If you're researching concierge medicine, evaluating Code 1, or trying to figure out whether this makes sense for your life, this page is for you. These are the questions that come up most often, answered in full.
Concierge medicine is a model of primary care where patients pay a monthly or annual membership fee directly to their physician in exchange for a higher level of access, longer visits, and more personalized care. The physician limits their patient panel to a much smaller number than a traditional practice, which means they actually have the time to know each patient, respond quickly, and provide care that isn't rushed or fragmented. The term gets used broadly. Some concierge practices still bill insurance on top of the membership fee. Others, like Code 1, operate entirely outside the insurance system. The common thread is a direct financial relationship between patient and physician that removes the insurance middleman from the primary care equation.
In traditional primary care, a physician typically carries a panel of 1,500 to 2,500 patients. The economics of that model require volume, which means short visits, limited access between appointments, and a physician who often doesn't know your history well enough to make truly personalized decisions. Concierge medicine flips that model. Smaller panel. Longer visits. Direct access. A physician who knows your story because they have the time to learn it and the continuity to remember it.
Direct primary care (DPC) and concierge medicine are both membership-based models that operate outside traditional insurance billing, but they're not identical. DPC practices tend to focus on accessibility and affordability, with lower monthly fees and a straightforward primary care scope. Concierge medicine typically involves a higher membership investment and a broader, more comprehensive scope of care including advanced diagnostics, performance optimization, hormone management, and proactive health planning. Code 1 operates as a concierge medicine practice.
It's a fair question and worth answering directly. Code 1 is priced to be accessible to high-performing professionals who are serious about their health, not exclusively to the ultra-wealthy. At $249 per month, the membership is comparable to what many people spend on gym memberships, supplements, and periodic specialist visits that don't add up to a coherent plan. Many members find that switching to a high-deductible insurance plan or a health-sharing program offsets a significant portion of the membership cost.
No. Code 1 handles comprehensive primary care, health optimization, and the protocols within our scope of practice. When a specialist is needed, Dr. Cashio coordinates the referral and stays involved in the broader picture. The difference is that you have a physician who owns your full story and communicates with your specialists rather than functioning as a separate silo.
The Standard Membership at $249/month includes a 90-minute to 2-hour initial physician consultation, comprehensive lab analysis and wellness review, monthly InBody 570 body composition scan, a personalized health roadmap, direct physician access via phone/text/telemedicine, same or next-day appointments, 30 to 60-minute visits, intensive 12-week onboarding, urgent care as appropriate, ultrasound diagnostics, many advanced in-clinic procedures, standard cardiovascular screening (EKG, ABI, cardiac ultrasound), APEX TRT if clinically appropriate, and mental health screening and coordination. Available add-ons: in-house labs via Access Medical Labs, VITAL EDGE Peptide Program, REFORGED Weight Loss Program, Personal Trainer Program, Nutrition Coaching, and IV Hydration Therapy.
There is a one-time, non-refundable $1,999 enrollment fee required for all new memberships. This covers the substantial time investment of onboarding — the extended initial consultation, comprehensive lab panel, InBody scan, and the development of your initial health roadmap. It's not an administrative charge. It's the cost of building the foundation the relationship is built on.
No. Memberships are month-to-month. You can leave the practice at any time.
Dr. Cashio's panel is kept reasonably sized (hundreds vs. thousands for traditional primary care physicians). Each day's schedule is different, but patients rarely have difficulty getting seen by Dr. Cashio.
Cancellation is straightforward — we require a 30 day notice in order to cancel your membership. We do not offer refunds.
Paused membership is treated like leaving the practice — Dr. Cashio and the team are no longer your physician/team, but unlike truly leaving the practice, you have the option to return to the clinic at a later time at the most current monthly membership fee.
Under federal law, Code 1 membership fees are treated as qualified medical expenses. Monthly limits: $150/month for individuals, $300/month for families tax-free; any amount above these limits must be paid out of pocket. To qualify, the arrangement must solely cover primary care services and not function like major medical insurance.
Dr. Cashio is rarely unavailable. However, he has arrangements with Dr. Michael Garrett, MD and Matthew Perdue, PA to cover for him.
No. Code 1 operates entirely outside the insurance system. Members pay their monthly membership fee directly to the practice. This is a deliberate choice, not a limitation. Accepting insurance introduces overhead, reduces visit time, and creates a billing-driven incentive structure that works against the kind of care Code 1 is built to deliver.
