COMING SOON: 10.1.2025 • JOIN NOW TO GET 20% OFF 3 MONTHS
COMING SOON: 10.1.2025
JOIN NOW TO GET 20% OFF 3 MONTHS
Intentional Care,
Lasting Effects
At Ripple Effect Direct Care, we believe in healthcare tailored to you. Our nurse practitioner-owned practice provides direct, transparent, and patient-centered care for East Central Illinois and the surrounding areas.
Act Now & Receive Our
Special Pre-Enrollment Offer
Sign up today (before October 1) to lock in our special Founders’ rates. This offer is a 20% discount on 3 months of membership fees. (Applied to your initial payment as first and last month and 1 additional month).
*This offer cannot be combined with Multi-Member Plan discounts.
What is Direct Primary Care?
What is
Direct Primary Care?
Direct Primary Care is an innovative healthcare model that prioritizes the patient-provider relationship by eliminating the need for insurance billing. Instead, clients pay a straightforward monthly membership fee, granting them direct access to their healthcare provider without the hassle of copays, deductibles, or surprise bills.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Simple Membership
Pay a monthly fee that covers most primary care services, including office visits, limited in-office POC tests, and virtual consultations.
No Insurance Hassles
DPC practices do not accept insurance, reducing administrative burdens and allowing providers to focus more on patient care.
Personalized Care
Enjoy longer appointment times, direct communication with your provider, and a focus on preventive health and wellness.
What's Included in Your Membership
What's Included in
Your Membership
We offer a membership that simplifies healthcare. It includes intentional visits and a partnership focused on your long-term health. We're here to create a positive effect for you, your family, and our community.
Unlimited, Unhurried Visits. Enjoy longer, unhurried visits, both in-person and virtually. We offer same-day or next-day scheduling to accommodate your needs (as scheduling allows).
Direct Provider Access. Contact us directly by phone, text, email, or patient portal for questions or concerns.
Comprehensive Care. Your membership covers most aspects of primary care, including chronic disease management, annual physicals, and preventative wellness.
Urgent Care & Office Procedures. We handle urgent concerns and common procedures in-office, such as simple sutures, limited skin lesion removal, and point-of-care testing (e.g., Strep, urine dip).
Access to Wholesale Pricing. You get access to our deeply discounted cash prices for labs and diagnostic imaging (e.g., X-rays, MRIs). These charges are in addition to your monthly membership.
Care Coordination. We help you navigate the referral process to specialists, ensuring you have the information you need to get the right specialty services.
SERVICES NOT COVERED:
Hospital and Emergency Care: Your membership does not cover hospital stays or emergency room visits. We recommend you maintain separate health insurance for these events.
Specialty Care: While we assist in coordinating your referrals to trusted specialists, your membership does not cover their services or visits.
Labs and Imaging: Your membership gives you access to deeply discounted cash rates for most labs and diagnostic imaging, but these charges are a separate cost.
Vaccines: Vaccines are not included in your membership, but they can be obtained at a local pharmacy or health department.
Simple, Transparent Memberships
Our Direct Care membership model makes healthcare easy with clear,
transparent pricing and no surprise bills. Your membership gives you direct
access to your provider and a partnership focused on your long-term health.
STANDARD MONTHLY RATES
$49
/month
With Founders Discount: $39.20/month
(for three months)
$79
/month
With Founders Discount: $63.20/month
(for three months)
$99
/month
With Founders Discount: $79.20/month
(for three months)
FAMILY & MULTI-MEMBER PRICING
FAMILY &
MULTI-MEMBER PRICING
(no paying adult member)
$69
/month
(2 adults + 2 children)
$245
/month
(1 adult + 2 children)
$165
/month
(ages 0 - 17)
$45
/month
Employer Memberships
At Ripple Effect Direct Care, we believe that healthy, productive employees are the key to a thriving business. Our direct care model offers an innovative and cost-effective healthcare solution for your team, focused on personalized care that creates a positive effect for your employees, their families, and our community.
