Direct Primary Care & Community Clinic FAQ
Get answers to common questions about Frontier Clinic's healthcare services in South Carolina
Income-based Community Clinic
Direct Primary Care
Understanding Urgent Care
Urgent care centers provide medical attention for non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries. Frontier works to provide optimal treatment for minor emergencies, and if lasting care is needed, can offer enrollment in our Direct Primary Care (DPC) program for ongoing care - creating a win-win for patients seeking fast, convenient and affordable healthcare.
DPC In a Nutshell
Direct Primary Care (DPC) is a healthcare model where patients and physicians form a 'direct' relationship through monthly fees paid directly to the physician or healthcare entity. In exchange, you receive valuable services including increased time with your physician, greater access to care, and reduced prices on labs, imaging and pharmaceuticals.
DPC practices do not bill insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid. If you receive Medicare or Medicaid, you'll need to sign a waiver acknowledging that our providers won't send bills to your insurance. We recommend maintaining your individual insurance as it can still apply to medications and emergency coverage that our clinic doesn't provide. By eliminating insurance administrative burden, physicians can focus entirely on what matters most - you! This puts you back at the center of your healthcare, as it should be.
Understanding Income-based Community Clinics
Our Income-based Community Clinic, also known as Open Frontier, provides comprehensive primary and preventive healthcare services to individuals and families, regardless of their ability to pay. We're designed to serve underserved and vulnerable populations, including those with low incomes, those who are uninsured or underinsured, and those living in areas with limited healthcare access.
Getting Started at Frontier
You can easily schedule an appointment online through our website or by calling our office directly. Once your appointment is scheduled, there's an intake process, and after successful completion, you become a member of the Frontier Clinic family.
Services at Frontier
Frontier offers comprehensive healthcare services to meet your needs, including urgent care for immediate injuries or illnesses, ongoing care through direct primary care services, and convenient home visits. We also provide weight loss management, treatment for depression and anxiety, medication-assisted treatment for opioid dependence through our Suboxone clinic, and specialized men's health services.
Frontier Benefits Are Awesome
Frontier prioritizes your convenience with same or next-day appointments typically lasting 30 minutes to an hour. Once membership is established after your first visit, you'll have direct access to your provider through phone, text, email, or video chat. Your membership includes an annual physical, weight loss services, nutrition counseling, labs and imaging at wholesale prices (where available), and coordination of specialist care when needed. We provide greater access to your provider and ensure timely, comprehensive care.
Enrollment Fee Information
Yes, there's a one-time enrollment fee of $100 for Frontier's DPC services. You'll receive a membership card, patient agreement, free annual physical, medication refills for your first month (year long refills/prescriptions are only available after the first year of services), and direct contact information for your assigned provider. Recurring visits are available as needed at no additional charge.
Age Requirements
As we focus on internal medicine, we treat patients ages 16 and older only.
What to Bring to Your Appointment
New patients should bring insurance cards and co-payment (if applicable), medical records copy (if available), and all prescription medicine bottles. Patients qualifying for our sliding fee discount should bring three recent pay stubs or a notarized employer letter stating household income, plus their sliding fee payment due at appointment time.
Medicare Patients Welcome
Yes. If you elect to join our DPC services, you'll sign a biennial waiver declaring that neither you nor your doctor will directly bill Medicare for our services. You'll join our DPC and follow agreed restrictions, but Medicare will still cover laboratory testing, imaging, medications, and hospitalizations ordered by our office.
Membership Cancellations
We understand circumstances change, so you can terminate your membership by providing 30-day written notice. If you choose to return later, you'll need to pay the enrollment fee again.
Transparent Pricing
We believe in complete price transparency. Please visit our pricing page for detailed information about all our healthcare service costs.
Emergency Hospital Care
Emergencies happen, which is why we highly recommend keeping your insurance for 'emergencies' and 'catastrophic' events. Once notified of hospitalization, we'll help coordinate your follow-up care after the hospitalist releases you. We'll resume care as soon as appropriate.
Patient Privacy Protection
No, we value patient privacy and strictly follow HIPAA laws protecting your privacy rights. We will not provide your information to any third party without your full written consent. However, we may have to release records if subject to a search warrant or subpoena, which would be beyond our control.
Remote Healthcare Access
We offer telemedicine options for all DPC members. Once enrolled and seen in our clinics, we can provide assistance anywhere prescriptions can be received from our providers. Many issues can be resolved via phone, text, or video consultation.
