CONTACT US
Dr. Ragland is easily reached when you need her.
Please don’t hesitate to call, email or text with questions or concerns.
Membership Questions
What medical conditions do your care for?
We treat acute and chronic health problems. While we can’t substitute for an ER, urgent care, sub-specialist’s office or hospital, Dr. Ragland’s training as a general internist, pediatrician, and addiction specialist equips her to assist patients with most medical concerns, from simple to complex.
What are your prices?
Please find a complete list of our prices here.
What does the membership fee cover?
See Benefits section on our Home page to get a general feel for what is covered in the monthly fee. Relaxed office visits with minimal wait times, periodic wellness exams, well-child exams, sports/school physicals, basic office procedures, treatment of acute illness or minor injuries, chronic disease management, and access to your doctor via email, phone, text and video-conferencing are a few of the many benefits. You will also be able to take advantage of discounts on prescription medicines and bloodwork through our in-office wholesale lab and pharmacy. New in 2022: High value discounts on aesthetics services through OneAestheticsMD, an affiliate of OneFamilyMD!
View a list of our services here.
Is there a sign-up fee to join?
Yes, there is an enrollment fee that is charged when you become a patient at OneFamilyMD. It is the same price as the monthly fee and covers the cost of getting all your information into our system, going over initial questions and concerns, and getting plans for your care all set. Your first monthly (or periodic) fee won’t be charged until later, so it’s not too much at once.
Does OneFamilyMD see patients of all ages?
Dr. Ragland is a board certified pediatrician and internist. She is trained to provide medical care for people of all ages, from newborns to elderly.
What if I decide to cancel?
We understand that circumstances change, and sometimes things just don’t work out as planned. If you give us a 30 day notice of your plans to cancel membership, we will work with you to get your records all set.
Can I visit the office before deciding if I want become a member of OneFamilyMD?
Yes, we can consult in the office if you wish to visit before making a decision about membership in OneFamilyMD. There is a $100 fee for this, and it applies toward your enrollment or membership fee if you decide to join after consultation.
What happens if Dr. Tracy is sick or out of town? Does the membership fee cover for a back-up physician?
If an office visit is needed while Dr. Ragland is out for either illness or travel, she will arrange for a covering physician to see you. However, many conditions can be diagnosed and treated via a simple conversation by phone or webcam. Tony, Dr. Ragland’s assistant, may help with arranging videoconferences or tele-heath visits in these situations.
General Questions
Why did Dr. Tracy decide to leave her group practice to start a Direct Primary Care practice?
Dr. Ragland decided to leave insurance-based medicine and start a direct care practice because she believes it is the best way to provide personalized, affordable, and high quality general medical care in the future. When the doctor is focused on fewer patients and is not overwhelmed with government and insurance paperwork and bureaucracy – the patient wins! This was a difficult decision since she loved her former partners and patients. But ultimately, the decision was made because it was the right thing to do.
What about people who can’t afford DPC?
DPC is considered very affordable for most people. However, with the DPC model, doctors are free to offer reduced charges in some situations where there are true financial challenges. Because of Medicare and health plan contracts, this is illegal in insurance-based practices.
Why is a DPC practice a Better Option?
There are lots of reasons. First, it is absolutely patient-focused. From a cost standpoint, it helps patients and their employers maximize their healthcare benefits while simultaneously minimizing the cost. EVERYONE can benefit from being part of a Direct Primary Care practice:
- Medicare beneficiaries: Savings on medicines can help many Seniors who have substantial out of pocket expenses for their prescriptions, and the exceptional access to your doctor enhances wellness plans as well as diagnosis and care of chronic medical conditions. Probably the biggest value is the knowledge that your doctor – not a large entity like an “Accountable Care Organization” trying to cut costs for Medicare – is helping you co-ordinate your care to suit your individual healthcare needs.
- Small business owners and their employees: DPC combined with a “bronze” plan and a Health Savings Account is a great alternative to expensive insurance plans. They can cut costs by 20 – 30 percent or more and money previously spent on premiums can be reinvested in the company or given back to valued employees as bonuses or pay raises.
- Individuals without employer coverage who can’t find high value plans that allow choice in providers and hospitals on the KYNECT exchange can benefit by having more control over where and how care is accessed. They can also stabilize unpredictable spending toward deductibles by having a set monthly fee for comprehensive primary care.