At Ripple Effect Direct Care, we believe that healthy, productive employees are the key to a thriving business. Our direct care model offers an innovative and cost-effective healthcare solution for your team, focused on personalized care that creates a positive effect for your employees, their families, and our community.
Transparent Pricing for Your Team
We offer two straightforward pricing tiers based on the size of your team.
This transparent approach allows you to provide an exceptional benefit without the hassle of traditional insurance.
BUSINESS MEMBERSHIP PRICING
By enrolling 10 or more members, you receive a special discounted rate.
Teams of 10 or more:
$39
/month
Teams of less than 10:
$49
/month
Teams of 10 or more:
$69
/month
Teams of less than 10:
$79
/month
Teams of 10 or more:
$89
/month
Teams of less than 10:
$99
/month
BILLING & MEMBERSHIP DETAILS:
We keep our membership process simple and transparent. There are no enrollment fees or hidden charges, and we do not require long-term contracts.
Initial Payment: At enrollment, the first and last month’s fees are billed together. You'll see your initial payment as double your standard monthly rate.
Billing: After the initial payment, membership continues with a simple monthly draft at the standard monthly rate.
Cancellation: You can cancel your membership at any time with a 30-day written notice. Since your first and last month’s fees are collected at enrollment, your final month of membership is already prepaid.
Re-enrollment: Should a member choose to re-enroll after their membership has been canceled, a $200 re-enrollment fee will be applied.
Payment Methods: We accept ACH bank transfers, credit cards, and debit cards.
Important Note: At this time, we are unable to accept Medicare or Medicaid beneficiaries as members.
About Your Provider
Alexander Kentner, APRN, FNP-C
Owner & Nurse Practitioner
Alex Kentner is a nationally certified Family Nurse Practitioner and the owner of Ripple Effect Direct Care in Potomac, Illinois. He holds a Master of Science in Nursing from Olivet Nazarene University and has over 15 years of healthcare experience spanning long-term care, primary care, and acute care. Alex has also completed training in Functional Medicine, expanding his focus on whole-person, root cause care. His clinical approach emphasizes prevention, continuity, and personalized wellness through a direct care membership model. Alex provides extended visits, chronic care management, preventive screenings and lab interpretation, timely telehealth access, and integrative health services tailored to each patient. Raised in east-central Illinois, Alex brings his Christian faith and rural values into his practice, guiding him to provide care with integrity and a practical, evidence-informed approach. Outside the clinic, he enjoys time with his wife, Rebecca, and their two children. Together, they value homesteading, outdoor adventures, and exploring new foods — pursuits that shape Alex’s prevention-first perspective on health and living well.
10th
Experience
About
Your Provider
Alexander Kentner, APRN, FNP-C
Owner & Nurse Practitioner
Alex Kentner is a nationally certified Family Nurse Practitioner and the owner of Ripple Effect Direct Care in Potomac, Illinois. He holds a Master of Science in Nursing from Olivet Nazarene University and has over 15 years of healthcare experience spanning long-term care, primary care, and acute care. Alex has also completed training in Functional Medicine, expanding his focus on whole-person, root cause care. His clinical approach emphasizes prevention, continuity, and personalized wellness through a direct care membership model. Alex provides extended visits, chronic care management, preventive screenings and lab interpretation, timely telehealth access, and integrative health services tailored to each patient. Raised in east-central Illinois, Alex brings his Christian faith and rural values into his practice, guiding him to provide care with integrity and a practical, evidence-informed approach. Outside the clinic, he enjoys time with his wife, Rebecca, and their two children. Together, they value homesteading, outdoor adventures, and exploring new foods — pursuits that shape Alex’s prevention-first perspective on health and living well.
10th
Experience
10th
Experience
Our Mission Statement
The mission of Ripple Effect Direct Care is to foster lasting health for our community
by providing accessible, trustworthy, and personalized direct care.
A Better Way to Wellness
Your membership gives you a direct relationship with your provider and access to personalized care that fits your life.
