Independent concierge primary care in Bucks County, PA
Many of our members come from MDVIP. They want the same membership model — same-day visits, 24/7 access, longer appointments — but with a doctor who personally owns the practice, deeper care coordination, and access to the Private Physicians Alliance partner network.
Signature Medicine is an independent, physician-owned concierge internal medicine practice in Newtown, PA — a non-franchise alternative to MDVIP. Members pay one annual fee that funds care directly, not corporate royalty.
Signature Medicine vs. MDVIP vs. traditional primary care
The membership-based model is the same. The ownership, coordination, and partner network are where they diverge.
| Signature Medicine | MDVIP | Traditional primary care | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ownership | Locally owned by Dr. Sitapara | National franchise (P&G subsidiary) | Hospital system, PE-backed group, or solo physician |
| Franchise fee / royalty | None | Yes — physician pays corporate parent | None |
| Patient panel size | ~300 | ~600 (typical) | 2,000–3,000+ |
| Appointment length | 30–60 minutes | 30 minutes | 15 minutes |
| Same-day availability | Routine | Routine | Rare |
| 24/7 direct access to your doctor | Yes — Dr. Sitapara’s direct line | Yes — your MDVIP physician | Call center / on-call rotation |
| Care coordination | Total — specialists, hospital, insurance, follow-up | Referrals + basic coordination | Patient-driven (you coordinate) |
| National travel network | PPA member network | MDVIP affiliate network | None |
| Advanced screening partners | Prenuvo, Galleri, Natera, MyOme, NAG, Empower Sleep, InBody, Medjet | Limited (varies by location) | Patient-arranged, full cost |
| Insurance accepted | Most major plans | Most major plans | Varies |
| Decisions made by | Dr. Sitapara | MDVIP corporate protocols | Practice owner / system |
Pricing varies; both Signature Medicine and MDVIP discuss specific membership fees during a consultation. The structural difference — independent vs. franchise — does not change with the price point.
What independent ownership actually changes
Your physician owns the practice
Dr. Sitapara’s decisions about your care are made by Dr. Sitapara — not negotiated against corporate protocols, royalty obligations, or quarterly revenue targets. The membership fee funds the practice that takes care of you.
Total care coordination
MDVIP handles primary care visits and basic referrals. Signature Medicine quarterbacks your entire healthcare journey — every specialist, every hospital admission, every insurance authorization, every test result. You are never your own case manager.
The PPA partner network
Through the Private Physicians Alliance, our members get preferred-member access to Prenuvo (whole-body MRI), Grail Galleri (multi-cancer early detection), Natera (genetic testing), MyOme and New Amsterdam Genomics, Empower Sleep, InBody body composition, and Medjet medical evacuation — vetted by practicing physicians, not negotiated by corporate procurement.
20 years in Bucks County
Dr. Sitapara founded Signature Medicine in 2005. Many of his original members are still with him — and have trusted him with the care of their parents, children, and friends. That continuity is structurally easier to preserve in an independent practice than in a franchise.
MDVIP vs. Signature Medicine — frequently asked
Is Signature Medicine affiliated with MDVIP?
No. Signature Medicine is an independent, physician-owned concierge primary care practice. Dr. Sitapara is the sole owner. There is no franchise relationship with MDVIP or any other national concierge network.
What is the difference between MDVIP and Signature Medicine?
MDVIP is a national franchise: physicians pay royalties to a Florida-based corporate parent (owned by Procter & Gamble) and follow corporate protocols. Signature Medicine is locally owned by Dr. Ashish Sitapara — your membership fee funds your care directly. The two practices use the same membership-based model but differ in ownership, decision authority, and access to advanced screening partners.
How much does concierge medicine cost compared to MDVIP?
MDVIP membership generally runs $1,800–$2,200/year, with a portion paid to the franchise as royalty. Signature Medicine's annual fee is comparable but stays entirely with the practice. Specific pricing is discussed during a complimentary consultation — exactly what is included matters as much as the headline number.
Why do MDVIP patients switch to Signature Medicine?
The most common reasons our members cite: deeper care coordination (we manage specialists, hospitals, and insurance, not just office visits), access to the Private Physicians Alliance partner network (Prenuvo whole-body MRI, Galleri multi-cancer screening, Medjet medical evacuation, and more), and a doctor who personally owns the practice and answers his own phone.
Will I lose access to my MDVIP doctor if I switch?
If your current physician is in the MDVIP network, your membership with them ends when you leave MDVIP. Most patients who switch do so because they want a different relationship with a different practice. We are happy to coordinate medical records transfer.
Does Signature Medicine accept the same insurance as MDVIP?
Yes. Both practices use the same model: the annual membership fee covers enhanced access and coordination, while office visits, labs, and procedures are billed to your insurance as usual. Most major commercial plans are accepted; we do not participate in Medicare Advantage.
Is Signature Medicine part of the Private Physicians Alliance (PPA)?
Yes. PPA is a national federation of independent, physician-owned concierge practices — an alternative to corporate franchise models. PPA membership gives our members preferred access to advanced screening (Prenuvo, Galleri, Natera, MyOme, New Amsterdam Genomics), sleep medicine (Empower Sleep), body composition (InBody), and global medical evacuation (Medjet).
Is concierge medicine in Bucks County, PA worth it?
For patients with complex conditions, frequent specialist coordination, or who want a primary care doctor who actually has the time to listen, it is. Dr. Sitapara caps his panel at 300 patients (vs. 2,000–3,000 in a typical primary care practice) so visits run 30–60 minutes and same-day appointments are routine. Whether it is "worth it" comes down to whether time, access, and coordination are worth a predictable annual fee to you.
Last reviewed by Dr. Ashish Sitapara, MD, FACP on