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United Healthcare Status

We were not able to come to an agreement with UHC.

(If you are interested in how and why that occurred, please see the end of this message).

However, the main purpose of this message is to let you know that we value the relationship that we have built over time.  Here’s how you can continue seeing us as your healthcare provider. For the details click here United Healthcare FAQ.

The short version is that every aspect of your visit going forward with us such as labs and specialist referrals would be in-network.  The only out of network service would be the actual visit with our provider.  And we have discounted our rate to accommodate just such a situation.  You may be able to get a portion of the visit reimbursed by UHC, or if you have a high deductible, you would have been paying that amount anyway whether we were in-network or out of network.

The bottom line is that we value our relationship with you and hope that it can continue under this arrangement.

 

Addendum: UHC/DFM Issues:

We have been in-network with UHC since our inception in 2001.  There have been many problems with our relationship with UHC over the years as many of you remember.  UHC leads the way in denying member services which we fight for behind the scenes – denials for prescription drugs and Xray studies.  Almost every request results in a Prior Authorization. These requests are inefficient and require nurses and doctors having to call UHC and being placed on hold.  One nurse just this week had to call 4 different phone trees, spending hours of her time, and still the patient’s insulin was denied.

Coming through a tough pandemic, serving on the frontlines, absorbing higher supply and labor costs, we counted on our insurance partners to support quality healthcare.

BCBS, Cigna, and Aetna stepped up.

UHC did not.  UHC has proposed to reimburse us much less for the same services, and they want to lock in that low rate for many years.  They will not budge and have not negotiated with us for over 2 months.

Many independent doctors are reassessing their relationship with UHC.  Charlotte Eye Ear Nose and Throat among many other groups may go out of network soon.  For more information on UHC and its predatory practices towards NC physicians and its customers, you may visit www.NCWakeUp.com.

So that’s why we had no choice but to leave the UHC network.  We hope that they will revisit our relationship as we are always open to discussion.

Flu shots and new Covid-19 Boosters available!

Now is a good time to get your flu shot.  We have FluzoneFluBlok, and HD flu depending on your age.  Instead of getting the one-size-fits-all approach of a pharmacy, get your flu shot from nurses specially trained in giving you the shot that best suits you! Just call and we will get you scheduled! 

And for certain individuals, we highly recommend getting the new bivalent Moderna or Pfizer covid booster.  We are administering these boosters on Tuesday’s, Wednesday’s, and Thursday’s. Anyone 5 and older can get the booster.  We strongly recommend it for adults, especially those who are elderly, or immunocompromised and have not had Covid in the past 2 months. If you have not had Covid at this point, we feel that you should consider the booster to prevent a serious case or long Covid.  (Either Moderna or Pfizer can be given, but we recommend Moderna for most people because mixing the vaccines seems to provide better protection). 

We are happy to answer questions.  Just let us know! 

SECOND BOOSTER AUTHORIZED BY FDA – NOW AVAILABLE AT DFM

We understand the notion of vaccine fatigue, but there is important news:

The FDA has authorized a second booster dose of Pfizer or Moderna to individuals 50 years of age and older (at least 4 months after receipt of a first booster dose of any other Covid vaccine.)

The FDA has also authorized a second booster dose for ages 12 years of age and older with certain kinds of immunocompromise.

Davidson Family Medicine has Moderna, Pfizer, and pediatric Pfizer ages 5-11 in stock.  Please call (704) 892-5454 to schedule the booster with your medical home. Patients can get either Pfizer or Moderna as a booster although we generally recommend staying with original series.  And even though the CDC has not weighed in on the decision by the FDA, the second booster has been proven to be safe and effective in preventing severe Covid disease in Israel.  The timing seems to be appropriate as we are seeing a slight uptick in cases probably due to the recently emerging subvariant BA.2.

We are encouraging our elderly and immunocompromised patients to get the second booster.

Of course, every patient’s situation is unique.  We are happy to answer any questions.

How Much Sleep Do Babies And Children Need?

Just as we can get cranky and not respond up to par without sufficient sleep, babies and children react the same way. The National Sleep Foundation has set some guidelines for parents. Of course, a child can vary from the recommendations a little and still be getting healthy sleep. Exactly how much sleep do babies and children need? We will provide you with some guidelines.

Continue reading “How Much Sleep Do Babies And Children Need?”

Boosters For All

Yes, you need to get that booster! And we have it here for you. Just give us a call.

Happy Holidays to all. We are excited that the CDC has now officially approved SARS-Cov2 boosters for ALL persons age 18 and up.

We have the Pfizer and Moderna boosters in stock. Please call (704) 892-5454 to schedule your booster. Instead of the chain pharmacy, we feel that it is best to get the booster from trained nurses in your medical home here at Davidson Family Medicine. We will add the booster to your vaccine card at the time of vaccination.

Details: If you have had the second Pfizer or Moderna shot at least 6 months ago or a Johnson and Johnson vaccine at least 2 months ago, you are now encouraged to get the booster.

For those having received J&J, we would recommend either a Moderna or Pfizer booster as the dose of mRNA is about the same. This mRNA vaccine will augment the J&J vaccine’s effectiveness.

For those having received a Pfizer or Moderna primary series, we recommend either Pfizer or Moderna as a booster. Staying with your original vaccine, however, will give you an idea of any possible side effects as these will be similar to your second vaccine’s side effects if any.

The protection from the booster will probably last at least 7-9 months.

Please let us know if you have any questions.  We look forward to seeing you!

Sincerely,

Davidson Family Medicine

Is the COVID-19 Vaccine Safe for Kids?

Now that the COVID-19 vaccine is available for children ages five to eleven, many parents are on the fence as to whether or not to vaccinate their children.

For most children with COVID-19, the cases have been mild. However, the virus has been shown to be unpredictable, and most healthcare providers are urging parents to take all available precautions to protect against the virus.

Continue reading “Is the COVID-19 Vaccine Safe for Kids?”

Pfizer Booster Available For High-Risk And Senior Patients

Davidson Family Medicine is pleased to announce that we are scheduling booster shots for patients needing a Pfizer booster.  This Pfizer booster is for certain patients who are at least 6 months from their second Pfizer.  As of now, this is limited to Pfizer and to those patients who are 65+ or have an underlying health condition such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, or with a suppressed immune system, and people ages 19 through 64 with occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2, for example teachers, healthcare, and essential workers..  Just call our office at (704) 892-5454 to schedule.

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Maximizing Your Health Insurance Benefits Before The End Of The Year

Maximizing your health insurance benefits before the end of the year should be a priority for you and your family. Don’t give up extra benefits just because you are busy or have forgotten about these perks. Now is exactly the time to review what you are still entitled to.

Continue reading “Maximizing Your Health Insurance Benefits Before The End Of The Year”