- Individuals who don’t require frequent medical attention benefit also. Building a partnership with a personal physician and investing in preventive care and wellness will pay off.
- Self-insured businesses can build custom health benefits for their employees. DPC is a perfect fit for these companies because, in many cases, it can help lead to a 20 – 30 percent drop in overall healthcare spending and dramatically improve employees’ satisfaction with their benefits.
What is Direct Primary Care?
Direct Primary Care (DPC) is an innovative medical delivery model based on the patient-physician partnership without third party payer involvement and oversight. Care is provided in return for a flat, periodic membership fee. By avoiding the heavy and intrusive administrative burdens that are present in all insurance-based models, DPC practices are able to deliver a broader spectrum of high quality care that is affordable and much more service-oriented than what is often found in our current dysfunctional healthcare system in the US. Although it is said that “once you’ve seen one DPC practice you have seen one DPC practice,” benefits of the model generally include: seeing the same physician each visit with true continuity of care; extended office visits; exceptional access through technology; both chronic disease and acute illness/injury management; in-office procedures; and wholesale prices on medications/labs with assistance in finding high value services outside of the DPC practice if necessary.
Do you see patients in nursing homes?
Yes! Dr. Tracy sees members who live in nursing homes or other assisted living facilities. Depending on the level of care and frequency of visits needed, there may be additional charges in addition to the periodic fee. Please contact the office at OneFamilyMD to discuss further.
What if I’m hospitalized?
Dr. Ragland will be available to work with your hospital physicians and specialists in order to help coordinate your hospital care. Answering questions you and your family may have about certain aspects of your hospital stay is another service many patients really appreciate. Dr. Tracy may also visit while you are in the hospital, if appropriate. Please note that during the Covid 19 pandemic, several local hospitals have not allowed community-based physicians to visit their patients.
What if I need medical attention while I’m away from home?
In the age of telemedicine, many conditions can be diagnosed and treated via a simple conversation by phone or webcam. If appropriate, we will locate the nearest pharmacy and order medication most suited for your circumstance. If you need to go to the hospital or seek other medical attention while away from home, we can advise you on that as well. Dr. Ragland can’t substitute for the ER or urgent care in truly urgent situations, though, so if you ever feel like you could be experiencing a medical emergency – please never hesitate to go immediately to an emergency care facility!
May I contact OneFamilyMD after hours? How?
Yes. Dr. Tracy is available after hours for urgent concerns that can’t wait until the office re-opens. Patients of OneFamilyMD are given a private cell phone number that can be called or texted after hours, on weekends and during holidays.
When do I pay my fees for wholesale medicines, labs and procedures that are not covered in the membership fee?
Charges will be added and applied to your preferred method of payment. Patients typically pay for extra services at the time their regular monthly bill is paid. However, nothing is set in stone and things can be individualized. Some patients prefer to pay at the time of service or with a method that is different from their regular bill.
What is the best way to reach the office or contact Dr. Ragland when I am a patient?
It depends on the situation. The best way to make the most of the technology used for communication at OneFamilyMD is to make sure the correct numbers are used for calls and texts. The office number is the best way to connect (call or text) during office hours, as Dr. Tracy is usually seeing patients for office visits during this time and may not see a message or call sent to the after-hours cell phone. If Tony, her assistant, is unable to answer the phone when you call, leaving a message by voicemail or text is the best way to make sure your request is received. We check messages regularly, so a call or text back should be expected soon after your message is left. Emails are best for messages that don’t need a quick response and/or may require a bit of research or consideration. Video visits are usually set up if face to face visits are preferred but an in person visit can’t be scheduled. We make all these contacts available to patients, and it is always okay to double check to make sure you have the correct numbers/addresses in your contacts!
Does OneFamilyMD have an electronic record, and does Dr.Tracy have access electronically to my records from other offices?
OneFamilyMD uses a private electronic medical record for record keeping, prescribing, and billing purposes. Records are not shared with other facilities unless requested by patients. Dr. Tracy does have access to most medical records stored electronically at the large local health systems, Baptist Health and Norton Healthcare.
What is the process for getting my prescriptions filled at an outside pharmacy?
