Direct Practice Services Included as Part of Annual Fee: 

  • Comprehensive annual physical examination (under age 40 will be every 24 months)*. This is a wellness exam, not in connection with any illness or injury, and will include appropriate screening tests at Dr. LaGrelius’ discretion. Exams generally will include a detailed physical examination, vision & hearing testing, pulmonary function testing, EKG, urinalysis, body fat analysis, and bone density screening. Additionally, we will review your medical history and risk factors using health questionnaire and direct interview tools. If appropriate, TB testing and/or a chest x-ray will be done. Depending on your particular situation and risk factors, a sigmoidoscopy may be done. When appropriate, exercise treadmill testing may be done. A basic lab panel will be included in the exam. All of the above testing can be done in the office and will be included as part of your annual fee. A follow up discussion will also be included so that I can review results with you and make recommendations. Copies of all findings will be reviewed and supplied to patients. The Skypark Preferred Family Care annual fee covers only those items that can be performed in the office as described above. Depending on your particular health situation, appropriate additional tests may be recommended, and you will be responsible for payment for those tests. Patients will be encouraged and reminded to schedule this annual exam. It is my hope that by offering an annual comprehensive wellness exam as part of your annual fee, it will incentivize you to safeguard your health on a regular basis, which you know you should be doing.
  • Same-day or next business day appointments will be offered, with the exception of your annual exam, even for minor and non-urgent medical problems.
  • Little or no office waiting time, and typically longer appointments, as needed.
  • Strong focus on preventive medicine and long-term health and wellness. Depending on each patient’s personal needs, I will offer a health risk assessment and counseling for weight management, nutrition, and exercise.
  • Direct phone access to my assistants and to me, during office hours. All phone calls will be returned promptly, but if you deem your problem “urgent” I will speak to you at the time you call. You, the patient, define what “urgent” means, not my staff. If you think it is urgent, we think it is urgent.
  • My personal cell phone and home phone numbers will be provided, allowing easy access to me 24/7. You are invited to use them if you have an urgent medical problem outside office hours. I trust you to use that access only when necessary, but encourage you to do so before seeking medical help elsewhere. Ideally, I want to hear from you when you are ill or injured before you go to the hospital or an urgent care center, or immediately after you have called paramedics. I may be able to handle your situation by phone, or I may personally meet you at the office, the hospital or your home.
  • Convenient fax or e-mail access for non-urgent health issues or questions, if you desire. You will receive a prompt (usually within 24 hours) response. Email is not secure, and there are limits to what should be done via this medium. Email responses will be at the discretion of Dr. LaGrelius. Confidential issues should not be discussed on the internet.
  • House calls, if you are ill or otherwise unable to come to my office, as deemed appropriate by Dr. LaGrelius on a case-by-case basis.
  • Specially trained staff dedicated to your care. They will assist you and will advocate on your behalf. My staff and I will make every attempt to facilitate prompt and convenient outside consultations for you when they are needed.
Non-Medicare Patients

    I will function as an “out-of-network” physician for most patients with commercial insurance, though I may remain in some PPO contracts depending on their terms and conditions. For covered services, we will continue to bill your insurance, if you wish. I do not expect this decision to alter your out-of-pocket expenses for your office visits. I intend to continue to refer you to the best consultants and facilities I can find whether “in-network” or “out-of-network”, but will try to find “in-network” consultants and facilities for referrals if you wish, provided I believe such consultants and facilities offer excellent quality care. No insurance covered medical services are included in your Skypark Preferred Family Care annual fee.

  • Patients with FSAs, HSAs or HRAs: Although the Skypark Preferred Family Care annual fee is not an insurance premium, it may be a deductible expense and/or be partially or totally covered by flexible health savings accounts through your employer. Please check with your Employee Benefits Specialist or your tax advisor for details.
Medicare Patients

    Everything will remain the same. I will continue to be a Participating Provider in the Medicare program. We will continue to bill Medicare on your behalf for services covered by them. No Medicare covered medical services are included in your Skypark Preferred Family Care annual fee.

     * Patients New to Medicare: Per Medicare regulation, the comprehensive annual exam benefit cannot be available to patients who are new to Medicare this year. Beginning in January 2005, Medicare reimburses for a new, one-time Welcome to Medicare Physical available to new Medicare patients only when performed within six months of the date patients enter Medicare. This exam must be billed to Medicare ( except for Medicare co-pays, for which the patient will be responsible.) Patients new to Medicare are therefore entitled to a discount from the annual fee in the applicable year.  

  • My affiliation with Torrance Memorial Medical Center & Little Company of Mary Hospital will not be affected by this change. If you require hospitalization, I can make daily visits and ensure continuity of care.
  • Continued completion of all insurance forms by our staff. We will assist with your claim facilitation, if necessary.
  • Phone consultations during traveling and extended vacations. I will be readily available for phone consultation with you and/or other health care personnel. With the exception of a few controlled substances, most prescriptions can be ordered anywhere in the country. If you should require hospitalization while away, at your request, I will establish daily phone communication with you and your attending physician(s) for continuity of care.
  • Occasional coverage or vacation coverage. Several excellent physicians will be covering for me on infrequent occasions when I am out of town or otherwise unavailable. Hospital care during those times will be managed by the covering physician or by a designated hospitalist of my choice. Even while out of town I will generally remain available by phone to my patients and to my covering physicians and hospitals. For practical reasons we must reserve the right to designate another qualified physician to perform any and all services should the need arise.
  • My office will remain in the same location, where I’ve cared for patients for over 20 years.
  • Annual fee, effective January 1, 2006 – January 1, 2007:
    • $ 900 = Individual (age 18 - 39)
    • $1,800 = Individual (age 40 and over)
    • $3,200 = Adult couple
    • $2,000 = Single Parent Family (1 adult + unmarried dependent children under age 25)
    • $3,600 = Family (2 adults + unmarried dependent children under age 25)
  • Payment of your annual fee may be made by check, Visa, MasterCard or American Express. We will be happy to accept semiannual payments by credit card only. Please make checks payable to Skypark Preferred Family Care.

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