Our Care Model

We believe you should understand the structure and cost of your care before committing to it.

Great Neck Rheumatology is a Direct Specialty Care practice built around a membership model, one that prioritizes thoughtful evaluation, continuity, and communication between visits. Our care is intentionally structured, beginning with an upfront opportunity to ensure this practice is the right fit for your health journey.

How It Works - A Streamlined Approach to Care

Step 1: Introductory Call (Optional)

15 minutes | Complimentary

We encourage prospective patients to begin with a complimentary Introductory Call.

During this call you can:

✓ Learn how our Direct Specialty Care model works

✓ Ask questions about membership, scheduling, and logistics

✓ Understand what to expect as a new patient

✓ Decide whether you'd like to move forward with an initial consultation

This step ensures that both patient and physician feel aligned before moving forward. Introductory Call is optional. If you've already decided you'd like to become a patient, you're welcome to schedule an initial consultation directly.

This call is informational only. It is not a medical consultation and does not establish a physician-patient relationship.

Book Introductory Call

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Step 2: New Patient Consultation Package

$ 450 | One-Time Fee

Limited-time introductory rate

Standard rate: $550

Many rheumatic conditions require careful evaluation and cannot always be diagnosed during a single visit. Our initial consultation package is designed as a comprehensive, standalone evaluation phase. Our goal is to provide answers, not to enroll in a membership unless it truly benefits your care.

1) Pre-Visit Record Review

Relevant prior medical records, laboratory results, and imaging studies are reviewed in advance to maximize your face-to-face visit.

2) 60-Minute In-Depth Office Visit

An unhurried, hour-long session including a detailed history, a thorough physical examination, a clear explanation of our diagnostic reasoning, and the co-creation of a personalized care plan.

3) One Complimentary Follow-Up Visit

To review laboratory and imaging results or any other new clinical data, discuss how they affect your diagnosis and treatment plan, and determine the next steps in your care.

4) Up to 3 Months of Diagnostic Monitoring for Undifferentiated Cases

Sometimes the diagnosis remains unclear after the initial visit despite appropriate testing. When that happens, thoughtful observation over time is an important part of good rheumatology care. For these undifferentiated cases, the Initial Consultation Package includes diagnostic monitoring for up to three months from your first visit.

5) Between-Visit Support

Throughout this phase, you can communicate with us through our secure HIPAA-compliant patient portal.

Please note: The Initial Consultation Package is a standalone diagnostic service. It concludes once your evaluation has been completed—whether a rheumatologic condition is diagnosed or confidently ruled out. If your condition requires ongoing rheumatology care and our practice model is a good fit, you'll be invited to transition to our monthly membership.

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FAQ

Step 3: Monthly Membership (When Appropriate)

If ongoing rheumatologic care is needed and our Direct Specialty Care practice model is a good fit, you will be invited to enroll in our monthly membership. Membership is offered when continuity and structured access would meaningfully benefit care.

✦ What Membership Includes ✦

1) Scheduled Follow-Up Visits

Follow-up visits are unrushed and typically range around 30 minutes, depending on your clinical needs, ensuring we have ample time to address all relevant aspects of care.

2) Between-Visit Support

Many of the important moments in rheumatology care occur between scheduled visits. Effectively managing an ongoing rheumatic disease requires consistent clinical vigilance and seamless continuity, which is why direct, ongoing communication with your rheumatologist is vital. In our practice this direct access occurs through a HIPAA-compliant patient portal, telemedicine sessions, or phone calls for:

✓ Reviewing ongoing laboratory trends or imaging results

✓ Discussing clinical evaluations and notes from your other consulting specialists

✓ Evaluating unexpected new symptoms or potential disease flares

✓ Addressing medication side effects and treatment related questions

✓ Answering other questions related to ongoing rheumatologic care

3) Expedited Scheduling When Needed

We intentionally maintain a focused panel to ensure reliable access for our patients. This allows us to provide earlier appointments when your changing clinical circumstances require a prompt reassessment.

4) Administrative Assistance & Advocacy

When needed, we assist with specialty medication prior authorization and appeals and coordinate with infusion centers. Although we cannot control insurance companies decisions or processing times, we will advocate for you throughout the process.

✦ Membership Pricing & Options ✦

Membership plans currently range from $50 to $250 per month

Founding Member Rates may be available to eligible patients who enroll during the practice's introductory period.

The appropriate membership plan is based on your individual clinical needs, including disease activity, treatment requirements, laboratory monitoring, communication needs, and care coordination. This will be discussed transparently after your initial evaluation and before you decide whether to enroll. The same diagnosis may require different levels of care in different patients. Your membership level may be adjusted over time if your clinical needs change. Any change in pricing will be discussed with you in advance.

Focused Care
- For conditions such as gout, CPPD, or osteoporosis requiring routine rheumatology follow-up, medication management, and access to rheumatology support.
Ongoing Care
- For stable immune-mediated conditions requiring routine rheumatology follow-up, medication management, and access to rheumatology support.
Comprehensive Care
- For active or complex conditions requiring treatment optimization, closer monitoring, specialty medication coordination, or more frequent rheumatology support.

Cancellation

We understand that life changes. You may cancel your monthly membership at any time. Advance notice is required to ensure orderly administrative processing and avoid automatic draft of your next billing cycle.

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FAQ

If You Have Seen Us Before

Because rheumatologic conditions can emerge or evolve over time, you are always welcome to return if new concern arise. This applies whether you previously completed a new patient consultation but did not require ongoing rheumatology care, or were discharged from membership when ongoing specialty care was no longer indicated.

We offer a Re-Evaluation Visit to address these concerns. This comprehensive session is designed to thoughtfully reassess your condition, analyze any new clinical data, and determine whether additional testing, treatment, or ongoing care is needed.

OUR GOAL IS:

Care that matches your clinical needs – no more, no less.

Advantages of Membership Model

A Thoughtful Fit

Membership is offered when ongoing rheumatologic care would benefit from structured access and continuity. Not every patient requires long-term management. Not every situation requires membership. Our goal is alignment, not enrollment.

Encouraging Early Communication

In traditional systems, patients may hesitate to reach out between visits due to scheduling delays or additional charges. Membership removes that barrier. Questions, concerns, and early symptoms can be addressed sooner, often before they escalate.

Supporting Continuity

Rheumatic disease management requires continuous clinical vigilance. Membership supports a stable, ongoing therapeutic relationship rather than episodic consultation, regardless of changes to your insurance plan, aiming to improve both patient comfort and clinical outcomes.

Predictability & Transparency

Membership provides:

Transparent, predictable cost
No per-visit billing uncertainty
Direct physician access within a defined structure

Patients know what to expect, both clinically and financially.

A Deliberate Choice

This model is not designed to replace traditional healthcare systems. It exists to offer an alternative structure for patients who value time, continuity, and direct physician partnership. For many individuals navigating chronic rheumatic conditions, we believe this structure can make a meaningful difference in their health journey.