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Frequently Asked Questions
Choosing a healthcare provider is an important decision. We've gathered answers to some of the most common questions about Phoenix Integrative Concierge Medicine (PICM), concierge medicine, membership, and insurance.
If you don't find what you're looking for, we're happy to help — just reach out to our team.
About Phoenix Integrative Concierge Medicine
What is Phoenix Integrative Concierge Medicine?
Phoenix Integrative Concierge Medicine (PICM) is a membership-based concierge practice in the Arcadia area of Phoenix, Arizona.
We provide comprehensive primary care, with added focus on Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), POTS & mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS).
Where is PICM located?
PICM is located in the Arcadia neighborhood, just east of central Phoenix, at 3530 E Indian School Road, Suite 102, Phoenix, AZ 85018.
We serve patients from Arcadia, Biltmore, the Camelback Corridor, Paradise Valley, Scottsdale & across the Phoenix Valley. The office is easy to reach from Camelback Road, 44th Street & the Loop 202.
Who are the physicians at PICM?
PICM is led by Dr. Aspen Calkins, DO, & Dr. Scott Marquard, DO, both board-certified family physicians & named PHOENIX magazine Top Doctors for 2026. They've cared for patients in the Phoenix area for over a decade.
Do you serve out-of-state patients?
Our physicians are licensed in Arizona. We may provide telehealth services to members who are physically located in Arizona at the time of the encounter. Members who travel outside Arizona may be able to receive telehealth visits during their travel period. We do not currently provide care to members who reside primarily outside Arizona, except in unusual circumstances.
About PICM Membership
What is included in PICM membership?
PICM membership includes comprehensive concierge primary care services, with member benefits as described in our Membership Agreement. Core benefits include comprehensive annual physical examinations, preventive care and wellness consultations, chronic disease management, same-day or next-business-day appointments (subject to availability), extended appointment times typically 30-60 minutes, care coordination with outside specialists, secure electronic messaging access via the patient portal, two-way text messaging access during business hours, prescription management including refills and routine medication adjustments, routine in-office procedures within primary-care scope, and telehealth visits where permitted by physician licensure.
How do I become a member of PICM?
Becoming a PICM member involves a brief, structured enrollment process:
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Contact our office by phone or through our website contact form to express interest.
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We'll schedule a brief introductory phone consultation (typically 15–20 minutes) to answer your questions & confirm the concierge model fits your needs.
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If you choose to proceed, you'll complete & sign our Membership Agreement, Auto-Pay Authorization & Notice of Privacy Practices acknowledgment.
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You'll then complete our New Patient Intake form, and we'll schedule your initial comprehensive new-patient visit (60 minutes).
Most new members go from first call to first visit in 1–3 weeks, depending on scheduling availability.
What happens at my first visit?
Your first visit at PICM is a 60-minute comprehensive consultation with your physician. The visit typically includes a thorough medical history (including past medical history, current medications, family history, and lifestyle factors), focused physical examination including any specific assessments appropriate for your concerns, review of your current symptoms and health goals, development of an initial care plan, and time for your questions.
What about emergencies and after-hours care?
PICM does not provide emergency or after-hours medical care. Our clinical hours are during business hours, and messaging is monitored 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM Arizona time, Monday through Friday, excluding observed holidays. For medical emergencies, members should call 911 or proceed to the nearest emergency department. For urgent medical needs outside business hours that are not emergencies, members should contact an urgent care facility. The concierge model provides excellent access during business hours for non-urgent and semi-urgent issues, but it does not replace emergency medical services.
What about specialists, imaging, and lab work?
Membership in PICM covers comprehensive primary care and integrative services provided directly by our physicians. Specialist consultations, imaging studies (X-ray, CT, MRI, ultrasound), and most laboratory work are not included in the membership fee and are typically covered by the member's health insurance through their preferred specialists and facilities.
PICM provides active care coordination with outside specialists — we communicate with your specialists, request copies of reports, and integrate their findings into your care plan. Members should maintain active health insurance coverage to address these services.
Can I keep my current specialists?
Yes. Joining PICM does not require changing any of your specialists. We work with your existing specialists, coordinate care across them, and serve as the primary point of contact for your overall medical care. We can also provide recommendations for additional specialists if needed (rheumatologists, cardiologists, gastroenterologists, geneticists, pain management physicians, mental health providers) based on our network and your specific needs.
Do you offer telehealth?
Yes. PICM offers telehealth visits for members when appropriate and where permitted by physician licensure laws.
Telehealth is most useful for follow-up visits, medication management, brief consultations, and situations where in-person evaluation is not clinically necessary.
