Thank you for your participation in A Woman’s Wellspring, your community supported medical practice. This information outlines what to expect in the coming year and how to best take advantage of our services.
Annual Fee
Your annual fee supports the educational outreach (Mini-Medical School and Newsletter) and additional time during office visits which is so important in preventive medicine.
Annual fees are due Dec. 1, 2023 for the upcoming year.
A Woman’s Wellspring is not a concierge practice, but a direct-to-physician co-operative. There is no corporation, private equity firm, or insurance company between you and Dr. Taylor. I am proud that we were early leaders in this growing trend, and our fees are still considerably under market. Most direct-to-physician practices charge $495 per quarter ($1980 annually).
Cyber security
A Woman’s Wellspring has always invested heavily in cyber-security, with monthly costs over $1,000. We currently have a state-of-the-art system.
Why? Your name, social security number and bank account numbers sell for $25.00 on the black market. Health information (insurance info and medical records) sell for $1,000 (source: AARP, Sept 2019). If you have ever been burglarized and sought advice on avoiding another assault, the best recommendation is “harden the target”. These thieves are opportunists. We need to make it as difficult as possible for your information to be breached.
Prior Authorizations (PA)
At this time of the year, you receive an electronic or paper copy of your FORMULARY for 2023. This is an important document as it determines the cost of your medications for the coming year. We are experiencing very high prescription drug costs, especially for hormone replacement therapy. We need your help. Please keep a copy of your formulary and bring it to the office for your annual exam especially if you anticipate a change in medications. Please be aware that medication coverage changes every year. Your insurance company or Medicare PDP makes their most profitable contracts with pharmaceutical suppliers and these are changed every year.
It takes the office at least 15-30 minutes to file a PA. Many offices in San Francisco are charging $50 per Prior Authorization. If you can help us with the background research, we may not need to charge for this service, or if we do, it will be much less. Background research means knowing what medications you have tried and failed, the dates, and the adverse effect. This information, in conjunction with your 2023 FORMULARY, is essential to a prior authorization or appeal.
Mini-Medical School
Dr. Taylor is a board certified physician in Obstetrics and Gynecology as well as holding a Ph.D. in Behavioral Genetics. Her lectures and guest speakers go beyond the usual sound bites and fads to give you the in-depth science-based information you need to optimize your health. We look forward to seeing you and sharing this cutting edge information in a congenial interactive environment. In the past year, we were weeks ahead of the major news media in discussing Forensic Genetics, Stress Management (politics and climate change), the medical uses of cannabis, and strategies to maintain vital capacity while aging.
Newsletter
Please check to be sure we have your legible preferred e-mail on the contract. If you wish to receive the newsletter by email, be sure to indicate a “yes” preference in the contract. Dr. Taylor cannot send you the newsletter without this written permission. Also check your Spam and Bulk mail. Some systems place our Constant Contact newsletter in the Bulk mail file, and Gmail places it under the Promotions tab. Once the email is discovered, you can instruct your email system to move it and future issues to the Main/Preferred Email tab.
Tai Chi Chuan Classes
Dr. Taylor is taking a break from Tai Chi Chuan after more than twenty years of teaching. There are many excellent teachers in the community and the schedule is available on the Tai Chi for Health Community, Monterey Bay website: https://tchcmontereybay.com/
Communications
Our encrypted messaging service is Klara. You may receive a text message saying you have a message from Dr. Taylor with a blue link. Clicking on this link will take you to a secure, encrypted HIPAA compliant website which holds your message.
You can also e-mail Dr. Taylor at: drtaylor@womanswellspring.com but please restrict these unsecured communications to Newsletter and Mini-Medical School concerns as privacy regulations require encrypted e-mail for all medical communications.
Enrollment or renewal is a two-step process.
STEP ONE is to review the Participation Agreement, then download the PDF version, sign and return the agreement.
STEP TWO is to make payment for the plan that applies to you by contacting our office.
(After reading the agreement, download the PDF version, sign it and return, as detailed in the PDF form.)
Click here for PDF version of this agreement for you to sign and return.
Name: __________________________________Date of Birth_______________
Billing Address (must match billing address on credit card):
Street address___________________________________________________
City________________________________State _______ZIP_____________
Email address_________________________________________
All patients must be vaccinated against COVID 19 or have a letter from their physician clarifying the reason to avoid vaccination.
Mini-Medical School. Mini-Medical School is included in your annual fee. Education is an essential component of good health care, especially in these uncertain times. Dr. Taylor presents six Zoom seminars each year on topics that are chosen by the patients in an annual survey. If you are not able to attend, an on-demand video link will be sent to Newsletter subscribers.
I wish to receive the Newsletter: (check one) Yes __ No __
Medical Services. Dr. Taylor will provide specialty consulting services to the participant during the term of the Participation Agreement. The annual fee does not include office visits, Telehealth, laboratory testing or radiology services. Telehealth & office visits will be paid at the time of service. You can file a claim with your insurance company using the superbill describing charges. You cannot file a claim with Medicare, MediCal or Tricare. Laboratory and radiology services are billed to your insurance contract by the providing institution. As an example, Community Hospital will bill your insurance for mammograms ordered by Dr. Taylor.
Annual Fee. The participant agrees to pay a yearly sum, which may be paid annually or quarterly. Quarterly payments will be charged automatically with a credit card. Check here if you wish to be charged quarterly___. The fee structure for the coming year is:
* See late fee policy below.
Rights and Responsibilities. Dr. Taylor’s Medical Practice is neither a health insurance nor a health benefit plan. Your participation is voluntary. You will continue to be responsible for all medical expenses covered in your health insurance plan. All payments for office visits are due at the time service is rendered. Checks, Discover, MasterCard and Visa accepted.
After hours coverage. Services are only rendered during office hours, 8 AM-4:30 PM Monday-Thursday. Prescription refills require 48 hours advance notice.
Term. This participation agreement is effective from January 1-December 31 yearly. It will renew automatically unless cancelled by either the participant or Dr. Taylor in writing. Members who join on or after October 1 will pay that year’s quarterly annual fee at the time of first visit, and then will be billed the full annual fee that December for the upcoming year.
Invoices mailed early December with a due date Jan 1.
LATE FEES: Late fee is 10% of the annual fee. Credit Card payments will be processed on the first day of the Quarter. There is a $10.00 fee if card is declined+$20 late fee if payment not made by the first of the month.
I wish to participate in Dr. Taylor’s Community Supported Medical Practice.
I agree to the terms of the practice described above.
Click here for PDF version of this agreement for you to sign and return.
PAY FOR YOUR ENROLLMENT by credit card by contacting our office.