Mountain Internal Medicine

About Mountain Internal Medicine

What is Mountain Internal Medicine?

Mountain Internal Medicine is a women-owned direct primary care practice at 323 East Front St in Missoula, MT 59802. Dr. Sarah Faaborg, a board-certified internal medicine physician, and Marnie DiChiaro, AGNP-C, APRN, founded it together. It serves adults 18 and older across the Missoula area.

It is mainly primary care on a flat monthly membership instead of insurance billing. Beyond membership, it offers the PHAT program (People with Hearty Adipose Tissue) for medical weight management, PRP and regenerative therapy, chronic disease and preventive care, and telehealth, which is included for members. Dr. Faaborg oversees PHAT, which may include semaglutide or tirzepatide. Marnie DiChiaro also offers geriatric care and home visits. Hours are Monday through Thursday, 8 am to 5 pm, and Friday, 8 am to 4 pm.

What does it cost?

Membership is $100 per month for one adult, with unlimited visits and telehealth. Two or more people in one household pay $85 per person per month, and employer groups of ten or more pay $75 per member per month. Membership runs outside insurance billing, and many members keep insurance for hospital visits, specialists and prescriptions. It says many HSA plans allow membership payments, but eligibility depends on your plan. It does not publish a consultation or first visit fee.

PHAT lists semaglutide at $200 for 4 weeks, regardless of dose, and tirzepatide at $275 to $550 for 4 weeks, depending on dose. Clinician oversight and office visits are built into those costs, but it does not say whether the medication is included. PRP is $499 per injection, and for non-patients the cost includes one pre-PRP consultation and one post-PRP follow-up.

What should you ask before you book?

Start with who writes the prescription. Dr. Faaborg oversees the PHAT program, but ask who prescribes, who adjusts the dose and who runs the follow-up visits, which come every three months and as needed. Ask whether the $200 or $275 to $550 price includes the medication and what a full month would cost. Ask whether the medication is brand-name or compounded, since the clinic describes its GLP-1 medications as compounded.

Ask what lab work costs and whether PHAT visits are billed to insurance, which it does not say. Ask how to cancel PHAT, since it does not publish cancellation or commitment terms. Booking is by phone only. In its own words: "We handle scheduling by phone to ensure you have the proper time required for your concerns and health needs."

Who is it a good fit for?

This is a good fit if you want a Missoula primary care practice you pay for directly, with longer visits, telehealth and direct phone or text access to your clinician, or if you are considering the PHAT program with Dr. Faaborg overseeing the plan. It is accepting new DPC patients, but its panels are full for Medicare or Medicaid insured patients, so ask about that first. Call 406-317-4800 and put the questions above to them before you book.

Sources: mountainim.com, mountainim.com/services, mountainim.com/services/medical-weight-loss, mountainim.com/contact, mountainim.com/meet-the-team

Services Offered

Hours

Monday thru Thursday 8 am to 5 pm Friday 8 am to 4 pm

Location