Frequently Asked Questions
Direct Primary Care (DPC) is a membership-based primary healthcare model that does not bill insurance for healthcare services. An affordable monthly membership fee provides an individual, family, or employer with affordable, transparent, and unlimited access to their primary care doctor. This means that you, the patient, pay a monthly membership fee, to have extended access and unlimited office visits with Dr. Nathan Ker, DO. With a RISE direct primary care membership, you get to spend more time with your doctor to develop a healthcare plan that leads you to better health.
The traditional healthcare system has been burdened with insurance requirements that limit doctors and their ability to deliver quality healthcare. The broken system has been designed to benefit the insurance companies, not the doctor or their patients. Insurance rates are unaffordable and patients have become a slave to a system that is promoted as the answer to better health. Traditional healthcare operates under a broken system that restricts patient access to the healthcare that patients deserve and need now more than ever.
Direct Primary Care offers a solution to the broken healthcare system. With affordable membership plans, patients are given an opportunity to build a relationship with their doctor. At RISE Direct Primary Care we believe that all patients deserve access to affordable and personalized healthcare that allows them to feel understood, acknowledged, and appreciated.
Patients must be a member at RISE Direct Primary Care to receive primary healthcare services.
Signing up for your membership is simple. If you are not sure if RISE Direct Primary Care is the best fit for your needs, contact us at info@risedpcare.com or at 307-312-2726. We are happy to answer your questions or schedule a time for you to meet with Dr. Ker.
At RISE Direct Primary Care, it is our mission to serve you with affordable and personalized healthcare that allows you to feel understood, acknowledged, and appreciated.
You can save on your monthly membership fees by paying the full year in advance.
Adults (19 and up): $75.00 / month
Children (1-18): $45 / month
New members will incur a one-time enrollment fee of $50. Learn more about memberships.
And we serve business owners with an option to purchase primary healthcare services for their employees. For just $60 / month, you can give the gift of healthcare to your employees!
We are located inside of the Casper Clinic, 940 E. 3rd Street. Our permanent office is being renovated. We are temporarily located in suite 210 until further notice.
You can receive FREE wellness information here: 5 Daily Habits to Jumpstart Your Journey to Wellness. Never miss an update! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
As promised, there are NO hidden fees, NO per call fee, NO Co-pays, and NO deductibles for your primary healthcare.
There are times the services recommended or requested will exceed the scope of primary care services. However, additional fees will never be a surprise. We will always discuss additional services and the costs associated before the services are rendered. Our promise to you will result in NO confusion and NO billing surprises.
Here are just a few things that may require additional fees: Prescription medications, Supplements, Infusions, B-12 shots, or travel outside of Casper for house calls.
NO, we do not take insurance or bill insurance for services provided through RISE Direct Primary Care. This is one of the best parts of Direct Primary Care. We cut out the “middle man”, the insurance, creating a cost savings opportunity for you, the patient.
We do not replace your insurance. Insurance DOES NOT reimburse membership costs or services received through a direct primary care doctor. It’s important to note that certain healthcare services are not included in a DPC membership, such as hospitalizations, surgery, and specialist visits. Most DPC patients choose a relatively low-cost, high-deductible insurance plan to cover those services.
Medicare patients will need to sign a one-time waiver stating that we will not attempt to bill Medicare for services received at RISE Direct Primary Care. If you have insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare, you can still use your coverage at your other providers that accept your insurance. This includes your specialty doctors, labs, hospital, and urgent care facilities.
RISE Direct Primary Care and Dr. Ker can refer to any Medicare, Medicaid, or insurance provider, including radiology, laboratory, and medical professionals.
Rules for HSA and FSA are ever-expanding and changing. In Wyoming, direct to consumer or direct primary care physicians are outside of state insurance regulation, however, there are ongoing legislative efforts to adapt and clarify IRS tax code to ensure you can use your HSA for direct primary care.
Check with your plan today to inquire about coverage for RISE DPC!
There are also some great alternatives for cost-sharing for direct primary care services as well as alternatives to traditional health insurance.
Meeting expensive insurance deductibles is not necessary for the majority of healthcare needs. Consider your car insurance for a moment. When it comes to regular maintenance like oil changes, broken windshields, brakes, or tires, you pay those costs out of pocket rather than using your insurance. Why is that? Because the deductible you need to meet far exceeds the cost of regular maintenance. You only use your car insurance when something catastrophic has occurred.
Medical insurance is a lot like car insurance. The cost to you as the patient for using your insurance is astronomical. You can save money every year by saving that high deductible for when it is needed most and pursue the majority of your healthcare needs through a direct primary care service. There are so many other benefits to using a direct primary care service!
Yes! We know that direct primary care services will provide better access to your doctor that will result in a lesser need for specialty services. However, we also believe it is important to have coverage for catastrophic events, complex conditions, procedures, imaging, and hospitalizations that would require higher levels of care. Costs incurred through such services could be expensive and can be covered under insurance plans.