No, and this is important. Code 1 handles comprehensive primary care and health optimization. It does not cover emergency room visits, hospitalizations, specialist procedures, or the kinds of catastrophic medical events that insurance exists to protect against. Members still need some form of coverage for those situations.
Most members carry one of the following alongside their Code 1 membership: (1) A high-deductible health plan (HDHP) — lower monthly premiums in exchange for a higher deductible. (2) A health-sharing program — non-insurance group arrangements like Zion, Samaritan, or Sedera (Code 1 is not affiliated with any of these). (3) Existing employer coverage. Many members find that what they save on premiums by switching to a lower-cost plan covers a meaningful portion of the Code 1 membership.
No. Because we do not contract with health insurance plans, we cannot bill them for services. This is a deliberate choice meant to lower our costs and allow Dr. Cashio to spend more time with patients.
Your first visit runs 90 minutes to 2 hours. It starts with a real conversation: your full medical history, your family history, your goals, your lifestyle, what you've tried before, and what brought you here. From there we move into a physical examination, review of any existing labs you have, and ordering of a comprehensive baseline lab panel if not already done. An InBody body composition scan is completed at this visit. By the end of the appointment you'll have a clear picture of what we know, what we're still waiting on from labs, and what the early direction of your plan looks like.
Bring any existing lab work from the past 12 months if you have it. If you're on any medications or supplements, bring a list or the bottles. Wear comfortable clothing for the InBody scan. Arrive hydrated.
New patients are typically seen within 7 to 10 days of enrollment.
14101 Hwy 290W, Ste. 400A, Austin, TX 78737.
Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 3:00pm. Closed Saturday and Sunday to walk-in appointments. Direct physician access for urgent matters is available to members outside of these hours.
The APEX MEN'S HEALTH OPTIMIZATION protocol is included within the Standard Membership where clinically appropriate. ATHENA WOMEN'S HEALTH OPTIMIZATION is included where clinically appropriate. Note: any prescriptions are not included within the membership. VITAL EDGE, REFORGED, and other add-on programs are available at additional cost.
No. Your plan is built around what's appropriate for you based on your labs, your history, and your goals. Some members are on multiple protocols. Others focus exclusively on foundational health optimization without any hormone or peptide protocols. The plan is yours.
Absolutely. We strongly believe in 'Your body, your choice.' All that we can do is advise.
Some are. Others are introduced after the baseline labs and initial consultation establish whether they're clinically appropriate. The 12-week onboarding process is designed to make sure any protocol we deploy is informed by real data, not a quick intake form.
Two major options: (1) Labs drawn in-clinic at Code 1 and sent to Access Medical Labs — cash-pay, typically significantly less expensive than using insurance at a commercial lab. (2) Use your insurance and have orders sent to an outside lab. With either option, Dr. Cashio reviews your results personally and goes through them with you in detail. Results are not sent through a portal.
Please allow 3 business days for the clinic to receive the results, and up to 48 hours after receipt for analysis.
This completely depends on your individual circumstances, results, personal and family health history, and health goals.
The Code 1 Advanced Labs panel includes ApoB, ApoA (and the ApoB:ApoA ratio), and Lp(a) for cardiovascular risk; fasting insulin and HOMA-IR for metabolic health and insulin resistance; a full hormonal panel including free testosterone, SHBG, FSH and LH, and estradiol; a thyroid panel with free T4 and TSH; free iron levels and ferritin (elevated ferritin is associated with decreased life expectancy); and an option for a specialized DNA pharmacogenetics test that can provide unparalleled insight into your own health matrix.
Yes. Telemedicine visits are available to Code 1 members for appropriate situations. In-person visits are required for physical examinations, procedures, lab draws, and InBody scans.
Texas. We are able to see patients in other states if they are traveling.
Yes. In addition to Austin and Dripping Springs, we see patients from all over the Hill Country area, Central Texas, and even the Dallas/Fort Worth region.
512-894-5050.
Members have direct access to Dr. Cashio via phone and text. Response time for non-urgent matters is typically within one business hour during office hours. For urgent situations, response time is within one hour.
The discovery call is the fastest way to get a straight answer. Twenty minutes, no pressure, no commitment required.
Or reach us directly · 512-894-5050