Dr. Ragland will send the original prescription to your preferred pharmacy, usually electronically. For refills on regular medicines, it works best for patients to call their pharmacy and ask them to send a refill request to our office. We will notify you when we send the prescription, and the pharmacy should send notifications as well. Because many pharmacies are very busy and often understaffed, it is best to call the pharmacy before going to get your prescription, just to be sure it is ready. Immunizations given at pharmacies usually do not require prescriptions.
Insurance Questions
Is this like MDVIP?
In some ways, Direct Primary Care practices are similar to Concierge Medicine practices like MDVIP. They both focus on individualized care and offer excellent alternatives to the rushed visits and long waits so often seen in many insurance-based practices. However, there are significant differences. Concierge practices typically have higher monthly fees, and they also bill insurance/third party payers (often with co-pays) in addition to the periodic fee. OneFamilyMD, like other Direct Primary Care (DPC) practices, does not bill insurance for anything, so there are no surprise deductible or co-pay costs. Also, most Concierge Medicine practices do not offer savings on wholesale medicines and lab work. OneFamilyMD passes along these savings with our in-office wholesale pharmacy and lab. This extra service commonly seen in DPC practices sometimes leads to savings that can significantly offset the monthly fee cost.
Do I still need insurance?
We recommend that you do have health insurance to comply with Federal Law. OneFamilyMD does not replace insurance. Ideally, insurance helps protect against financial hardship in the face of a very serious and unpredictable medical situation. Although true catastrophic insurance doesn’t exist in the Affordable Care Act (ACA)-compliant market, a high deductible health plan with a health savings account (HSA) or similar account is the closest option currently available. Many employer-based plans offer something like this along with other, more expensive, options. Health sharing plans, health insurance alternatives recognized by federal law, have recently seen rapid growth in membership because of their relative affordability and good coverage for major medical problems. “Off the grid” plans that offer coverage for specific areas like accidents, cancer, and hospitalizations are also available. Choosing among the many options is not a simple task. If you need further resources, Dr. Ragland may be able to refer you to specialists who can assist you in choosing a plan that works well with Direct Primary Care and will meet your individual needs.
What if I want to continue my current insurance? Can I use it?
Not for our services, but OneFamilyMD will be able to order your labs, x-rays and medications at the facilities preferred by your insurance. The only current exceptions to this are Kentucky Medicaid and certain HMO plans. These plans are more restrictive and require that orders, referrals and prescriptions be sent from pre-assigned providers.
If I have Medicare, can I join as a patient?
Yes. However, your monthly membership fee cannot be submitted to Medicare for reimbursement. You must sign a waiver that declares that neither you nor your doctor will directly bill Medicare for your membership fee; this will be provided at the time of enrollment. Medicare and medicare supplemental insurance will still cover medical costs that you incur outside of OneFamilyMD. For example, prescriptions that you fill at an outside pharmacy, lab work performed at an outside lab, hospital charges, physical therapy, x-rays and scans are covered, just to name a few. You do not lose your Medicare coverage for other medical needs just because you are a patient of OneFamilyMD.
Are OneFamilyMD’s monthly fees eligible for HSA or FSA reimbursement?
The best answer to this question is “probably. HSA’s and similar accounts are really great because they allow you to pay for some of your medical and healthcare costs with pre-tax dollars. This has been a controversial area since government entities initially defined Direct Primary Care (DPC) as a form of insurance, although its official mention in the Affordable Care Act does not classify it in this way. Since HSA’s can’t currently be used to pay for health insurance, it was assumed that DPC membership fees could not be paid from an HSA account. However, many states have officially defined DPC as a medical delivery model, and federally the issue is being addressed via proposed regulations following a 2019 executive order asking the IRS and US Treasury to acknowledge officially that DPC is not insurance. Many patients use HSA’s to pay for DPC and other medical/healthcare goods and services, but it is still a gray area.
Is the monthly fee for DPC tax deductible?
Not currently. But things are changing. Some states, including Kentucky, have clarified that DPC is a medical delivery model and, therefore, payment for it should be tax deductible. At the federal level, a 2019 executive order directed the IRS to propose regulations that would allow payment for Direct Primary Care arrangements to be considered tax deductible medical expenses. DPC Frontier (www.dpcfrontier.com), a website that tracks legal issues affecting Direct Primary Care, may provide the most up to date information. Please consult your accountant for individual advice.