Unrushed, intentional visits with your provider—in person or virtually.
Direct access via text, email, portal messaging, or phone. No more waiting days for a call back.
Significant savings on labs and imaging with transparent, wholesale pricing.
Proactive, preventative care focused on your long-term wellness.
Seamless care coordination for specialist referrals.
Patient Testimonials
"Alex is the absolute best!! He’s been so helpful to us as we’ve dealt with some tough health issues here. An all-around solid person who is willing to dig in to figure things out."
"My provider was so good! He ran every test and did everything to try and figure out what was my problem! I would highly recommend him!"
"This by far was the best medical visit I've had. The provider explained everything to me in words I understood better."
"The provider that I had was cheerful, very accurate, very attentive to what was my past medical record as well as my immediate concern. And when I left, I felt like I had been thoroughly supported."
Questions? We Have Answers
Questions?
We Have Answers
What is Direct Primary Care (DPC)?
Direct Primary Care (DPC) is an innovative model that removes the insurance middleman to provide a direct relationship between you and your provider. Instead of paying for visits through insurance, you pay a simple monthly membership fee that covers most of your primary care needs.
How does membership work?
You pay a monthly fee based on your age or membership tier. Most primary care services are included, and you receive direct messaging with your provider, telehealth visits, urgent care, wellness and chronic-care appointments, preventive screenings, and care coordination.
How is this different from a traditional practice?
We offer smaller patient panels, extended appointments, and direct access to your provider. This means more time to focus on your health and a true partnership for long-term wellness.
Do you accept insurance?
No. Ripple Effect Direct Care is membership-based and does not bill insurance for membership services. You may still use insurance for outside services such as specialist visits, ER care, or hospital stays.
Do I still need health insurance?
Yes. Your Direct Care membership is not a substitute for health insurance. We recommend you maintain a high-deductible health plan or consider a health share plan to cover catastrophic events, specialist visits, hospitalizations, and surgical procedures.
Are Medicare or Medicaid beneficiaries eligible?
No. Memberships are not available to those currently enrolled in Medicare or Medicaid.
How do employer memberships work?
Employers can offer Ripple Effect memberships to employees. Groups of 10 or more receive a discount per membership tier. Employers can manage enrollment and billing directly.
Can I cancel my membership?
Yes. Memberships are month-to-month, with a 30-day written cancellation notice. There are no long-term contracts. First and last months memberships are billed together at enrollment, and the final month runs through the end of your 30-day notice period.
How are labs, imaging, and prescriptions handled?
Labs and imaging are ordered as clinically indicated. We partner with local labs and imaging centers to offer discounted cash pricing, but you’re free to use your insurance if you prefer. Prescriptions can be filled at your pharmacy of choice, and we can guide you to cost-saving options when available.
Can I enroll just my child?
Yes. Children under 18 can join as standalone members at $69/month. If added to an adult membership, the rate is $49/month.
Do you offer telehealth and in-person visits?
Yes. Members can choose telehealth or in-person visits depending on their needs and presenting symptoms.
What if I rarely need medical care?
Even if you’re generally healthy, your membership gives you fast, hassle-free access whenever care is needed. You’ll also get regular preventive check-ins and a provider who knows your health history—peace of mind for whatever comes next.
What if I need to see a specialist or go to the hospital?
We will coordinate referrals to trusted specialists as needed, and you can use your insurance plan to cover those visits. Once a patient is admitted to a hospital, their care is managed by the hospital's team of providers.
What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept ACH and all major credit cards, with no added fees.
Ready to Experience
Better Healthcare?
If you have questions or want to learn more,
give us a call or fill out our contact form.
(217) 340-9363
106 East State Street, Potomac, IL 61865
QUICK LINKS
BUSINESS HOURS
Monday
Tuesday
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Sunday
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9am-5pm
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BUSINESS HOURS
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Closed
9am-5pm
1pm-5pm
Closed
9am-5pm
Closed
Closed
GET DIRECTIONS
106 East State Street, Potomac, IL 61865
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