SORRY, WE ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED TO NEW PATIENTS.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: How is Bair Bones different than other clinics?
A: Bair Bones aspires to make healthcare easy, accessible, and affordable for all*. We've reduced unnecessary administrative barriers by maintaining a small staff of just one doctor and one clinic manager. The two of them answer all phone calls, text messages, emails, and voicemails, and will personally greet you upon arrival**. Want an appointment? Schedule it yourself within minutes via our website. Because we all worry about the costs of healthcare***, our discounted self-pay price list is available online. The appointments themselves also look and feel different than those at larger clinics. Our clinic is peaceful, full of natural light, and only a few patients and providers are booked at any one time. Appointments are longer, and the doctor will perform all clinical care, from blood pressure checks, to in-office surgical procedures. Telephone and video visits can be scheduled outside of clinic hours for urgent concerns with provider approval. Bair Bones has created this intentional and collaborative approach to health care in order to build more meaningful therapeutic relationships, and provide you the kind of personalized care we all deserve.
*Bair Bones is committed to providing compassionate care to anyone seeking help, paying particular attention to marginalized communities, who have historically been mistreated by doctors and medical establishments. No one will be denied needed care because of an inability to pay.
**Though a small staff has many benefits, it also has its limitations, and we may not be a good fit for those who need a lot of care coordination or support services. Please contact us with any questions about this.
***Our non-profit has created a Patient Support Fund to help cover needed in-clinic costs when patients are unable to afford them.
Q: Do you take my health insurance?
A: Bair Bones is currently in-network with Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Medicare Parts A&B, Moda, Pacific Source, and UnitedHealthcare. Unfortunately, we do not currently take TRICARE or the Oregon Health Plan (including HealthShare or Trillium). Many of our patients do not use insurance to pay for their visits. Self-pay prices are significantly discounted, but must be paid at the time of service. Depending on your coverage, your insurance may also be billed directly for prescriptions and lab services that have been ordered by Dr. Bair, but are provided by off-site pharmacies and laboratories.
Q: Why would I come to Bair Bones rather than a clinic that works with my Insurance company?
A: We're so glad you asked! There are many possible answers to this question. Perhaps you have an 'urgent care' need and can't get into your normal clinic fast enough. Or you want to have longer appointments, with a consistent provider, in a lovely and tranquil setting in SE Portland. Or perhaps you want to see a provider who is comfortable working with gender diverse or Spanish-speaking communities. The unexpected answer for many people is that, depending on the plan, it can be less expensive to pay out-of-pocket at Bair Bones than to use health insurance at an in-network clinic.
Health insurance is a confusing subject, so we'll try to keep our explanation as simple as possible. Unless you have a superb health plan that covers your preventative care, urgent care, and labs without any out-of-pocket expenses (like the Oregon Health Plan), often there is a deductible that must be paid before the insurance coverage kicks in and covers the rest. Until that out-of-pocket deductible is met (usually $1,000-15,000+), the patient is personally responsible for the cost of all medical care, except those specific services for which the deductible has been waived. Many patients go to an in-network provider in order to get a discount, though a typical medical appointment in your average in-network primary care or urgent care clinic can still end up costing between $185-500, depending on the complexity, additional labs, procedures, etc. Average prices for a Bair Bones adult visit run between $75-150 (less than a standard urgent care co-pay)!
Still unsure if Bair Bones is the best option for you? Insurance plans and health care options are confusing, and we genuinely want you to get the best care for your unique situation. Feel free to give us a call to discuss your situation, options, pros and cons. We're a non-profit, and will be honest if we think there's a better fit out there for you.
Q: Can I complete my intake documents in advance?
Yes! If you have access to a printer, you can save time by completing these New Patient Intake Documents in advance, and bringing the hard copies to your first appointment. For security purposes, please do not email them. We hope to have electronic versions of these soon!
Q: Can I just come in for labs, without an appointment?
A: An appointment is needed for all on-site lab tests. If you wish to have labs done without an appointment, however, you can! Please click this button to find out how.
Q: Do you have a pharmacy on site?
A: Bair Bones stocks a limited amount of injectable and oral medications., and can electronically send prescription orders to the outside pharmacy of your choice. Unfortunately, we do not have a full pharmacy on-site.
Q: I have a different Primary Care Provider. Can I come to Bair Bones anyway?
A: ABSOLUTELY! Bair Bones is happy to see patients for individual visits (like an urgent care clinic), a series of visits (such as osteopathic treatments for a new injury) or established long-term primary care (PCP).
Q: Medical care is expensive. What if I can't afford an appointment?
A: Our non-profit is dedicated to making health care accessible to all patients. If you need care and don't think you can afford it, please call our clinic at 503-662-7226 to discuss options for your specific situation.
Q: How do I know which type of appointment to schedule? Do I need a monthly Wellness Membership?
A: Please click the button below to see our scheduling and membership tips.
What if I need help outside of normal clinic hours?
A: In case of a life-threatening emergency call 9-1-1 right away.
For urgent or emergent medical needs requiring care within a few hours, please go to a local Urgent Care or Emergency Department.
For semi-urgent concerns requiring care within a few days, first check our website scheduler for available appointments that meet your needs. If there are none, contact us directly by text, phone, voicemail, or portal message. We save a few appointments each week for urgent care visits (not available online), and can often provide video or phone appointments outside of regular business hours.
For non-urgent medical concerns, you have multiple options.
- schedule a clinic appointment online, available M,W, F from 10am-7pm and Tu 2-7pm.
- want a telephone or video appointment? These can be made for any day or time that works for the patient and our doctor. Contact us directly to schedule appointments outside of regular business hours. Fees are paid via our secure video app, electronic invoice, or your patient portal.
- call or text our clinic number (503-662-7226). If you don't reach our doctor directly, please leave us a voicemail, and she will get back to you within 48hrs, typically faster.
- Send a message to the doctor using our patient portal. Have you been seen at Bair Bones, but don't have a patient portal account yet? Check your email for an invitation to TalkPHR. If you don't find an invitation, call 503-662-7226 to request one.
- if you need something outside of business hours that isn't urgent/emergent, but can't wait until the next business day (pharmacy issues, questions about lab orders, etc.), try calling or texting first. If you don't hear back within 20 minutes, you can page our doctor at 503-202-2424. She will try to get back to you within 30-60 minutes.
For other prescription, lab, or non-medical questions, please read the entire FAQ in case your question has already been answered. If you don't find what you need, please give us a call at 503-662-7226 or send a message via the patient portal.
Q: Can I ask the doctor a medical question without an appointment?
A: Some questions can be quickly answered via phone, and others need a more detailed consultation better suited to a clinic or telemedicine appointment. Please don't hesitate to call our office number 503-662-7226 or send a message via our secure patient portal. Please do not send medical information via our Contact page, as it is not secure.
Q: How do telemedicine/video appointments work?
patient portal If needed, they can be scheduled for any day or time that works for the patient and doctor. Once scheduled, either the doctor will call you at that time, or you will receive an email and/or text with a permanent link to Dr. Bair's virtual waiting room. You can also get there by clicking this link https://doxy.me/drteresabair . Visit fees can be paid via credit/debit/HSA card using our secure video app.
Q: I'm having difficulty getting the prescriptions I need. Can you help?
A: THANK YOU FOR ASKING! Too often patients go without the medications they need because of cost, administrative and technology errors, or pharmacy availability. If you can't get your medicine, please let us know! Click the button below to learn more about ordering refills and medication discounts. For other concerns, please call or text the clinic phone number, or send a message via our patient portal.