to receive our well-baby and urgent care.
Can I still see my gynecologist?
Yes. Being a Qliance patient does not preclude you from seeing any other provider of your choice whenever you wish. As with all outside services, you are responsible for the costs of such care. You may find, however, that many of your gynecological needs can be met by your Qliance health care provider, including periodic well-woman exams and care of common gynecological and women’s health conditions.
How will I be notified if you add or discontinue specific services?
From time to time, there may be changes in the services we provide. Our most current list of services is available on our website (Patient Services) and also available at the Qliance office. We will provide you with at least sixty (60) days notice of any changes to the services included in your monthly fee.
Will I have access to my medical record?
Yes. As per our patient privacy policy, you are entitled to access your medical record and to receive a copy of your record for review at anytime. For more information, please refer to our Patient Privacy page.
Section 4: Compatibility with Health Insurance
Is Qliance health insurance?
No. We work directly for our patients, as doctors used to do before the advent of health insurance. We provide direct medical care, not third-party medical insurance. Your monthly care fee only pays only for the primary and preventive care services described in our Patient Service guide.
Are my visits to non-Qliance health care providers covered by my monthly care fee?
No. Because we are not an insurance company, your monthly care fees do not include (or cover) any goods or services you receive outside of our offices.
Will my insurance reimburse me for my Qliance monthly care fee?
No. Qliance monthly care fees are not reimbursable by any health insurance company, nor are they reimbursable by Medicare or Medicaid. If you have a Health Savings Account (HSA), Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) or Medicare Medical Savings Account (MSA), however, your monthly care fees may be eligible for reimbursement. They will not likely count towards any annual deductible, however. Please check with your plan administrator.
Can Qliance monthly care fees be applied to my insurance deductible?
No. Qliance monthly care fees are not an expense that can be applied to an insurance plan deductible. Only an insurance carrier can determine which expenses are counted against their plans’ deductibles.
Will you bill my insurance plan for your services?
No. Qliance does not bill insurance carriers for the services we provide. Your insurance plan may be billed by others for services such as emergency, hospital, or specialty care; laboratory tests, diagnostic imaging, prescription drugs or other goods and services that are ordered by your healthcare provider but are not performed or provided in our offices.
Will my insurance pay for outside goods or service ordered through Qliance?
While many insurers will pay for medical goods and services covered by their plan regardless of the ordering medical provider, you should check with your insurance carrier to make sure. If you are a member of an HMO, your plan may refuse to cover any services ordered by a Qliance provider.
If I am in a managed care plan, can I join Qliance as well?
Yes. Your monthly fee provides you with Qliance primary care, regardless of what insurance or managed care provider plan you may have. However, you should know that your managed care company or your health maintenance organization (HMO) may refuse to pay for any goods or services that are not ordered by one of their providers. You should check with your insurance or managed care provider plan before becoming a Qliance patient.
Can I become a patient if I am covered by Medicare or Medicaid?
Yes. However, you should know that our fees are not reimbursable by Medicare or Medicaid. Medicare and Medicaid will pay only for services provided by Medicare and Medicaid contracted providers. Since we have opted out of these programs, you cannot ask either organization to reimburse you for your monthly care fee. However, if you need outside services such as laboratory tests, specialty care or imaging services, we will refer you to Medicare or Medicaid contracted providers whenever possible. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan with a Medicare Medical Savings Account (MSA), your monthly care fees may be reimbursable from the MSA. They will not count, however, towards your annual Medicare Advantage deductible.
Qliance pairs well with low-premium Medicare Advantage plans. If you would like to receive more information about which plans might work within your budget, please contact Larry Cook from the Seniors Insurance Group at their Qliance Medicare Hotline: 206-307-5585. If you are on a Medicare Suppliment, you will most likely save money by switching to a Medicare Advantage plan combined with Qliance care.
Should I also have medical insurance for serious illness or injury?
Yes. Because Qliance is not an insurance company, we encourage those of you who can afford health insurance to purchase it to protect yourself from large, unanticipated costs associated with serious illnesses or accident. For example, high-deductible health insurance plans designed for catastrophic illnesses are a very affordable, complementary solution for Qliance patients who are concerned about the expense of traditional low-deductible health insurance plans. In fact, you will most likely save money by switching to a lower-premium plan and using Qliance for your primary and preventative care. See our Insurance page.