Does this mean that you can cancel your medical insurance?
No. This contract is only for medical services provided by Dr. Gaudry in her office. The patient should keep major medical insurance that covers the costs of Emergency care, Hospital care, radiology care, pathology care, anesthetic care, or any other services provided by another physician or health-care provider. This contract is not medical insurance. No insurance will be filed.
Should you continue to have health insurance?
Yes. This contract with Dr. Gaudry is NOT medical insurance. She is limiting the number of patients in her practice to take very good care of the patients that contract with her. If someone cannot afford medical insurance, this is a low-cost alternative to contract with a physician for out-patient care that she feels comfortable providing. A patient should have some type of hospitalization coverage for catastrophic care.
Can the fees that I pay monthly for Dr. Gaudry’s services be applied toward the “Deductible” for your medical insurance?
There is no way to know. Each insurance company has their own rules. The patient is encouraged to discuss this matter with a representative from their own insurance plan. It is very unlikely that Dr. Gaudry’s fees will be able to be applied to your deductible.
If I am a member of Dr. Gaudry’s Medical Practice, will I have to pay co-pays to come to see her?
No. The cost of every visit (up to 6 visits/year) is included in your membership. You may encounter additional charges for things such as prescription medications and laboratory tests. You will be informed of any additional charges before the service is provided. You retain the right to decline any services that would result in additional charges.
What if I have to have an X-Ray or some type of radiologic imaging?
X-Rays, CT Scans, Bone Density testing, Mammograms, MRIs and Ultrasounds (of body parts other than the pelvis) are not performed in the office. When these tests are required, she will help you get the lowest price for any test you will need. Your insurance will pay for these tests under most circumstances.
What happens if I need to go to the hospital?
This contract only applies to outpatient care provided in Dr. Gaudry’s medical office. All hospital, emergency room, fees from the hospital, medications, and all hospital costs and fees from other physicians except Dr. Gaudry are not included in this contract.
What if I need Gynecologic Surgery?
If Dr. Gaudry is performing your surgery, there will be an additional administrative fee for the amount of paperwork that is required for the hospital.
Minor Surgery: $800.00 per surgery
Major Surgery: Not performed
What is considered Minor Gynecologic Surgery?
- Uterine Dilation and Curettage. (D&C)
- Hysteroscopy and/or Uterine Ablation
- Removal of uterine polyps
- LEEP procedures that have to be done in the hospital
- Perineoplasty (Vulvar reconstructive surgery)
- Excision of vulvar or vaginal lesions
- Laparoscopy – or anything that is done with a laparoscope besides hysterectomy
- Tubal Ligations
What is considered Major Gynecologic Surgery?
- Hysterectomy with or without removal of ovaries
- Anterior Bladder Repairs (Cystocele Repair)
- Posterior Rectal Repairs (Rectocele Repair)
- Anything that is surgically done in the abdomen without a laparoscope that involves an incision on the abdominal wall
What if I want to stop my membership?
You can discontinue at any time provided that you inform Dr. Gaudry in writing. At the receipt of your termination notice, you monthly fees will be stopped and pro-rated; there is a 3 month minimum charge ($900). Dr. Gaudry will provide all emergency care for 30 days after you terminate your contract in order to give you time to become a patient of another physician.
Can I submit charges to Medicaid, Medicare, Tricare, or Workman’s compensation?
No. Dr. Gaudry is not participating in any government sponsored health-care service. She has opted-out of participation in Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare, and Workman’s compensation plans. The patient CANNOT submit any charges directly to these health-care providers for services provided by this practice. Dr. Gaudry is opting out of all insurance coverage.
Why did Dr. Gaudry change her practice?
Dr. Gaudry had been employed by Memorial University Medical Center since July 19, 1993 when she completed her residency and has tremendously enjoyed and has been dedicated to working for this hospital. In fact, after receiving exceptional care by a Memorial physician early in her life, it became her dream as a young girl to be a Memorial physician. She never even applied to be an employee of any other hospital system after her residency.
The extensive coding, billing rules, and government regulations that have to be adhered to on a daily basis and the need for large numbers of employees to assure that these codes, regulations, and rules are adhered to, in her opinion, are destroying the practice of medicine and the doctor-patient relationship.
After several years of research about direct patient care and physician-patient contractual agreements, she had decided that this is the best way to provide totally transparent, quality, and patient-oriented medical care to her patients. She would like to practice medicine the way that she envisioned when she applied to medical school. She wants a personal relationship with her patients in which, together (and not decided by insurance companies or coding rules) they decide the best plan of care.
