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FAQs

Questions about concierge medicine

What are the benefits of concierge medicine? 

Concierge medicine came about because physicians wanted to offer care that was more personalized and more accessible than what is available in the typical healthcare model. Concierge doctors make sure that it is easy for patients to contact them. They see fewer patients (a few hundred compared to several thousand) and so they are able to spend as much time with patients as needed. This allows them to prioritize the development of a trusting patient relationship. In addition, they are able to offer excellent access to care. They are also better able to focus on overall health and well-being because they offer preventative testing and services above and beyond those covered by insurance.  Concierge physicians practice medicine the old-fashioned way, with the patient rather than the healthcare organization driving care. Simply put, Lakeshore Health was established so that we could provide the care we feel every patient deserves.

What does “accessible” really mean?

We are available to you by personal cell phone or email after hours and on weekends. Our patient portal allows you to contact us with the touch of a button. If you have a question, we want you to have to make only one call and have that call returned in a timely fashion (as opposed to fighting through a complicated phone tree, leaving multiple messages, and talking to staff who don’t know you)! We also reserve same-day appointments so that you will be able to get an appointment right away when an urgent need arises. We offer telehealth visits and are able to provide care while patients are away from home. In the event that Dr. Meg is out of town, she is available by phone and for telehealth visits. She arranges call coverage with a qualified healthcare provider whenever she is out of cell phone service. 

Questions about insurance

Do you take insurance?

Yes. Lakeshore Health is credentialed with the following insurance plans: Medicare, Blue Cross of Idaho, Regence BlueShield of Idaho, Humana, United Healthcare, PacificSource, and Cigna. Your routine visits will be billed to your insurance. If you have a deductible, then you will be responsible for those charges. 

What does the subscription cover that insurance does not?

The subscription covers an expanded Executive Physical Exam, monthly sessions with a licensed physical therapist, screenings for often-missed medical conditions, and personalized wellness plans. 

Does my insurance cover my subscription fee?

No. Insurance covers your routine office visits only. Your copays and deductible for your routine visits are covered at your usual rate. Insurance does not cover the annual fee and insurance does not reimburse this fee. The subscription fee covers the services that are not covered under insurance.

Questions about Dr. Meg

What are Dr. Meg’s qualifications?

Dr. Meg obtained her medical degree (MD) and a Master’s in Public Health (MPH) at the University of California Los Angeles. She then completed a general Internal Medicine Residency followed by a fellowship in Geriatric Medicine at the University of Utah, where she was also chosen to serve as Chief Medical Resident. She has more than 10 years of experience caring for adults in various hospital and outpatient settings. She belongs to both the American College of Physicians and the American Geriatrics Society, and she participates in continuing medical education to stay abreast of new advances. 

Questions about the practice

How do you work with other specialists?

We believe that excellent primary care is coordinated care and that it is the job of your primary care provider to manage and coordinate your specialty referrals. If you need to see a specialist, we will coordinate that to make sure that you see the best specialist available. We will follow up with the specialist to ensure that we can assist you to follow up on the treatment plan.

As your primary care provider, we believe that we should be closely involved with coordinating your care. We will communicate directly with any specialists that you see. We will request your records, carefully review the recommendations, and coordinate your care. 

How do you assist with hospitalizations?

Dr. Meg works closely with the hospitalists at Bonner General Hospital. Should you require admission, they will provide care during your hospital stay. She will work with their team to coordinate this and make sure that they have all the records they need to provide you with excellent care. After a hospitalization, we will see you within 10 days of discharge to make sure that you are improving and to follow up on any outstanding testing.

Do you offer telehealth visits?

Yes. Our secure patient platform makes telehealth visits easy. It is important to us that you access care in the manner that is most convenient for you. 

Do you provide care while I am out of town?

Yes. For patients who do not live in Bonner county full time or who are traveling, we are able to provide the same excellent medical care while you are out of town. If you need to be seen in person by a healthcare provider while you are away, we will assist to coordinate this. 

Questions about the Lakeshore Health concierge medicine subscription

What is included in a membership at Lakeshore Health? 

Your Lakeshore Health membership includes expanded access to your physician, a comprehensive annual executive physical examination, health screenings, personalized wellness plans, telehealth, and urgent care appointments, access to free wellness seminars, and coordination of care with insurance, specialists, and other healthcare professionals.  

How much is a subscription?

Membership is currently $120 per month and requires a one-year commitment. A 3-month installment is due at the time you sign up. Thereafter, payments may be made quarterly, biannually, or annually. Payments may be made by credit/debit card or check. 

Can I meet Dr. Meg prior to deciding on a subscription? 

YES! We ask that all prospective patients call us for more information. At that time, we are able to schedule complimentary meet and greets so that you can meet Dr. Meg and determine if the practice will be a good fit and meet your needs.

NEXT STEPS

If you are interested in becoming a patient please call us! We can answer any questions you might have, and if you would like to proceed we will schedule a complimentary meet and greet with Dr. Skibitsky. No medical advice will be given during the introductory meeting. Rather, the goal of the introductory meeting is to make sure that Lakeshore Health will meet your needs.  If after the introductory meeting, you would like to join the practice, then you will be given enrollment paperwork. Once the enrollment paperwork is complete and your first payment is made you will be enrolled in the practice and your first medical appointment will be scheduled.

 

How soon can I get in to be seen as a new patient?

Because we are a concierge practice we only take a certain number of new patients per month because we want to make sure we have ample time to carefully evaluate each new patient. Introductory meetings are currently scheduling 3 months out. Your new patient appointment will be made at the time you join the practice and we will collect your outside medical records prior to that appointment.