Vital Roots Direct Primary Care

Vital Roots offers two tiers. The Essential membership costs $100 per month with a $100 one-time enrollment fee per person, capped at $200 per family. The Elevated membership costs $150 per month with a $150 enrollment fee per person, capped at $300 per family. Both memberships qualify for HSA payment.

The Essential membership covers routine chronic care, annual wellness visits, and same-day urgent access. The Elevated membership adds dedicated lifestyle medicine support, perimenopause and menopause management with HRT, GLP-1 weight loss management, and exclusive access to in-home pantry setup, meal planning, and grocery store excursions with Dr. Pfenning. It also includes access to upcoming culinary medicine cooking classes.

Vital Roots does not bill insurance for primary care services. However, Dr. Pfenning will file insurance for medications, labs, or imaging when it benefits the patient financially. Her in-house dispensed medications and negotiated Labcorp lab rates often cost less than insurance co-pays, and she maintains a network of imaging centers and specialists offering cash pricing.

Dr. Pfenning recommends pairing a Vital Roots membership with a high-deductible HSA plan or a healthshare plan. Members can use their HSA funds to cover monthly membership fees. FSA eligibility depends on your benefits administrator.

Yes, Vital Roots provides same-day and next-day access for urgent and sick visits. Members also reach Dr. Pfenning directly for non-urgent questions and prescription needs without waiting weeks for an available slot.

Yes, Dr. Pfenning offers in-home visits. Home visits and grocery store excursions run 2-3 hours and cost $450 per session. Elevated members have exclusive access to this service as part of their lifestyle medicine support.

New patients enroll through the practice's SigmaMD portal, which also serves as the patient portal for ongoing communication and care. Prospective patients can also reach out by phone or email before enrolling if they have questions.

Members must give 30 days notice to cancel. If a former member requests to rejoin Vital Roots, the practice charges a $350 re-enrollment fee.

Dr. Pfenning does not prescribe narcotics for chronic daily pain, benzodiazepines for chronic daily use (except for taper protocols), or z-drugs for chronic nightly use. Patients seeking these medications on an ongoing basis should discuss their needs before enrolling.

Yes, Dr. Pfenning manages anxiety, depression, and ADHD as part of her standard scope of care. The Elevated membership includes dedicated mental health optimization, including both lifestyle-based strategies and medication management when appropriate.