Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just found out that Potomac Physicians Associates will be dissolving their practice this summer and all of their doctors will be moving to various concierge health practices. I now have to look for a new internist as I'm not interested in joining a pricey concierge group. Does anyone know why they are dissolving?

This is a very misleading post. For the majority of the patients (that is, those in the Chevy Chase office), the only change is a $200 annual fee ($50 the first year).

Not misleading. Half of the practice is remaining in Bethesda and not accepting any insurance for $1,800 a year (including my doctor) which is definitely concierge and the other half is charging $200 annually to be able to make appointments online which is crazy odd, with no guarantee that the new model will even be covered by most health insurance companies.

One Medical is a well established group that takes many form of insurance. I like them because they are pretty good about appointment availability and they are also good about using telemedecine, emails etc to update you.

Anonymous wrote:I've been looking for a new PC doctor for more than a year and struggling to find an acceptable, non-concierge doctor that is both taking new patients and on my insurance. this is the worst situation

Similar situation here- I think it would be one thing if a doctor I was already seeing and liked was going this route. But I have a hard time justifying paying the fee to try someone new.

for those that didn't get it here's the email txt.
YELP reviews of OneMed locations in DC seem mixed. There was some kind of IPO that may have affected service. So this may be a "get what you pay for" example. You probably have to look doc to doc, practice to practice. Presumably they will rehire existing staff so if status quo was good, you'll be pleased, if not good, you may not.The expensive concierge model docs (Signature and MDVIP) are dropping from several thousand patients to hundreds, this is how they deliver better appointment scheduling and more patient time (at a high cost to you). For the rest of the practice, presumably they are keeping the same high number of patients per doc model. Signature's insurance model is unclear. Best to check with your provider. MDVIP seems to take insurance for non-covered services, from their website: "Most MDVIP-affiliated primary care practices accept insurance (your physician can tell you whether they accept your specific insurance plan)."

Dear Patients,

After 25 wonderful years of providing primary care in Montgomery County, Potomac Physician Associates will be dissolving our practice on July 31, 2021. This was a difficult decision for us to make, as it has truly been our pleasure to take care of you and your families.

Be assured, there will be an opportunity to continue receiving care with your current physician. All of our providers will be transitioning to exciting membership-based practices in the area which we are confident will provide you high quality personalized care, most in their current practice locations.

Providers transitioning to One Medical

8401 Connecticut Avenue, PH Suite Chevy Chase, MD 20815

Joanna Macapinlac Delaney, DO
Seth Garber, MD
Rebecca Musher Gross, MD
Daniela Hangan, MD
Uma Jayaraman, MD
Dana Meyer-Buxser, MD
Richard Pollen, MD
Steve Schwartz, MD



Providers transitioning to SignatureMD

Bethesda Internal Medicine Partners 10215 Fernwood Rd, Suite 100 Bethesda, MD 20817

Meena Andrew, MD
Dave Chen, MD
Brent Cole, MD
Sona Kammula, MD
Andrea Karp, MD
Lakshmi Sastry, MD
Rajshree Thaker, MD

Providers transitioning to MDVIP

9715 Medical Center Drive, Rockville MD 20850

Bradley Hunter, DO

In the coming days you will receive further communication from your provider to learn about his/her/their new practice. Thank you for having placed your trust and health in Potomac Physician Associates. We will continue to provide full spectrum primary care through July 31, 2021. After that date, you’ll need to book appointments with your provider through one of the above practices, should you choose to join. You will receive ongoing communication on how to do so.

For more information about future appointments, medical records, and issues related to the transition please contact ppatransition@ppa.md. We will also be updating https://www.ppa.md/ with additional resources to guide you.

Thank you,

Your Potomac Physician Associates Team

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just found out that Potomac Physicians Associates will be dissolving their practice this summer and all of their doctors will be moving to various concierge health practices. I now have to look for a new internist as I'm not interested in joining a pricey concierge group. Does anyone know why they are dissolving?

This is a very misleading post. For the majority of the patients (that is, those in the Chevy Chase office), the only change is a $200 annual fee ($50 the first year).

Not misleading. Half of the practice is remaining in Bethesda and not accepting any insurance for $1,800 a year (including my doctor) which is definitely concierge and the other half is charging $200 annually to be able to make appointments online which is crazy odd, with no guarantee that the new model will even be covered by most health insurance companies.

