A new direct primary care clinic is set to open May 1 in Montrose, offering a membership-based model designed to give patients more time with their physician and more direct access to care.
Cimarron Family Practice will be operated by Dr. Katherine Stephens, a board-certified family physician who has practiced medicine for 19 years in both the United States and the United Kingdom.
Stephens said the clinic’s direct primary care, or DPC, model allows patients to pay a monthly membership fee for unlimited visits, without insurance billing, copays or per-visit charges.
“It’s basically a membership,” Stephens said. “Patients pay a monthly fee and then they can see their provider without additional visit charges. That allows me to have fewer patients and spend more time with each person.”
Stephens said the model enables longer appointments and more personalized care than traditional primary care settings, where physicians often must see a high volume of patients each day to meet insurance reimbursement requirements.
“DPC lets me provide the high-quality care that I like to without being burned out,” she said. “Patients have better access because they’re not fighting to get appointments, and I can offer longer visits.”
Stephens’ clinic will offer same- or next-day appointments, longer appointment times and direct messaging access to the physician through a patient app during business hours. She also plans to offer evening availability one to two days per week to accommodate working patients.
Stephens said the approach allows her to maintain a smaller patient panel — sometimes half or less the size of a traditional practice — improving both access and continuity of care.
“It lets me have work-life balance and also lets patients see someone who knows them,” she said.
Stephens brings an international background to the practice. Born in Hong Kong, she completed medical school at the University of Manchester in England and practiced in the U.K. for 17 years before moving to Montrose about seven years ago.
She recently worked at Cedar Point Health while also providing telehealth services and contributing medical content for health-related organizations.
Stephens said the decision to open her own practice came after experiencing burnout and seeking a way to deliver care in a more sustainable way.
“I really enjoy seeing patients,” she said. “I want to provide that same high-quality care but in a way that is sustainable long-term.”
Membership pricing begins at $125 per month for adults, $225 for couples and $30 per month for children added to an adult membership. Employer-sponsored plans are also available starting at $100 per employee per month.
Insurance and Medicare do not cover membership fees, though many Health Savings Accounts can be used for payment, according to clinic materials.
Stephens said the model can benefit employers by helping employees access care earlier, potentially reducing emergency room visits and hospitalizations.
Studies of direct primary care models have shown reductions in emergency room visits and overall health care costs, she said.
The practice will operate from a single office and will not employ administrative staff, allowing Stephens to communicate directly with patients.
“If patients send a message, I’m the one who responds,” she said.
Stephens said she hopes the clinic will improve access to care locally while offering patients a simpler alternative to navigating insurance-based primary care.
“Even people with insurance sometimes avoid going to the doctor because of copays,” she said. “I want to provide accessible care so people can get help earlier and stay healthier.”
Cimarron Family Practice is currently accepting new patients, with reduced registration fees available through April ahead of the May 1 opening.
More information is available at cimarronfamilypractice.com or by contacting hello@cimarronfamilypractice.com
Justin Tubbs is the Montrose Business Times editor. He can be reached by email at justin@montrosebusinesstimes.com or by phone at 970-765-0915 or mobile at 254-246-2260.