It’s important to note that certain healthcare services are not included in a DPC membership, such as hospitalizations and specialist visits. Many patients choose a relatively low-cost, high-deductible insurance plan to cover those services.
RISE Direct Primary Care collaborates with various specialists in our community. Many specialists are willing to provide cash pricing for visits and procedures that are often less than insurance costs. We will spend the time to carefully coordinate your care with a specialist team as needed.
Do you like saving money (in particular, on your healthcare)?
Do you like seeing the same provider for your healthcare needs every visit?
Do you like having a relationship with your doctor and knowing that they are dedicated to your health?
Do you like short waiting room times, and longer visit times with your provider?
Do you like the thought of having extended access to your doctor through call or text?
Do you like knowing you can see your doctor within 24 hours of calling with a healthcare need?
If you answered “yes” to any (or all) of these questions, then RISE Direct Primary Care may be a great fit for you!
*It is important to note that certain healthcare services are not included in a DPC membership, such as hospitalizations, surgery and specialist visits. Many patients choose a relatively low-cost, high-deductible insurance plan to cover those services.
When you spend more time with your primary care physician, the need to refer you to a specialist will decrease significantly. However, in the event that Dr. Ker feels you do need to be referred to a specialty doctor, a referral will be made on your behalf.
RISE Direct Primary Care collaborates with various specialists in our community. Many specialists are willing to provide cash pricing for visits and procedures that are often less than insurance costs. Our providers spend the time to carefully coordinate your care with a specialist team as needed.
Your RISE Direct Primary Care membership covers personalized primary care. This includes wellness visits, sick visits, annual physicals, chronic care management, referrals to specialist doctors as needed, basic office procedures (see the list below), and extended access to Dr. Ker through your patient portal.
- Preventative care
- Pediatrics
- Men’s Health
- Comprehensive Annual Exams
- School/Sports and DOT Physicals
- Wellness Visits
- Chronic Disease Care
- Acute Care
- Urgent Care
- Diabetes Management
- Weight Management
- COVID-19
- Pre-Operative Clearance Exams
MD and DO physicians train in the same residencies (specialty training after medical school) and often practice together throughout their careers. In fact, Dr. Ker has practiced side by side with MDs and DOs for nearly 20 years! The best way to understand the difference between an MD and a DO is that DOs acquire additional training in manipulative techniques for the musculoskeletal system. Check out this article for more information.
At this time, one-time wellness appointments are included in membership plans and are not offered as stand-alone appointments. Rise Direct Primary Care does provide special, one-time visits, including sports physicals, camp physicals, and even DOT physicals among the services we offer.
Dr. Ker can help diagnose pregnancy and will refer you to a specialist to manage your pregnancy. Your membership will cover any medical issues during your pregnancy. However, RISE Direct Primary Care does not offer delivery services.
Rise Direct Primary care sees patients from birth to old age, often referred to as a “cradle to grave” practice. Dr. Ker will refer children to a pediatrician or pediatric specialist in certain circumstances but is otherwise pleased to see children of all ages.
Vaccines are not available with Dr. Ker and these can be obtained as desired through the Natrona Public Health Department.
Your membership includes unlimited office visits! We schedule same-day or next-day appointments. You will have access to Dr. Ker through the patient portal and/or our secure messaging system 24 hours per day.
Your membership also includes 3 house calls per year to cover situations or illnesses that prevent you from getting to the office.
Our office hours are 9am – 4pm MST
However, with extended access to your doctor, Dr. Ker is available to his patients any time of day through your patient portal and our secure messaging system. Just follow the link to your patient portal, or call 307-312-2726.
If you are experiencing an emergency, dial 911 or go directly to the ER.
Yes! There are times when a house call is the best answer. Your membership includes 3 house calls per year. Dr. Ker will take the time to get out of the office when necessary, just like in the good old days. Obviously, if Dr. Ker is at a house call, he is not in the office seeing patients, so we ask that house calls be used when needed most.
Patients that live outside of Casper may incur additional charges for travel and time.
Save time and money by filling your prescription before you leave your appointment. Please see the comprehensive list of medications and supplements we have in our pharmacy. Additional costs may be incurred for medications and supplements not included in your membership. Your prescription medications are discussed in depth at RISE Direct Primary care and some prescription medications are available through RISE at additional costs. These are services offered to members only but are not included in the membership pricing.
*Pharmaceutical treatment of Chronic Pain: New Opioid Prescribing Guidelines have recently been released by the CDC to combat the prescription drug abuse epidemic, and those patients who use narcotics for chronic pain are encouraged to seek a pain treatment center. Dr. Ker does not prescribe controlled sedatives for the treatment of chronic anxiety without proper psychiatric evaluation and documentation. Dr. Ker DOES NOT provide chronic narcotic management.
You may cancel your membership at any time. Please review our terms of service.
*Cancellation of your membership may limit your access to future healthcare services at RISE. Please see the reinstatement policy in your membership agreement. If you are experiencing financial hardship, please contact the office before canceling your membership.