What services are included in the Membership?
This is an exclusive Medical Membership in her Practice of Medicine for women only which uniquely includes:
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Acute and non-acute office visits
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Blood Pressure Monitoring
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All lab draws and Urinalysis
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Rapid Test for Strep Throat
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Pap smear
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Removal or biopsy of skin problems, moles, suspicious, or worrisome lesions anywhere
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All cervical and vulvar colposcopy and all evaluations for abnormal pap smears
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LEEP procedures in the office ($150 fee for supplies needed for procedure)
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Simple (meaning, I feel comfortable with doing it in the office) wound repair and suturing
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Abscess Incision and Drainage
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Flu Shots
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Basic Annual Labs
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Menopausal Management
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Gynecology
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Pelvic Ultrasounds
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Primary Care for Women and Men
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Menopausal Management
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Counseling for gynecology, menopause, hormone management, or anything related to primary care of women and gynecology
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Medical Sex Therapy (including counseling visits with husband together or separately)
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Gynecologic Surgery (with a hospital administration fee*) and all (as many as needed) follow-up visits related to the surgery
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The convenience of access to many commonly prescribed generic prescription medications at greatly reduced prices, dispensed on premises (as deemed medically necessary by Dr. Gaudry). This will be wholesale prices plus taxes and administration fees (usually less than your pharmacy co-pay)
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Access to Dr. Gaudry during and after business hours
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Extended and relaxed visits up to 1 hour long
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Same-day or next-day appointment scheduling
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Comprehensive preventive care exams (1 required)
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Access to Dr. Gaudry via e-mail
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Quick reporting of lab, pathology, and x-ray results via email
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Dr. Gaudry’s cell phone number
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24-hour contact with Dr. Gaudry (please be respectful for non-emergencies after hours)
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Referrals/orders for radiologic exams when deemed medically necessary
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Coordination of care with specialists
What your membership fees do NOT include:
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Hospitalization, Urgent Care Center, or Emergency Room visits
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Hospital costs of any kind – even if Dr. Gaudry sent you to the hospital
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Lab-work not included in the preventive care exam
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Pathology reports
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Mammograms
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Radiology visits (CT Scans, Ultrasounds of anything other than the pelvis, Mammograms, Bone Density Visits, or anything that is done outside of Dr. Gaudry’s office.
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Any visits to other physicians – including physicians covering for her while she is out of town. Any other physician that you see will have to be paid via their own fees.
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Any application of medical fees to your deductible for your insurance
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Any hospital or surgical, anesthetic, pathology, or specialty services by any other physician or medical service
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Rehabilitation or physical therapy costs
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Copays for medications not dispensed by Dr. Gaudry
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Emergency visits to the hospital or Urgent care practices
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Primary care for men who receive counseling services with or separate from their spouses
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Due to Medical Liability Constraints, the included services/contract above cannot be applied to men
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No medications that involve a need for a DEA number will be dispensed, available, or stored in the office (i.e. Narcotics, Benzodiazepines, Weight-loss medication, ADD medication, Sleep aids, Hypnotics, or Anti-Psychotic medication)
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No medications that Dr. Gaudry does not feel comfortable prescribing will be dispensed or available in the office (even if she can obtain the medication at wholesale prices)
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No compounded prescriptions or medications will be dispensed, available, compounded, made, or stored in the office.
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Visits to another physician that is covering for Dr. Gaudry when she is out of town or unavailable.
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Dr. Gaudry does not provide any obstetric (pregnancy-related) care except for surgical procedures and evaluation for miscarriage.
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Dr. Gaudry does not provide any abortion services of any kind whether it be surgically or medically induced.
What happens if I do not pay my monthly fees or if I cancel my Credit Card Payments without explanation or a termination letter?
Dr. Gaudry understands that Credit Cards have to be changed if stolen or lost. We will contact you if your payments have lapsed. You will have 60 days to re-instate your membership with full payment up front.
What if I need to see Dr. Gaudry more than 6 times in one year?
Additional visits with Dr. Gaudry over the 6 PHYSICIAN visits during the year will be $50 a visit.
The six visits do not include flu shots, coming by to get labs, blood pressure checks, or urinalysis.
What if I need surgery and require more than 6 visits?
There is an additional fee for surgery whether minor or major surgery in the hospital. The surgery itself, the pre-surgical visit, and ALL post-surgical visits are included in the surgical fee for surgery.
