Paying for Care
affordable holistic medicine in sacramento
anthroposophic primary care
Patients interested in holistic and anthroposophic healthcare commonly seek healing rather than fixing. They are willing to take responsibility in their lives for their health, and often seek the big picture in understanding the 'why' of illness, sometimes through learning more about anthroposophy.
Dr. Sutton is very grateful for the opportunity to work with patients in this way.
Similarly, patients value the provider who has gone beyond conventional training to bring options, hope and a range of anthroposophic remedies and therapies.
We are fortunate in this community to have both patients and providers who value anthroposophic medicine and one another. There are many more people seeking what anthroposophic medicine offers, yet to be introduced. Ideally, this opportunity would be available across economic lines.
Rudolf Steiner spoke about the economic sphere of human life as ideally imbued with a spirit of brotherhood. We are not equal economically. How do I, with less, ask for help from another human being? How do I, with more, look on those who lack financial resources? We can carry as much responsibility for our own needs as possible, recognizing that struggle strengthens us, and that we are in our particular circumstance for a reason. We can seek to be our “brother's keeper” without enabling or creating delinquency.
In the healthcare setting a practical exercise of brotherhood in the economic sphere is possible.
Dr. Sutton and many other anthroposophic healthcare providers have chosen to place the value of practicing anthroposophic medicine higher than maximizing bottom-line profits. We have chosen to make transparent our financial situation to the community that supports us, and be open to its guidance. Please see the doctor's fee structure below. When you pay the full fee you are helping someone who is unable to pay the full fee, and assuring the continuance of the practice. You may also give a donation, although that is not tax deductible.
We recognize the economic difficulty of our times, and we will work with you individually according to your economic circumstances. We ask you to carry your own weight as much as possible, out of self-respect, and out of the feeling of brotherhood for those who have less than you. Please consider how through your generosity you might enable us to continue to provide this option for those who need assistance.
Fees
new patient
Limited exam (approx 30 minutes) $120
Extended exam (approx 45 minutes) $180
Comprehensive exam (approx 60 minutes) $240
established patient
Quick peek (approx 10 minutes) $30
Brief (approx 15 minutes) $50
Limited (approx 30 minutes) $100
Extended (approx 45 minutes) $150
Comprehensive (approx 60 minutes) $200
free five-minute phone calls
Dr. Sutton provides free five-minute phone calls to established patients as follow-up after a visit, or to handle a simple request. If the phone call extends beyond the five minutes scheduled, the above fees apply. Please do not overuse this availability, so that Dr. Sutton is able to continue it into the future.
Reduced Fee Agreement
I request a reduction in my fees for medical visits with Dr. Kelly Sutton due to financial need. I will pay according to my conscience, understanding the value of the service to me, and the means I have to pay. I understand the medical practice must cover its expenses in order to provide its services, and my payment assures its continued availability of these services.
I will request the length of appointment I want and pay for it ahead of my appointment. I will be efficient in the use of the doctor's time. I understand there are no payment plans for reduced fees, and no barter arrangements.
I understand if my payment bounces I may no longer be eligible for a reduction in fees.
I understand remedies are regular price for me.
I understand I will not receive an insurance form when I pay a reduced fee.
I verify that my financial need exists now and is expected to continue for ___ months. I will notify the office when my financial situation changes, and pay accordingly.
Insurance and Medicare
Dr. Sutton does not accept any insurance. However, we provide you a form with CPT (procedure) and ICD (diagnosis) codes which PPOs commonly honor and reimburse in part in accordance with the contract with the patient. You submit the form directly to your insurance carrier with whatever additional paperwork the company requests.
Dr. Sutton does not accept Medicare, and by law Medicare patients and Dr. Sutton must both sign a contract stating that each will NOT bill Medicare for medical services. Prescriptions for medications and referrals for a Medicare patient ARE covered by Medicare, as long as the patient takes the order to a facility that accepts Medicare.
Dr. Sutton has chosen to stop accepting insurance and Medicare because of the high cost of effectively billing third-party carriers. Those costs would significantly raise our fees. We readily acknowledge people on fixed incomes may need a lower office visit fee than the fees listed above.
what we don't do
We do not barter.
We do not provide insurance reimbursement forms to patients paying reduced fees.
