Healthcare Is Complicated. Asking About It Shouldn’t Be.
Direct Primary Care works a little differently from traditional healthcare, and we don’t expect you to already know how all of it works. Below you’ll find answers about membership, appointments, insurance, therapy, psychiatric care, prescriptions, labs, gender-affirming care, sexual and reproductive healthcare, case management, and what happens when you need care outside of Diaspora. Still have a question? Don’t hesitate to reach out.
Understanding Direct Primary Care
What is Direct Primary Care?
Direct Primary Care, or DPC, is a membership-based approach to healthcare. Instead of billing insurance every time you see your primary care provider, you pay a predictable monthly membership fee for the services included in your membership.
At Diaspora, we’ve expanded that model beyond routine primary care. Depending on your membership, your care can include unlimited primary care visits, psychiatric assessment and medication management, therapy with a supervised graduate student therapist, case management, preventive care, sexual and reproductive healthcare, gender-affirming care, chronic condition management, and coordination with outside providers. The goal is simple: one connected care team instead of making you navigate every part of healthcare on your own.
Is Diaspora Primary Care health insurance?
No. Diaspora Primary Care is a medical practice, not an insurance company, and your membership does not replace health insurance. Your membership covers eligible care provided directly through Diaspora Primary Care. You may still use insurance for services outside of our practice, including medications, laboratory testing, imaging, specialists, emergency care, hospitalization, and other services your insurance covers. We generally encourage members to maintain health insurance when possible for healthcare needs that fall outside of primary care.
Do I need insurance to join?
No. You can become a Diaspora Primary Care member whether you have health insurance or not. If you do have insurance, you can continue using it for medications, laboratory work, imaging, specialists, hospital care, and other covered services outside of your membership. If you are uninsured or have a high-deductible plan, our case management team can also help identify lower-cost options for outside services when available.
Does Diaspora Primary Care accept insurance?
We do not bill health insurance for your DPC membership or the primary care services included in it. Your membership fee is paid directly to Diaspora Primary Care. You can still use your insurance for eligible services outside of our practice, including prescriptions, laboratory testing, imaging, specialty care, hospital services, and other covered healthcare.
Membership & Pricing
How much does membership cost?
Our comprehensive membership begins at:
Individual Membership: $80/month
Additional family members can be added for $40/month per person.
For example:
One member: $80/month
Two members: $120/month
Three members: $160/month
Four members: $200/month
Each enrolled family member receives their own access to eligible membership services. We also offer an Individual Telehealth Membership for $50/month for patients who prefer a fully virtual option. Telehealth family pricing is not currently available.
Is there an enrollment fee?
Yes. There is a one-time $150 enrollment fee when you initially join Diaspora Primary Care. If you cancel your membership and decide to return in the future, you will not be charged another enrollment fee. We want former members to be able to return to care without having to start financially from scratch.
Can I cancel anytime?
Yes. Memberships can be canceled at any time. There is a $150 cancellation fee when a membership is canceled. However, we offer a 30-day grace period. If you decide to resume your membership within those 30 days, we will waive the cancellation fee and continue your membership. If you return after the grace period, you are welcome to re-enroll. Former members are not charged another enrollment fee.
What’s Included?
What do I actually get with my membership?
Our comprehensive membership is designed to provide more than occasional doctor’s appointments. Depending on clinical need and appropriateness, membership includes:
- Unlimited primary care visits
- Preventive and routine healthcare
- Chronic Condition management
- Prescription and medication management
- Basic psychiatric assessment and psychiatric medication management
- Up to one therapy session per week with a supervised graduate-level student therapist
- Case management and healthcare navigation
- Referral coordination
- Medical record coordination
- Sexual and reproductive healthcare
- Gender-affirming healthcare
- Women’s health
- Adolescent healthcare for ages 12+
Telehealth throughout California and In-person care at our Sacramento location beginning January 2027. There are no additional visit fees simply because you needed your doctor more than once that month. Healthcare needs aren’t particularly interested in billing cycles. Neither are we.
Are doctor’s visits really unlimited?
Yes. There is no set number of primary care visits you are allowed each month. Some months you may not need us at all. Other months you may need several appointments. Appointments are scheduled based on your clinical needs and provider availability, without an additional visit fee each time you need to see your Diaspora primary care physician.
Therapy & Mental Health
Is therapy really included with membership?
Yes. Each person enrolled in a comprehensive membership is eligible for up to one individual therapy session per week with a graduate-level student therapist practicing under licensed clinical supervision. This benefit is available for up to one year. For example, if four eligible family members are enrolled in a family membership, each family member may access their own weekly therapy benefit.
Can I save unused therapy sessions for later?
No. Therapy sessions are available weekly and unused sessions do not accumulate, roll over, or allow you to schedule multiple sessions during another week.
Who provides the therapy?
Included therapy is provided by graduate-level student therapists completing supervised clinical training. Student therapists work under the supervision of licensed mental health professionals.