New patient visits and initial comprehensive evaluations are typically conducted in person. Telehealth services are available only when the member is physically located in a state where the treating physician holds an active medical license.
Do you accept pediatric patients?
Yes, we care for pediatric patients ages 10 and older. If your child is younger than 10, we're happy to recommend a trusted pediatric provider.
Can I sign up myself and my whole family?
Can I try PICM before committing to membership?
Yes. Membership has a 6-month minimum commitment, so we offer a one-time à la carte consultation for $500 (60 minutes) with no membership required. It's a chance to meet your physician, talk through your health concerns & goals, and decide whether membership is right for you.
À la carte patients get the same thorough visit, but not ongoing membership benefits like messaging access, same or next-day scheduling, or care coordination between visits.
What if I don’t need access to care year-round?
For patients who don't need year-round concierge access, we offer à la carte visits:
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New patient visit: $500 for 60 minutes, including your yearly physical & any other care you need
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Follow-up visit: $250 for 30 minutes
You get the same thorough primary care our members receive, paid visit by visit.
About Concierge Medicine
What is concierge medicine?
Concierge medicine is a healthcare model in which patients pay a monthly or annual membership fee directly to their physician's practice in exchange for enhanced access and personalized care. In a concierge practice, patients benefit from longer appointments, same-day or next-day scheduling, direct communication with their physician via secure messaging or text, comprehensive annual preventive care, and active care coordination with specialists when needed.
Concierge medicine emerged as a response to the limitations of insurance-based primary care, where physicians often see 20-30 patients per day in 10–15-minute windows. By stepping outside the insurance reimbursement model, concierge practices can manage smaller patient panels (typically 300-600 members per physician versus 2,000-3,000 in traditional primary care) and devote significantly more attention to each patient. The result is care that is more thorough, more responsive, and more focused on the patient's whole health picture.
Is concierge medicine worth it?
Whether concierge medicine is worth the membership fee depends on the patient's healthcare needs, financial situation, and preferences. Concierge medicine tends to be most valuable for patients with chronic or complex conditions who benefit from longer appointments and active care coordination, patients who have been frustrated by short visits and difficulty reaching their physicians, patients with means and motivation to invest in their healthcare experience, and patients in life stages where access to medical attention matters more.
For patients with straightforward healthcare needs and limited budgets, traditional insurance-based primary care often provides adequate care. The right question is not whether concierge medicine is universally "worth it," but whether the specific patient's circumstances make the trade-off favorable. PICM is happy to discuss whether our model fits your situation during a brief introductory phone consultation.
How is concierge medicine different from direct primary care (DPC)?
Concierge medicine and direct primary care (DPC) are related but distinct models. Both involve patients paying a recurring fee directly to a primary care practice in exchange for enhanced access and care. The differences are primarily in price point, service mix, and insurance interaction.
Direct primary care practices typically charge $50-$200 per month, focus on primary care basics (visits, basic labs, basic procedures), and are explicitly separate from insurance. Concierge medicine includes broader services (same-day access, executive physicals, care coordination, sometimes specialty consultations).
PICM operates on a concierge model with cash-pay, out-of-network billing. We do not bill insurance directly, but we can provide superbills that members may submit to their commercial insurance for potential out-of-network reimbursement.
Insurance
Can I use my health insurance with concierge medicine?
At PICM, we do not bill commercial insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid directly. We are out-of-network with all insurance carriers. However, members may submit superbills (provided by our office on request) to their commercial insurance carrier for possible out-of-network reimbursement. Reimbursement amounts vary by plan. Members are responsible for maintaining their own health insurance to cover services not provided by PICM, including hospitalization, emergency care, specialist consultations, imaging, and prescription medications.
Does PICM accept Medicare or Medicaid?
PICM does not accept Medicare or Medicaid beneficiaries as members at this time. This is because our physicians remain Medicare-enrolled providers at a separately-organized insurance-based practice, and federal Medicare rules limit our ability to provide care to Medicare beneficiaries outside that enrollment. Patients who are enrolled in or eligible for traditional Medicare (Part A or Part B), Medicare Advantage, TRICARE, or Medicaid should seek primary care through a practice that accepts those programs. We can suggest excellent local options if you contact our office.
Are concierge medicine fees HSA or FSA eligible?
HSA & FSA eligibility for concierge membership fees depends on your plan & current IRS rules. Fees for specific medical services may qualify, while fees for access alone generally do not. We can provide itemized receipts on request. Please check with your plan administrator or tax advisor before using HSA or FSA funds.