Office Hours & Availability
We offer full clinic hours (typically 7 AM-7 PM EST). Appointments are scheduled, 'first come first scheduled'. There are no walk-in slots. Sliding scale appointments are limited weekly. After hours, contact us via phone, text, or our membership after-hours number. Next-day or same-week follow-up appointments are available. While we're busy, we often accommodate same-day requests when possible.
One-Time Urgent Care Visits
Our Urgent Care division assists patients requiring single visits. Medication refills are limited to the time period for returning to your primary care provider and won't exceed that timeframe.
Payment Schedule
The $100 enrollment fee is due at enrollment or during your intake session. Additional charges for labs, in-house pharmaceuticals, and imaging appear on the following month's invoice. All charges are clearly itemized along with the monthly fee. Your preferred payment method is kept on file and charged on either the 1st or 15th of each month - your choice.
Treatment Limitations
Frontier Clinic does not prescribe controlled substances, including opioids, benzodiazepines, or stimulants. We focus on comprehensive primary care using non-controlled medications, lifestyle interventions, and care coordination. If you require controlled medications, we're happy to work with your current prescriber or provide specialist referrals while serving as your primary care physician.
Substance Use Disorder Treatment
Yes, we provide Suboxone treatment along with naltrexone for emergencies. These spots are limited and require a separate intake process and fee. We're unable to provide methadone treatment currently.
HSA/FSA Payment Questions
Please consult your financial advisor, HR professional, or CPA regarding HSA/FSA eligibility for our clinic services.
Cost Savings Benefits
Frontier Clinic saves money through no co-pays for routine visits, convenient virtual care (call or message your provider!), discounted medications and labs, and the ability to consider lower-premium insurance plans. For less frequent care needs, our Income-Based Community Clinic (IBCC) offers affordable, accessible healthcare.
Home Healthcare Services
Yes! Frontier Clinic provides physician home visits for patients who need medical care in the comfort of their own home. Our home visit services are perfect for patients with mobility issues, chronic conditions, or those who prefer the convenience of healthcare at home. Home visits are available for both DPC members and non-members.
Comprehensive Home Care
During home visits, our physicians can provide comprehensive primary care including physical examinations, chronic disease management, medication reviews, wound care, vital sign monitoring, basic diagnostic tests, and follow-up care. We bring necessary medical equipment and can coordinate additional services like lab work or imaging when needed.
Home Visit Eligibility
Home visits are available for patients who have difficulty traveling to our clinic due to mobility limitations, chronic illness, recovery from surgery or hospitalization, or other circumstances that make office visits challenging. Both existing patients and new patients can request home visit services.
Home Visit Pricing
Home visit pricing varies based on your membership status and services needed. DPC members receive discounted home visit rates as part of their membership benefits. Non-members and IBCC patients have separate pricing structures. Contact our office for specific pricing information and to discuss payment options.
Scheduling Home Visits
To schedule a home visit, contact our office by phone or through our online scheduling system. We'll assess your needs, verify your location is within our service area, and arrange a convenient appointment time. Same-day or urgent home visits may be available depending on provider availability and medical necessity.
Home Visit Service Areas
Our home visit services cover designated areas around our clinic locations in South Carolina. Service areas may vary by location and provider availability. When scheduling, we'll confirm if your address falls within our home visit service zone and discuss any potential travel fees if applicable.
Preparing for Your Home Visit
For your home visit, prepare a clean, well-lit space for the examination, have your current medications available for review, gather any recent medical records or test results, and prepare a list of questions or concerns. Ensure easy access to your home and have your insurance information and payment method ready if applicable.
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Frontier's Controlled Substances Policy
Prior to intake into any services offered by Frontier Clinic, please be advised:
Our Approach to Medication Management
Frontier Clinic specializes in evidence-based primary care with a focus on lifestyle medicine, chronic disease management, and non-controlled pharmacotherapy. We do not prescribe controlled substances (opioids, benzodiazepines, stimulants, or other scheduled medications).
This approach allows us to focus on:
- Long-term health optimization rather than symptom masking
- Safer medication alternatives with fewer side effects and dependency risks
- Comprehensive chronic disease management (diabetes, hypertension, thyroid disorders)
- Collaborative care with specialists when controlled medications are medically necessary
If you currently take controlled medications, we're happy to coordinate with your prescribing physician while providing your primary care. Please discuss your full medication list during your consultation to ensure we're the right fit.