New subscription based pediatrics office opens in Winchester

Dr. Deborah Dunn has opened Barefoot Pediatrics at 3042 Valley Avenue in Winchester, bringing a different approach to local family medicine. A former pediatric hospitalist at Winchester Medical Center and a veteran of Front Royal Pediatrics, Dunn is moving away from the traditional insurance-based system to launch a direct primary care practice.

At Barefoot Pediatrics, families pay a monthly membership fee rather than using insurance for their visits. This subscription covers sick visits, video calls, and direct texting with Dunn. By removing the paperwork and requirements of insurance companies, Dunn aims to spend more time with each patient and offer more convenient access for parents when a quick question or a sudden rash pops up.

The practice is designed to be small and personal, with a goal of serving about 200 patients compared to the thousands typically found in a standard office. Membership starts at $100 for the first child, with discounted rates for siblings and a family cap. Dunn also plans to reserve a third of her practice for low-income families at a significantly reduced rate of $10 per month.

For things like vaccines and prescriptions, families can still use their insurance at local pharmacies or opt for cash prices through a group purchasing organization. Dunn suggests the model works particularly well for those with high-deductible plans or health shares, providing a way to handle routine care without the typical hurdles of the modern healthcare system.

Read the full story at The Winchester Star.

Summarized by My Valley Day. Original reporting by The Winchester Star.