REMISSION RHEUMATOLOGY

Frequently Asked Questions

A warm welcome to our practice! Below, you’ll find detailed answers to common questions about our personalized, membership-based rheumatology care and services. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, please don’t hesitate to reach out; we’re here to help.

For more questions, contact us at info@remissionrheum.com.

General Practice Information

Membership Details

Appointments & Accessibility

Billing & Payments

Prescriptions & Referrals

Cancellation & Refunds

Who Is This Practice Best For?

Getting Started

General Practice Information

  • A direct care rheumatology practice offers a simplified model where patients pay a predictable membership fee directly to the practice, bypassing insurance entirely. This eliminates the hassles of referrals, network restrictions, and complex billing, allowing us to provide more accessible and affordable care. Without the constraints of insurance, we can offer longer, unhurried appointments and immediate access, ensuring we have the time needed to thoroughly address complex autoimmune conditions.

  • We pride in commitment towards personalized precision Rheumatology care deliverance and patient relationship is the foundational pillar of our practice. The membership model allows us to maintain patient continuity; tailor therapy plans and monitor disease activity which is critical to control and treat rheumatological conditions. For a predictable monthly or annual fee, you receive direct access to comprehensive rheumatology services, including consultations, follow-ups, and chronic disease management, without additional per-visit fees.

  • We now accept Medicare and select commercial insurance plans, including Aetna, Cigna, and Florida Blue. Coverage varies by specific plan and network participation, and we recommend verifying benefits prior to your visit.

    We also continue to offer self-pay options for patients who prefer direct access care or are out-of-network.

  • We accept Medicare for eligible rheumatology services in accordance with Medicare guidelines. Coverage may vary based on individual plan benefits and specific services.

    We recommend verifying your coverage prior to your appointment. Our team is available to assist with eligibility and benefits questions.

  •  Benefits include: 

    • More time with your doctor (longer, unhurried visits) 

    • Same-week or next-day appointments (no long wait times) 

    • Transparent, affordable pricing (all costs are disclosed upfront with no surprise bills) 

    • Direct access to your rheumatologist (via phone, email, or telehealth) 

    • No insurance denials or pre-authorization delays 

    • No insurance billing (removing administrative burdens that reduce physician availability)

    • No coding restrictions; we provide the care you need

    In short: Better care, fewer hassles.

Membership Details for Self-Pay Patients

  • Your membership includes: 

    • Comprehensive consultations (45-60 minutes for new patients) vs. standard 10-15 min in insurance models with minimal wait time.

    • Follow-up visits (3 included annually, each ~30 minutes)

    • Priority access to appointments

    • Extensive medical record review

    • Chronic disease management (e.g., Rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, psoriatic arthritis etc)

    • Routine lab monitoring & interpretation

    • Personalized treatment plans (no "one-size-fits-all" protocols)

    • Direct secure messaging and access to your rheumatologist

    • Deeply discounted laboratory tests and imaging access.

    • Medication prior authorization assistance and processing of appropriate refill requests (Refills require a visit within the last 6-12 months).

  •  The membership does not cover: 

    • Advanced laboratory testing (e.g., genetic markers, certain autoimmune panels)

    • Imaging (X-rays, MRIs, ultrasounds)

    • Medications (though we help find cost-effective options)

    • Hospitalizations or specialist co-management (we’ll coordinate if needed)

    Note: We’ve negotiated discounted cash rates with local labs and imaging centers to keep costs low.

  • Elite Membership Plan

    $150/month

    Plan includes 1 new patient expert consultation & 3 follow ups in a year. Additional follow-ups offered at $225 per visit (member only rate). Please see the pricing details page for detailed breakdown of covered services.  

  • No, memberships are month-to-month and start at initial consultation, and you can cancel anytime with 30 days’ notice. A fee of $50 will apply for cancellation less than 30 days’ notice. We will be able to reinstate your membership in the future if returning after cancellation, however there will be a $50 reactivation fee. All fees are non-refundable (pro-rated exceptions for medical relocation/death)

    • Cancel anytime with 30 days’ notice (a $50 fee applies for cancellations within 30 days).

    • Reactivation fee: $50 if you return after canceling.

    • Fees are non-refundable, except for prorated cases (e.g. death).

Appointments & Accessibility

  •  Easily! Members can:
    📅 Book online via our secure portal
    📞 Call our dedicated line [904-585-7678]
    📧 Email us for scheduling assistance [info@remissionrheum.com]

    Members receive priority scheduling. 

  • We offer flexible scheduling:

    • Weekdays: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (telehealth only).

    • Urgent needs: After-hours limited to urgent calls (e.g., gout attacks, lupus nephritis).

  • Yes! Members have direct access via phone, email, or our secure messaging platform for non-urgent questions. Please allow 24 to 48 hours for a response.

    📱Secure messaging: 24-48 hours response (M-F, 8 AM–5 PM)
    💻Virtual visits: HIPAA-compliant appointments
    ⚡Emergency protocol: Direct cell access for critical flares

  • Yes, we offer secure platform telehealth consultations for follow-ups and routine care. States covered: AL, FL, GA, MI, MO, OH, PA, WI.

Billing & Payments

  • Payments are automatically processed monthly or annually via credit/debit card.

  • Yes, membership fees are typically eligible for HSA/FSA reimbursement (check with your plan administrator if you can use it to pay for our services).

