Frequently Asked Questions

Direct Primary Care (DPC) means your family pays a simple monthly membership fee directly to Dr. Lion — no insurance billing involved. Because we’re not spending time on insurance paperwork or fitting in as many visits as possible, Dr. Lion can spend real time with your family, give you real-time access when your child is sick, and come to your home. It’s pediatric care built around your family, not around a fee-per-visit system.

Yes. We recommend every Lionheart family keep insurance coverage for things outside of membership — emergencies, hospitalizations, specialist visits, imaging, and prescriptions. Many of our families pair Lionheart with a High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP), which can lower your monthly premium since day-to-day pediatric care is already covered through your membership.

Dr. Lion will help coordinate that care — including specialist referrals and following up after an ER visit or hospitalization — but the ER visit, specialist appointment, hospitalization, and any related costs are billed through your insurance, not through your Lionheart membership.

Lionheart visits happen right in your home — no packing up the car, no waiting room, no sick kids in the lobby. Dr. Lion travels throughout Central and North Austin and the greater surrounding area. Telehealth visits are also available when an in-person visit isn’t needed.

We provide home visits throughout Central and North Austin and the greater surrounding area. If you’re unsure whether your address falls within our service area, just reach out and we’ll let you know.

We know families’ needs change. Simply contact us to let us know you’d like to cancel, and we’ll walk you through the process and timeline.

Vaccine counseling and administration are available, but the cost of vaccines themselves is not included in your monthly membership. Vaccines can be billed as a cash-pay service or through your insurance.

Despite what people commonly say about vaccines making doctors money, they are very expensive for practices and in many cases do not generate significant revenue. Because the individual vaccines are so costly, Dr. Lion recommends that families with insurance use it to help cover them. For families without insurance, Dr. Lion can offer self-pay options, either within her practice or elsewhere, depending on your situation.

Every family deserves a pediatrician who will take their concerns seriously, including concerns about vaccines or treatment guidelines. Dr. Lion understands that parents may have difficulty trusting every medical recommendation as what is truly best for their child. Families need to be able to express this, without fear of judgment or being turned away, in order to have a healthy therapeutic relationship with their doctor.

Once you’re enrolled, you’ll receive Dr. Lion’s private member line — a direct way to reach her that isn’t published publicly. This is one of the biggest benefits of membership: real access to your child’s doctor, not an answering service.

Lionheart Pediatrics follows the tradition of seeing patients from newborn through age 22, or through graduation from college or trade school — whichever comes later.

There may be some limitations in care for students who attend college or trade school out of state. Dr. Lion will talk with each patient about their post-high school plans and review what can be done for their unique situation, and we will make sure families know what to expect as that time gets closer.

If your young adult is still in college or trade school, they can continue as a Lionheart patient through graduation. Once they’ve graduated (or turn 22 and aren’t enrolled in school), we’ll help transition them to adult care.

No. Lionheart Pediatrics operates entirely outside of insurance billing, including Medicaid and Medicare. Membership is a flat monthly fee paid directly by your family.