West Salem Family Practice is Changing to a direct Primary Care model
Information for Current Patients
Here’s what’s changing, when it’s changing, and what your options are.
If you’ve been coming to West Salem Family Practice for years, thank you. We know that any change to your healthcare can feel unsettling — even a change we believe is for the better. This page is here to walk you through what’s happening so you can plan.
What’s changing
After decades of serving our community through the traditional insurance model, on January 1st, 2027, our physicians will fully transition to a Direct Primary Care (DPC) model. At that time, we will no longer be billing any insurance companies, including Medicare and Medicaid.
What is Direct Primary Care?
Under a DPC model, patients pay a simple monthly membership fee directly to the practice that covers all primary care services provided through their physician’s office rather than using insurance. You’ll find complete details on our DPC membership page.
Why the change?
Our goal is to reduce administrative burdens created by the insurance system so we can focus our efforts on what matters most — caring for our patients well. Read Dr. Bean’s personal letter to learn more.
The transition at a glance
| When | What it means for you |
| Now through December 31, 2026 | Current insurance-based care continues exactly how it is for anyone who has not yet switched. |
| August 1, 2026 | DPC pre-enrollment opens for current patients, until we reach maximum capacity. Care continues under the insurance model |
| October 1, 2026 | DPC care begins for non-Medicare patients who are enrolled. DPC enrollment opens for new patients, until we reach maximum capacity. Care under the insurance model continues for unenrolled patients and pre-enrolled Medicare patients. |
| January 1, 2027 | DPC care begins for Medicare patients who are enrolled. West Salem Family Practice physicians* move fully to the DPC membership model. To continue being seen, patients must be enrolled in a monthly membership. *Dr. Weaver continues on a per-visit basis, rather than a monthly rate. |
What if I want to join the DPC membership?
Wonderful! Current patients get a head start on enrollment (until October 1st). You may want to:
- Read the Membership page for cost details and the Services page to see what’s included.
- Read Dr. Bean’s letter explaining why he’s making the change.
- Apply for membership here — there’s no enrollment fee if you apply by December 31, 2026.
A practical note: Each physician’s patient panel is intentionally limited — that’s part of what makes longer visits and same-day access possible. We’re holding spots for current patients, but the panels are finite. If you know you’d like to stay with the practice under DPC, we encourage you to sign up soon.
What if the membership model isn’t right for me?
We understand — it’s not the right fit for every patient or every household, and we don’t want anyone to feel pushed. A few options:
- If you’re a patient of Dr. Weaver, you can continue to see him on a per-visit basis at the same office for osteopathic manipulation. His practice does not require membership.
- You can continue to receive insurance-based care from any of our other physicians through December 31, 2026 while you explore other options.
- We’ll help you transition. If you find a new primary care home, please call us. We’ll provide medical records transfer and any referrals you need. Our goal is that no one falls through the cracks.
A note for Medicare patients
We want to make this transition as easy as possible for our existing Medicare patients. Apply now to save your spot with your physician, and your DPC care will begin January 1st, 2027. Through December 31, 2026, we will continue to see Medicare patients under the existing model, billing Medicare as we always have.
Effective January 1, 2027, all West Salem Family Practice physicians are opting out of Medicare. Medicare patients who have a reserved spot with a physician will transition to a DPC membership model.
Medicare requires patients to sign a private contract when their physician has opted out; we’ll walk through that paperwork with you.
If you are a current Medicare patient with questions about what this means for you, please call (503) 371-3232.
How will my prescriptions, labs, and referrals be handled during the transition?
Prescriptions, labs, and referrals will continue exactly as they do now through the end of 2026 for those who do not join the DPC membership .
Will my patient portal still work?
Yes, your NextGen patient portal will work through the end of 2026. When a patient transitions to DPC, they will receive access to a new patient portal that allows direct communication with their physician.
Questions?
If you have specific questions about your care during the transition, please call us at (503) 371-3232 or ask at your next visit.