When people start researching concierge care, MDVIP is often the first name they see. It is a well-known national network, and some people assume it is the only way concierge medicine works. It is one model among several. This article explains how a national affiliate network compares with an independent practice, without suggesting either one is right for everyone.

What MDVIP says about itself

MDVIP describes itself as a national network founded in 2000, with more than 1,400 affiliated physicians and more than 400,000 patients. According to its own description, the concierge fee covers its wellness program, and insurance is billed for medical care such as visits and tests.

In practical terms, an MDVIP-affiliated doctor runs a practice that follows a shared program and brand. The network supplies structure, such as a standard approach to the annual wellness exam, and the affiliated doctor provides the care. Fees, contracts and policies come from that arrangement, so it is worth reading the agreement closely.

What an independent concierge practice looks like

An independent concierge practice is run by the physician or a small group without a national network behind it. The doctor decides how large the panel will be, what the membership includes, how after-hours calls are handled and which insurance plans the office bills.

That independence cuts both ways. You may find more variation from one practice to another, since there is no shared program to compare against. You may also find more room for the doctor to shape the practice around their own training and the needs of the local community.

It is also worth asking about continuity. If an independent doctor retires, moves or closes the practice, there is no network to steer you to another affiliated physician. If a network-affiliated doctor leaves the network, the practice may change its terms. In either case, you keep a federal right to copies of your medical records, which a provider generally has to honor within 30 days, so your history can follow you.

Where the two models are alike

For all the differences in structure, the basics are often similar:

  • A smaller panel than a typical primary care practice, so the doctor has more time.
  • Faster access to appointments, often the same or next day.
  • A longer annual physical than most insurance-based offices provide.
  • Insurance billed for covered care, with the concierge fee paid separately.

Medicare rules apply to both. Medicare does not cover concierge fees, and a doctor who accepts assignment cannot charge you extra for Medicare-covered services. That holds whether the practice is part of a network or stands on its own.

In other words, the label on the door tells you less than the details in the agreement and the person you will be seeing. Two network practices can feel quite different, and so can two independent ones.

Questions to ask either kind of practice

The right choice usually comes down to the individual doctor rather than the model. These questions help you find out what you would actually be getting:

  1. Who will I see at each visit, and who covers when the doctor is away?
  2. What exactly does the fee include, and what is billed to insurance?
  3. How do I reach the doctor after hours, and who answers the phone?
  4. Which hospitals does the doctor have privileges at, and what happens if I am admitted?
  5. Is the doctor board certified, and in which specialties?
  6. How are specialist referrals handled and followed up?
  7. What are the cancellation and refund terms if I move or my needs change?

We have a longer list in 12 questions to ask at a concierge meet and greet, and a broader look at the trade-offs in concierge medicine pros and cons.

Where Legacy Medical fits

Legacy Medical is an independent practice led by Dr. Yana Shtern, MD. She is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Internal Medicine and Nephrology, and has nearly twenty years of practice in New York City and Palm Beach County. She is affiliated with Jupiter Medical Center and Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center and has been named a Castle Connolly Top Doctor since 2023. You can read more on Dr. Shtern’s page.

The practice keeps a limited panel. Members are seen the same or next business day, can reach the practice by phone 24/7, and use video visits for many follow-ups. Insurance, including Medicare, is billed for visits, labs and tests, and the annual fee is explained in person.

The simplest way to compare is to sit down with the doctor. Dr. Shtern offers a complimentary meet and greet at our Palm Beach Gardens office. Bring your questions, and bring a family member if that helps.

This article is general information, not advice for your situation. Members can call the office with questions about their own care.