If you need a different level of therapy or would prefer to work with a licensed or associate clinician, we can help you explore other options through Diaspora Therapy Group or another mental health provider.
Is psychiatric care included too?
Basic psychiatric assessment and psychiatric medication management can be provided within your primary care membership when clinically appropriate. Because our medical team includes psychiatric expertise, mental and physical healthcare do not have to operate in completely separate lanes. If your mental healthcare needs require more intensive or specialized psychiatric treatment than can appropriately be provided within primary care, we will help connect you with Diaspora Therapy Group or another appropriate in-network mental health provider. Those outside services are separate from your DPC membership.
Appointments & Communication
How quickly can I get an appointment?
We aim to make primary care considerably easier to access. Most appointments are expected to be available within one to three business days, depending on clinical need and provider availability. Same-day appointments may also be available.
Can I message my doctor?
Yes. Members can communicate directly with their care team through our patient portal. For non-urgent messages, our goal is to respond within 24 hours during normal business operations. The portal should not be used for emergencies.
What are your hours?
Our regular business hours are: Monday through Friday 9:00 AM–6:00 PM. Limited evening or weekend appointments may be available depending on your physician’s individual schedule. Diaspora Primary Care does not provide 24/7 medical coverage.
Telehealth & In-Person Care
Can I join from anywhere in California?
Yes. Diaspora Primary Care serves patients throughout California through telehealth. You do not have to live in Sacramento to become a member.
Do you offer in-person care?
Yes. Our Sacramento location is scheduled to begin providing in-person care in January 2027. Comprehensive members can use both telehealth and available in-person services in Sacramento. Patients elsewhere in California can continue receiving their appropriate care through telehealth and use local laboratories, imaging centers, specialists, pharmacies, and other healthcare resources when necessary.
What can you do in person?
Our Sacramento office will allow us to provide services that cannot reasonably be performed through a screen, including physical examinations, Pap smears and cervical cancer screening, specimen collection, vitals, and other routine primary care services. These clinical visits are included in comprehensive membership. Some procedures, tests, or services requiring medical supplies or equipment may have a small additional supply cost. We will communicate applicable costs before providing those services whenever possible.
Will you offer vaccines?
We do not currently plan to routinely stock vaccines in the office. When vaccination is recommended, we can help members identify an appropriate pharmacy, clinic, or other local vaccination provider.
Prescriptions & Medication Management
Can you prescribe medication?
Yes. Prescription and medication management are part of primary care. Our physicians can evaluate whether medication is appropriate, initiate new medications, monitor treatment, and manage existing prescriptions when clinically appropriate. This can include medications for physical and mental health conditions, contraception, PrEP, gender-affirming hormone therapy, and other appropriate treatments.
Can you continue medications another doctor prescribed?
Potentially, yes. Our physician will review your medical history, diagnosis, current treatment, previous records when necessary, medication safety, and any required monitoring before assuming responsibility for a prescription. Our goal is continuity of care, but joining Diaspora Primary Care does not automatically guarantee that every previous medication will be continued.
Do you prescribe controlled medications?
Our physicians can evaluate, initiate, continue, and manage prescription medications, including controlled medications when clinically appropriate. All prescribing decisions are individualized and subject to clinical judgment, appropriate monitoring, applicable federal and California requirements, and the standard of care. Membership does not guarantee that a particular medication or controlled substance will be prescribed.
Labs, Imaging & Outside Care
What happens if I need laboratory testing?
We work with outside laboratory partners so members can complete medically necessary laboratory testing near them. Members with insurance may use their applicable laboratory benefits when available. If you’re receiving in-person care in Sacramento, some specimen collection may also be available through our office.
What if I need an MRI, ultrasound, X-ray, or other imaging?
We do not perform advanced imaging in-house. If imaging is medically necessary, we’ll help identify an appropriate imaging provider based on your location, insurance coverage, and available lower-cost options.
What happens if I need a specialist?
We’ll help you get there. Our team can coordinate referrals, assist with records, communicate relevant information, and help you navigate the transition to specialty care. Seeing a specialist doesn’t mean your primary care team disappears from the picture. We remain your healthcare home and can help integrate recommendations from outside providers into your overall care.
Case Management
What does case management include?
Healthcare navigation is included with every comprehensive membership. Our case management team can assist with needs such as: Finding appropriate and affirming specialists, coordinating referrals, obtaining medical records, navigating insurance questions, helping with prior authorization processes when applicable, exploring medication access, coordinating appointments, identifying community resources, addressing transportation or resource barriers, and helping you understand where to go when a service isn’t available directly through Diaspora.
If we don’t provide the service you need, our job is not simply to tell you that. We’ll help you figure out where to go next.
Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare
What sexual and reproductive healthcare do you provide?
