Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Doctor Chee is accepting new patients!

No, Updesign Primary Care is a direct primary care/ concierge practice.

We are out-of-network with private insurances, Medicare Advantage plans, and Medicaid.

We do not bill insurance with the exception of Federal Medicare Part B. By doing so, we are able to offer more affordable pricing directly to you – via an annual or monthly membership.

Medical Services:

• All scheduled visits including office and telemedicine (phone, video, email)
• Annual physical, Follow Up, Sick Visit, Chronic Disease Management, Acute/ Urgent Illness or Injury, Pre-Op, Travel advice 
• EKG, Ear Wax Removal
• Physician services part of simple office procedures
• Discounted Office Treatments (eg. IV Fluids, Injection Meds, etc)
• Discounted Point-Of-Care Office Labs (eg. A1c)
• Select Medications Dispensed from Office, at discretion of practice

Non-Medical, Personalized Services: 

• Better appointment access
• Minimal wait time
• More Physician Time (30-60 minutes)
• Direct Text and Email access to your physician
• Physician Level Care every time 
• Better Coordinated Care with Specialists 
• Ability to Request Home Visits 
• After Hours Access. Discounted Unscheduled, After-Hours Visits
• No Copays | Transparent Pricing

There is an initial enrollment fee. 

There are no additional per visit fees for physician evaluation & management, with the exception of after-hours visits, which are available at the discretion of the physician as medically necessary.

There are discounted pricing for in-office procedures and treatments (for example: skin tag removals, knee injections). 

There are the following administrative fees:

• No-Show or Cancellation Fee: $50 fee for no-shows or cancellations without 24 hour prior notification. You can easily avoid this fee by giving us enough notice via phone, email, or text.
• Insufficient Funds Fee: $20 fee for each returned check or non-payment on ACH/ debit/ credit card

Membership does not include:

• Labs – blood work, pathology (paps, biopsy)
• Imaging – x ray, CT scan, MRI scan, etc
• Vaccines
• In-Office Procedure and Labs

You can use self pay or your insurance for other health care needs. 

Yes, within NYS regulatory limits.

We offer select prescription medications free to members via in-office dispensing. NYS regulations do not allow physicians to dispense chronic medications for a cost, even it they are more affordable pricing than competitors.

We offer discounted in-office point-of-care labs. NYS regulations do not allow NY labs to engage in direct client-bill contracts with physicians, which is how DPC in other states can help patients save more money. 

Yes in many cases, since DPC membership is for physician services, they can be an eligible expense for health savings accounts (HSA) and flexible savings accounts.

Please discuss and confirm this with your accountant or tax specialist.

You may cancel by giving 30 days written notice – email is acceptable.

There are no refunds. All changes are effective on the next billing cycle. If you cancel within the first 3 months of starting, there is a $200 early cancellation fee. 

If you allow membership to lapse or if you cancel membership and later want to re-join, you will be considered on a space-available basis and be charged a $200 re-enrollment fee.

We accept and bill Federal Medicare Part B. 

We are out-of-network with Private Medicare Advantage (Part C). 

You can learn more by visiting this link.

No. Membership not an insurance plan. 

It does not replace any health coverage that you may have, and it does not fulfill the requirements of any federal health coverage mandate. Membership does not include hospital services, emergency room services, or any other health services not personally provided by Updesign Primary Care. 

We do recommend that you still have health insurance to cover you in case of emergency room visits, hospitalization, surgery, or high cost medications. You can also use your health insurance to cover costs of labs, imaging, vaccines, or specialists that you may need.

We offer telemedicine services in New York State!

Our office is located in Syracuse in Central – Upstate New York.

Nearby to communities of Onondaga, Madison, and Cayuga counties, including: Liverpool, Baldwinsville, Cicero, Clay, Manlius, Fayetteville, DeWitt, Camillus, Skaneateles, Marcellus, Jamesville, East Syracuse, Minoa, North Syracuse, Tully, Chittenango, Elbridge, Fabius, Utica, Ithaca, Oneida, Tompkins, Pompey, Cazenovia, Marcellus, Central Square, Auburn, Lafayette, Homer. 

Serving Telemedicine in New York State including NYC, Queens, Manhattan, Westchester, Long Island (Nassau, Suffolk)

• New Year’s Eve & Day
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• Presidents’ Day
• Memorial Day
• Juneteenth 
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Columbus / Indigenous Peoples’ Day
• Veterans Day
• Thanksgiving Eve & Day
• Christmas Eve & Day