  • We work with affordable cash-pay labs and imaging centers and can provide deeply discounted pricing. You can still use your insurance for all services that are covered by your insurance plan for any laboratory testing and/or imaging, medications and outside referrals as may be indicated.

Prescriptions & Referrals

  • Yes, we prescribe medications as needed and help find the most cost-effective options (e.g., discount pharmacies, manufacturer coupons). 

  • Yes, we coordinate care with physical therapists, orthopedists, and other specialists as needed.

  • While we don't host infusions just yet, we:

    • Coordinate with low-cost infusion centers (~40% cheaper than hospitals).

    • Provide pre-medication protocols to prevent reactions.

    • Monitor labs remotely during treatment.

  • We follow strict DEA compliance:

    • No chronic opioid or controlled substances prescribing (we can refer to pain specialists).

    • Biologic/Steroid/DMARD regimens require:

      • Baseline TB/HEPATITIS screening

      • Regular lab monitoring

      • Documented treatment failure on first-line agents

    • Zero tolerance for diversion (immediate discharge if detected).

Cancellation & Refunds

  • Yes, you can cancel anytime with 30 days’ notice. No long-term contracts. Cancellation prior to 30 days’ notice will incur a $50 fee. This represents our actual costs of processing early termination.

  • Membership fees are non-refundable, except in cases of death or relocation, in which a prorated refund may be issued. Membership access continues until the end of the paid billing cycle.

Who Is This Practice Best For?

  • If you have high-deductible insurance, limited rheumatology coverage, or long wait times, our model may save you money and time.  Our practice is built on three revolutionary principles:

    Unconstrained Medicine

    • No EHR templates dictating visit structure

    • No "relative value unit" productivity quotas

    • Customized 60 mins new patient evaluations (vs. industry standard 15 mins)

    Continuity of Care

    • Single-provider model ensures you develop a relationship with your rheumatologist

    • Proprietary disease activity tracking system for longitudinal management

    Economic Alignment

    • Transparent annual cost: Typically, 30-50% less than concierge practices

    • All savings from eliminating insurance overhead passed directly to patients

  • Direct Specialty Care (DSC) charges patients a low, transparent monthly fee for unlimited primary care, avoiding insurance entirely. It’s ideal for cost-conscious patients and lean practices. Concierge Medicine uses higher retainers ($1,500+/year) for premium services (e.g., 24/7 access) while often still billing insurance, targeting affluent patients.

    DSC = Affordable, Transparent, Insurance-Free

    Ideal for patients who want predictable costs and wish to avoid insurance hassles.

  • While we don’t cover hospital care, we can refer you to trusted specialists and help coordinate your care. 

  • We manage a full spectrum of autoimmune and inflammatory rheumatic diseases, including but not limited to:

    Inflammatory Arthritis:

    • Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

    • Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA)

    • Ankylosing Spondylitis / Axial Spondyloarthritis

    • Reactive Arthritis

    • Enteropathic Arthritis (associated with IBD such as Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis)

    Connective Tissue Diseases:

    • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

    • Sjögren’s Syndrome

    • Systemic Sclerosis (Scleroderma)

    • Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (MCTD)

    • Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease (UCTD)

    • Inflammatory Myopathies (Polymyositis, Dermatomyositis, Inclusion Body Myositis)

    Vasculitides:

    • Giant Cell Arteritis (Temporal Arteritis)

    • Takayasu Arteritis

    • Polyarteritis Nodosa (PAN)

    • Microscopic Polyangiitis (MPA)

    • Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (Wegener’s)

    • Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (Churg-Strauss)

    • Behçet’s Disease

    • Cryoglobulinemic Vasculitis

    • IgA Vasculitis (Henoch-Schönlein Purpura)

    • Cutaneous small vessel vasculitis

    Musculoskeletal & Metabolic Bone Diseases:

    • Osteoarthritis

    • Osteoporosis and other metabolic bone disorders

    • Crystal Arthropathies (Gout, Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease - CPPD, Basic Calcium Phosphate Deposition)

    Other Rheumatologic Conditions:

    • Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)

    • Fibromyalgia

    • Adult-onset Still’s Disease

    • Sarcoidosis

    • Relapsing Polychondritis

    • Eosinophilic Fasciitis

    • Autoinflammatory syndromes (e.g., Familial Mediterranean Fever)

  • Yes, for:

    • Non-compliance (missed 3+ appointments without notice)

    • Abusive behavior (zero tolerance policy)

    • Illegal activity (e.g., prescription fraud)

    • 30-day transition period provided for continuity

Getting Started

  • It’s easy!

    1. Schedule a free 15-minute intro call to discuss your needs.

    2. If we’re a fit, you’ll complete enrollment and book your first visit.

    3. Begin your journey to better, hassle-free care.

    Our curated onboarding process ensures exceptional care standards:

    Introductory Consultation

    • Complimentary 15-minute practice orientation

    • Mutual evaluation of care requirements

    Exclusive Enrollment

    • Secure digital membership agreement execution

    • Priority scheduling privileges

    Comprehensive Initiation

    • 60-minute diagnostic evaluation

    • Personalized treatment roadmap development

    We intentionally maintain a limited patient panel to preserve our gold standard of concierge-level rheumatologic care. Current availability may be confirmed during your consultation.