Our services can include STI screening and treatment, PrEP, PEP when clinically appropriate, contraception, emergency contraception, menstrual concerns, reproductive healthcare, pregnancy-related concerns, sexual functioning concerns, and preventive sexual health. When something requires a procedure or level of specialty care outside of our scope, we’ll help coordinate an appropriate referral.
Do you provide menopause and perimenopause care?
Yes. We can evaluate and treat concerns related to perimenopause and menopause, including discussion of symptoms, appropriate testing, medication options, and hormone therapy when clinically appropriate.
Do you provide care for PCOS and endometriosis?
We can evaluate and manage many aspects of conditions such as PCOS and provide ongoing primary care support for patients with endometriosis. When diagnostic procedures, surgery, fertility treatment, or other specialty gynecologic care is necessary, we’ll coordinate with an OB-GYN or other appropriate specialist.
Do you provide Pap smears?
Yes. Pap smears and cervical cancer screening will be available through our Sacramento office beginning in January 2027.
Gender-Affirming Healthcare
Do you provide gender-affirming care?
Absolutely. Gender-affirming healthcare is one of our areas of focus rather than an afterthought added to general primary care. Depending on age, individual needs, clinical appropriateness, and applicable requirements, care may include gender-affirming hormone therapy, medication management, laboratory monitoring, preventive healthcare, sexual and reproductive healthcare, pre- and postoperative care coordination, and referrals to affirming specialists.
Do you prescribe testosterone and estrogen?
Yes. Our physicians can initiate and manage gender-affirming hormone therapy, including testosterone- and estrogen-based treatment, when clinically appropriate. Treatment decisions are individualized and include appropriate discussion of goals, expected effects, risks, benefits, alternatives, monitoring, and informed consent.
Do you follow an informed-consent approach?
Yes. Our approach emphasizes informed consent, shared decision-making, bodily autonomy, and individualized medical care. Informed consent doesn’t mean skipping medicine. It means making sure you have meaningful information about your options and are an active participant in decisions about your body.
Adolescents & Families
What ages do you see?
We provide care for patients ages 12 and older. Adolescent healthcare may include preventive care, routine primary care, mental health screening, sexual and reproductive healthcare, medication management, and age-appropriate support as young people begin taking a more active role in their own healthcare.
Can everyone in my family receive care?
Yes, provided each person meets our eligibility requirements. Our family membership structure begins with the first member at $80/month and allows additional eligible family members to be added for $40/month each. Each enrolled family member is treated as their own patient and receives access to the services included in their membership.
Inclusive Healthcare
Who does Diaspora Primary Care serve?
Everyone is welcome. We also intentionally built Diaspora Primary Care to provide thoughtful healthcare for communities that have not always been treated thoughtfully by healthcare systems. Our practice has particular experience and commitment to serving LGBTQ+ communities, gender-diverse patients, BIPOC communities, sex workers, and people whose healthcare experiences are shaped by culture, identity, trauma, discrimination, or medical mistrust. Our care is trauma-informed, multicultural, gender affirming, sex-positive, and grounded in evidence-based medicine. You shouldn’t have to spend half your appointment teaching your healthcare provider how to talk to you before you can actually talk about your health.
Employers
Can my employer pay for my Diaspora membership?
Yes. We work with employers interested in offering Direct Primary Care as an employee health benefit. Depending on the employer’s plan, an employer may cover all or part of an employee’s membership. Employees may also have options to add family members depending on the employer’s benefit structure. If your workplace offers Diaspora Primary Care, check your employer’s specific plan information to understand what is covered.
Can my company partner with Diaspora Primary Care?
Yes. We welcome conversations with employers interested in incorporating Direct Primary Care into their employee benefits, including organizations using high-deductible health plans or other benefit structures.
Urgent & Emergency Care
Can I contact Diaspora instead of going to urgent care?
For many routine or minor medical concerns, yes. Contact your care team during business hours and we can help determine whether your concern can be appropriately managed through Diaspora or whether you need in-person urgent, emergency, or specialty care. When you need care outside of our practice, we can help identify appropriate resources based on your location and insurance when possible.
What happens after hours?
Diaspora Primary Care’s standard hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Some physicians may offer limited evening or weekend appointments based on their individual schedules, but we do not provide 24/7 or emergency medical coverage. If you have an urgent concern outside of available hours, seek appropriate local urgent or emergency care.
What should I do during an emergency?
Diaspora Primary Care is not an emergency medical service. For a medical or psychiatric emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. For mental health or suicide-related crisis support, you can also call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Do not wait for a portal response during an emergency.
Still Have Questions?
Ask us. You don’t need to understand every corner of Direct Primary Care before reaching out. If you’re trying to determine whether Diaspora is appropriate for you or your family, our team can help explain your options.
Ready to Join Diaspora?
Choose the membership that fits the way you want to receive care.
Comprehensive Individual Membership: $80/month
Additional Family Members: $40/month each
Individual Telehealth Membership: $50/month