Frequently asked questions

Direct primary care (DPC) is a membership model for primary care. You pay a flat monthly fee directly to our practice, and that covers your primary care: visits, phone and text access, and care coordination, with no copays and no surprise bills. We don't bill insurance for primary care, so our time goes to you rather than to paperwork.

Insurance and DPC do different jobs. Insurance protects you from big, unexpected costs like hospital stays, surgery, specialists, and emergencies. DPC gives you the benefit of a physician you can actually reach, with longer visits, same-day or next-day appointments, and direct messaging. Many people with insurance still face high deductibles, short visits, and long waits for an appointment. With DPC, your everyday care is covered by one predictable fee, and your insurance stays in place for everything else. In addition, you have access to discounted therapies to support your whole health directly from the doctor.

No, I do not participate in insurance plans to pay membership fees. The direct membership model means no co-pays or deductibles, no hassles and no hidden charges. If you have private insurance, you may be able to get out of network reimbursement for your visits. Please consult your insurer for more details.

Redwood and other direct primary care practices are not insurance; they work alongside it. Your membership covers your everyday primary care, and your insurance is still there for the big things, like emergencies, hospital stays, specialists, and surgery. I recommend keeping health insurance, and I’m happy to help you think through what kind of plan fits you. I know many people are having trouble accessing care right now.

If you don’t have health insurance or are looking for another option, some people choose a health share. Health shares may cover some large emergency expenses, but they are not insurance. They aren’t required to pay claims, and they may limit coverage for pre-existing conditions or certain services. Please review any plan carefully before choosing it.

No. Concierge practices usually charge a higher annual retainer and often bill insurance for visits as well. DPC is priced to be affordable for individuals and families, and I don’t bill insurance for the care your membership covers, so you pay one simple, transparent fee.

See how direct primary care compares

See membership pricing for more details. Membership typically includes:

• Unlimited office visits, with extended appointment times
• Same-day or next-day appointments when possible
• Direct phone, text, and secure messaging with your physician
• Virtual visits
• Preventive care, chronic disease management, and lifestyle medicine
• Discounted pricing on osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) and other holistically minded treatments
• Care coordination with specialists and hospitals
• Care in Spanish as needed
• Some minor procedures at cost of supplies and medications (coming soon)
• Access to discounted common medication and blood tests done/dispensed in office (coming soon)

Your membership covers your primary care with me. It doesn’t cover care outside my office, such as specialists, imaging like x-rays, CT scans and MRIs, emergency care, hospital stays, or surgery. That’s what health insurance is for. Labs, medications, and supplies are billed separately at discounted cash prices. There are different options that pair with DPC to help folks manage those unexpected, larger expenses such as health shares, HSA-eligible high-deductible insurance plans, and more.

Membership is $150 a month for one adult and $275 a month for two cohabiting adults. Children's memberships start at $75 a month, and families pay no more than $475 a month. There's a one-time, non-refundable enrollment fee, and we offer discounts for healthcare workers and for volunteers with environmental or animal justice causes. See our pricing page for full details.

In many cases, yes. Since January 1, 2026, if you have an HSA-eligible health plan, you can use HSA funds for a qualifying direct primary care membership if your total membership fees are $150 a month or less for one person, or $300 a month or less for more than one person. Memberships above these caps may not qualify and could affect your ability to contribute to your HSA. These caps may change in the future, and Redwood can’t provide tax advice, so please check the current rules with your HSA administrator or tax professional.

It depends on your plan. Under a 2026 Oregon law (HB 2540), some insurance plans must credit certain payments you make directly to a provider toward your deductible and out-of-pocket maximum, if the care is covered by your plan and costs less than your plan’s in-network rate. HMO plans and some employer plans aren’t included, and it’s not yet clear how every insurer will treat membership fees, so please speak to your insurer directly.

Yes. If you don't have health insurance, or you're looking for another option, some people choose a health share alongside their direct primary care membership. Health shares may help with some big expenses like emergencies or hospital stays, but they are not insurance. They aren't required to pay claims, and they may limit coverage for pre-existing conditions or certain services. Please review any plan carefully before choosing it.

We are in the process of clarifying this ever-changing legal landscape, and more information will come soon. Thank you for your patience as we work to clarify this.

In the meantime, you are welcome to set up an intro call or send me a message anytime to learn more about the practice and to request updates as we get more information.

If you have Medicare and are looking for care right away, you may consider care for the time being with Dr. Slowey, my valued and trusted colleague at Madrona Family Medicine.

If you need help finding care, 211info can connect you with local clinics and community health centers.

Yes. I’ll refer you to specialists and order imaging when you need them, and I’ll stay involved in coordinating your care. You can use your insurance for those services, and I can help you find affordable cash options when that makes more sense.

You can text, send a secure message, or call me any time, and I’ll reply within one business day, usually sooner. I’m not available 24/7, so messages sent after hours are usually answered the next business day. If something urgent arises after hours, please go to your local urgent care. For emergencies like chest pain, stroke symptoms, and/or severe trouble breathing among others, always call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Taking care of myself is a large part of taking care of you! Thank you for helping me keep that balance.

