It is a membership-based model where you pay a flat monthly fee to have direct access to your doctor. The unique payment structure eliminates the administrative burdens that typically interfere with patient care and accessibility. DPC is centered on a commitment to serve patients without the external influence of insurance companies disrupting the patient-doctor relationship. This creates a safe space for patients and families that may have otherwise felt rushed or dismissed by the traditional health care system. The physician can focus on building trust with their patients by providing comprehensive and compassionate direct care. 

Insurance does not equal access. In today’s insurance-driven system, care is often delayed, fragmented, and confusing. Patients face high deductibles, surprise bills, long wait times for appointments with limited time with their doctors. Behind the scenes, middlemen—like insurance companies and billing administrators—add layers of complexity that drive up cost of care and pull focus away from what matters- your actual health. 

Many patients find DPC valuable because it offers better access, and more personal attention than a traditional primary care office.  DPC practices limit the number of patients that we take care of, so you can get same- or next-day unrushed visits and reliable follow-up.  With increased accessibility and unrushed visits, 80-90% of your health care needs can be managed by your primary care doctor all for a transparent monthly fee. 

For treatments we cannot provide directly, we negotiate rates with imaging centers, laboratory services, and specialty groups so if you do have to pay out of pocket, you’ll know your exact out-of-pocket cost.

You still need coverage outside of the scope of primary care such emergencies, hospitalizations, and specialist care. Think of DPC as the foundation of your healthcare: we handle most of your routine, preventive, and urgent needs. Health insurance or a health sharing plan is still important for situations outside of the scope of primary care.

Additionally most people choose to use their insurance to pay for medications, labs, and imaging. Though these things are NOT included in your membership, we can help coordinate these things through service providers with whom we have negotiated cash pay prices that are often lower than insurance negotiated prices.

Yes, though we will accept you as a patient regardless of your insurance (if you have it).

Private insurance PPO plans, traditional Medicare, Medicare Advantage PPOs, and MassHealth Standard plans do not make you choose an “in network” primary care doctor, which allows your DPC doctor to oversee and manage all your care. 

In particular, high deductible PPO plans that come with an HSA option give you more control over how you spend your health care dollars. As of 2026, you can use an HSA to pay for membership to a Direct Primary Care practice.

Health shares or health sharing ministries can be more affordable than traditional insurance alone, while still covering your medical costs in a simplified way.  Some people choose supplemental indemnity policies to supplement DPC based primary care. Note that these options are NOT insurance and do not meet the Massachusetts Minimum Creditable Coverage (MCC) standards. 

Private HMO plans, Medicare Advantage HMO plans and most MassHealth ACOs (such as Wellsense) require you to have an ‘in-network’ PCP to manage your care. This means these insurers can refuse to pay referrals or higher cost care that are not ordered by an “in network” physician. We have opted out of all insurance networks, so will never be considered “in-network” and legally cannot bill Medicare or MassHealth for membership fees. If you have one of these plans, please set up a Meet and Greet to discuss this in more detail.

Our membership is a simple monthly fee that is significantly less than your cell phone bill (between 75-150$/month).  This covers comprehensive primary care via unlimited visits, procedural care, virtual care, and direct messaging. There are no hidden fees, and you’ll always know exactly what’s included. Learn more details about our membership fees and services here.

Both models offer more time and access compared to traditional practices. The key difference is cost and billing. Concierge practices typically bill insurance and charge a large annual retainer on top. DPC practices do not bill insurance at all and keep pricing simple and transparent with a lower monthly membership fee.

DPCs refer to specialists a lot less than traditional PCPs because we have the time and incentive to solve your problems for you.

When a question does need specialist input, we have a panel of trusted specialists that Dr. Goldburt can securely reach out to with a summary of your case, along with the relevant details from your chart. The specialist reviews your information and works with Dr. Goldburt on a plan that fits your needs. Our office will then follow up with you on next steps. In about 80% of cases, this answers the question without a separate specialist visit.

There is nothing you need to do, and it is included in your membership at no extra cost. You stay with the doctor who knows your history, and you get answers in days instead of months.

When an in-person specialist visit is the right step, we’ll help coordinate it. As with labs and imaging, we work to connect you with trusted specialists at clear, often lower, cash pay rates whenever possible.

Direct Primary Care works best by building a relationship based on trust between patients and their doctor. Primary care services are only done through the membership model.

There are some additional services offered as a one time Consult/Visit for specific clinical situations. Please see the Additional Services tab for more details.

We offer easy to schedule hour long appointments for our members. For acute issues, same- or next-day appointments are available. You will have direct access to your physician via the portal and by phone during business hours. We will be available after typical business hours for triage and support.  You deserve a well trained and well rested physician that is not burned out by the unending grind of the fee for services system. Learn more about what’s included in our services here.

We strongly support evidence-based preventive health practices, and believe that vaccinations provide the best chance at wellness for your family and ours.  We will take the time to understand vaccine hesitancy and address individual questions with answers based in science, while acknowledging that our emotional selves can play a large role in decision making.

If you do not plan to vaccinate your child at all then our practice is probably not the best fit for you. 

Our clinic is located at 100 Corporate Pl, Suite 503 Peabody, MA 01960.

We are conveniently located at the intersection of Route 1, Route 128 and Hwy 95 in Peabody, MA.

There is plenty of free parking, including many designated handicapped only spots. Our office is designed to feel welcoming and sensory friendly for the whole family. 

Yes - absolutely! Please call or send an email to schedule a meet and greet with Dr. Goldburt to discuss your questions and see if this model of care is best for you.

You can schedule a meet and greet here. Or, you can reach out via email at hello@flowfamilymedicine.com