I haven't looked at this change too closely since I have no need for concierge, but I didn't realize the new Bethesda location will not accept any insurance so that you only get out of network reimbursements.

Anonymous wrote:Glad I found this thread as well. Does anyone have recommendations for PCPs in the Hopkins Executive Blvd or Wisconsin Ave. locations, preferably female?

For those asking about JH, I see Dana Fleischhacker at the the Exec Blvd office. She is actually a PA, but I am fine with that. They have been really good about online access through MyChart (bonus, they offered me a Covid vax through them), the office staff is nice and competent, and I really like her. I have had a few good telehealth experiences during Covid with her too.

As to the JH docs opening offices here generally, I definitely don’t think it’s a “underserved outreach” effort, but a move to expand their service area generally, especially after buying Suburban and Sibley. JH wants to be the dominant health system in the Dc and MD market.

I’m a little irritated because I just called yesterday to complain that I had asked a month ago for blood work and they never sent me the order—because they can’t get me in to see a doctor until a July they thought I should wait until July for the bloodwork even though I feel like sh-t and wanted to see if my numbers are off. I’m considering just ditching PCP entirely and just going to specialists for everything. The last time I saw her for something, I waited for an appointment and then she just sent me to a specialist anyway. I don’t think I’ve ever successfully used a PCP for anything, now that I think about it, except once 15 years ago when I had a sinus infection or something and they gave me antibiotics. I can get that at urgent care.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just found out that Potomac Physicians Associates will be dissolving their practice this summer and all of their doctors will be moving to various concierge health practices. I now have to look for a new internist as I'm not interested in joining a pricey concierge group. Does anyone know why they are dissolving?

This is a very misleading post. For the majority of the patients (that is, those in the Chevy Chase office), the only change is a $200 annual fee ($50 the first year).

Not misleading. Half of the practice is remaining in Bethesda and not accepting any insurance for $1,800 a year (including my doctor) which is definitely concierge and the other half is charging $200 annually to be able to make appointments online which is crazy odd, with no guarantee that the new model will even be covered by most health insurance companies.

Does the 1800 cover annual physicals and some sick visits? Or do you submit to insurance (out of network)?

What is happening to our medical system? Are all medical practices going to go this route?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just found out that Potomac Physicians Associates will be dissolving their practice this summer and all of their doctors will be moving to various concierge health practices. I now have to look for a new internist as I'm not interested in joining a pricey concierge group. Does anyone know why they are dissolving?

This is a very misleading post. For the majority of the patients (that is, those in the Chevy Chase office), the only change is a $200 annual fee ($50 the first year).

Not misleading. Half of the practice is remaining in Bethesda and not accepting any insurance for $1,800 a year (including my doctor) which is definitely concierge and the other half is charging $200 annually to be able to make appointments online which is crazy odd, with no guarantee that the new model will even be covered by most health insurance companies.

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I haven't received an email. My doctor was ok. Oh well.

The email went into my spam folder.

Where are you guys seeing the prices?

I've been looking for a new PC doctor for more than a year and struggling to find an acceptable, non-concierge doctor that is both taking new patients and on my insurance. this is the worst situation

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fu#@$ing greed!

Or it’s really hard to practice as a primary care doctor these days under insurance regulations. No one goes into primary care for greed.

This. I also got the email and I will go to the concierge practice. This is the second doctor I’ve had that has chosen to do this. The first doctor I had who did this a number of years ago, I did not follow and I loved her, so I will follow this Doctor Who I also really like. I have friends who are doctors and insurance does kill them. my friend works about 70 hours per week and one day I can see him going concierge just for the break.

Anonymous wrote:I just found out that Potomac Physicians Associates will be dissolving their practice this summer and all of their doctors will be moving to various concierge health practices. I now have to look for a new internist as I'm not interested in joining a pricey concierge group. Does anyone know why they are dissolving?

This is a very misleading post. For the majority of the patients (that is, those in the Chevy Chase office), the only change is a $200 annual fee ($50 the first year).

Anonymous wrote:Anyone have experience with concierge practices? Are rhey that much better?

There have been discussions about it on DCUM. As I recall, some people like it but some tried it and decided it wasn't worth the cost for infrequent visits so they got out.

I wonder if PPA Bethesda patients can switch to OneMedical. I could swing $200/yr for a good doctor but not $1800. I LOVE my doctor so this is super disappointing.