Resting and tending to myself is an essential part of showing up fully for my patients. I’ll let you know about planned time off in advance and any associated coverage for urgent issues. If you can’t wait, go to urgent care. If you think you’re having an emergency such as stroke symptoms, chest pain, severe trouble breathing, or a major injury, call 911 or go directly to the emergency department. Please reference the membership agreement for the official policy.

Not at this time, though I’m trained in prenatal care, enjoy it, and may offer it in the future. For now, I recommend establishing prenatal care with an OB-GYN or midwife. I’m still happy to be your primary care doctor during pregnancy, and I offer osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) to help with the aches, pains, and other changes associated with pregnancy and the postpartum period. I’m glad to coordinate with your prenatal care team, and I’ll be here to support you through the postpartum period. (see newborn FAQ)

Not yet. Newborns need frequent visits in their first months, and as a solo doctor I want to make sure every patient gets the time and attention they deserve. I’m trained in newborn care and hope to welcome newborns in the future as the practice grows. For now, I see children ages 6 months and up. If you have a little one on the way, I’m happy to care for the rest of your family and welcome your baby as a patient once they reach 6 months of age. Current members expecting a baby are welcome to reach out, and I’ll do my best to accommodate them when I can.

We intentionally limit our panel to a much smaller number of patients than a typical practice. That's what makes longer visits, quick access, and real follow-up possible.

Membership is month-to-month, and you can cancel anytime with 30 days’ notice. If you leave and later want to rejoin, a re-enrollment fee equal to six months of membership may apply, and re-enrollment depends on availability and is at my discretion. We’ll review the full membership agreement together that provides much more detail about the clinic policies.

Sí. I speak Spanish and welcome Spanish-speaking patients and families. This website is also in Spanish.

Yes. Home visits are available to members only for an added fee of $200 per hour, including travel time, with a one-hour minimum.

Yes. There are a few options for non-members. Non-members can book urgent care visits, sports physicals, and certain procedures for $200 to $299. If you decide to join within 30 days, you can apply this amount to your enrollment fee.

You can also book osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT). Members enjoy discounted rates, so if OMT is part of your regular care, membership may save you money.

Yes! I am excited to partner with local businesses to offer direct primary care memberships to their employees. Please contact us for more details.

Redwood does not currently offer vaccines onsite as a small practice, but may in the future. I am happy to talk through which vaccines may be right for you or your child and help track vaccines for you. Vaccines are widely available at local pharmacies, your county health department, and many urgent care clinics.

Choosing direct primary care gives me the freedom to care for people based on what they need, not what's most profitable. If cost is a barrier for you, please reach out. We'll always try to find a way to work with you, while keeping the practice running so we can continue serving our community. Also, keep an eye out for more information about the upcoming Heartwood Fund, created with the goal of helping lower barriers to care for community members in need.

Yes to both, thank you for your generosity! I accept one-time or ongoing donations, and 100% of donations, minus processing fees, go directly into the Heartwood Fund to cover care for community members in need. Additionally, if you receive a membership discount, such as the healthcare worker or volunteer discount, you can also choose to redirect it to the fund on a one-time or ongoing basis.

Redwood isn’t currently a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so donations aren’t tax-deductible. I hope to create a nonprofit arm to support more community access in the not-too-distant future, so stay tuned! To donate and/or if you have questions, please contact me.

Start with a free, no-obligation 15-minute intro call on our scheduling page. The pathway to membership walks through each step from there, from enrolling to your first visit.

We'd love to hear from you! Please reach out by phone at 503.293.8393, by email at hello@redwoodofm.com, or through our contact form, or set up a call with me to talk through any questions about the practice.

The coast redwood’s native range stretches along the Pacific coast and ends here in Oregon, where the northernmost groves still stand. I chose this name because the way redwoods live reflects the way I see my patients and what I hope to see more of in the world. Read more: Why Redwood?

Redwood is accepting new patients in December 2026. Fill out the inquiry form to stay in the loop on our opening date, waitlist, and everything else as we get started.

Redwood Osteopathic Family Medicine is on the ground floor of Taborspace, 5441 SE Belmont St, Portland, OR 97215. Visits are by appointment only at this time, and set office hours are coming soon. See Directions & Public Transit for how to get here by bike, bus or car.

Telemedicine is included in membership at no extra cost. Non-members can book a one-time telemedicine visit for $200. You must be in Oregon during the visit. More about telemedicine

OMT is a set of hands-on techniques that osteopathic physicians (DOs) use to diagnose and treat problems in the musculoskeletal system and the systems connected to it. More about OMT, with its own questions

Lifestyle medicine focuses on changing everyday habits to make positive changes in your life: food, movement, sleep, stress, social connection, and risky substances. It is built into direct primary care membership, not an add-on. More about lifestyle medicine

We work to make both accessible, and we want to hear where we fall short. See our Accessibility page, or call or write to request an accommodation.