Ridgeline Care Coordination is a 100% cash-based service. We do not bill insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid directly. This independence allows us to focus entirely on your needs without being restricted by the "red tape" or policy limitations of insurance companies.

To keep our advocacy accessible to our Durham neighbors, we offer a flexible fee structure:

• Medicaid Clients: We offer a reduced rate of $4.00 per appointment, matching the standard Medicaid co-pay.

• Medicare, Tricare, & Private Insurance: We offer a sliding scale fee based on your unique circumstances. If we can verify what your typical co-pay for a similar coordination service would be, we will aim to match that amount instead.

Our services are designed for anyone who feels like the "business" of being a patient is getting in the way of healing. We are a lifeline for:

• The "Sandwich Generation": Adult children who are balancing their own careers and kids while managing the complex medical needs of an aging parent.

• Long-Distance Caregivers: Families who don't live in Durham but need a trusted "eyes and ears" advocate to attend appointments and monitor their loved one's care.

• Individuals in Transition: Anyone recently discharged from the hospital who is overwhelmed by new medications, specialist referrals, and follow-up schedules.

• Chronic Illness Managers: Those dealing with multiple diagnoses who feel unheard by the system and need a central hub to keep their doctors and insurance aligned.

Yes. With your written permission (via a HIPAA release), your doctors and their staff are legally allowed to communicate with us. In fact, most providers appreciate having a care coordinator involved because we provide them with a clear, organized "Master File" and ensure their treatment plans are actually being followed at home.

While we do not have "clinical authority" to change your prescriptions or diagnoses, we have the authority of advocacy. We ask the technical questions, follow up on faxes that get "lost," and ensure your medical team is aligned. We don't overstep your doctor's medical expertise—we amplify your voice to make sure that expertise is working for you.

Currently, we attend appointments virtually or by phone. This allows us to be highly responsive and available for all your specialists without the delays of travel time. By joining your telehealth calls or being on speakerphone during in-person visits, we can advocate for you in real-time, take detailed notes, and ask the "hard questions" while ensuring your privacy and comfort. This approach also allows us to immediately update out-of-town family members as soon as the appointment ends.

Because in a healthcare system built for institutions, we are built for people. Unlike coordinators who work for hospitals or insurance companies, our loyalty is 100% yours. We don't just "manage cases"; we support neighbors. We choose to stay independent so we can offer unbiased advice, tackle the hard conversations with providers, and ensure you are never just a number in a database. Choose Ridgeline because you deserve a partner who knows your name, understands your goals, and has the clinical literacy to make sure the system works for you.

No. Ridgeline Care Coordination is a non-clinical advocacy service. While we have deep clinical literacy and years of experience navigating the healthcare system, we do not provide medical diagnoses, prescribe medications, or perform medical procedures. Our role is to ensure your actual doctors’ plans are understood and followed. We are the "project managers" of your health, not the practitioners.

Your privacy is our top priority. We utilize HIPAA-compliant, encrypted systems to store and share your medical history and master files. We only access or share information that you have specifically authorized via a signed release. At Ridgeline, we treat your sensitive data with the same level of security and confidentiality that you would expect from a hospital or a law office.

Because we are a coordination and advocacy service, we are not an emergency response team. If you or your loved one experiences a medical emergency, you must call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately. Once you are stabilized, we can then step in to manage the communication, coordinate with the hospital staff, and prepare for a safe transition back home.

Not necessarily! While our primary focus is supporting patients receiving care within the Durham/Triangle area, we often work with "long-distance caregivers"—adult children who live out of state but have a parent or loved one being treated here. As long as your medical providers are accessible via phone or telehealth, we can act as your "boots on the ground" advocate regardless of where you currently live.