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DPC 101

Direct Care 101: Top 5 FAQs — What Patients Really Want to Know About Cost, Insurance, and Access

Dr. Mudita Malhotra answers the five questions Rockville patients ask most before joining Aurora Primary Care — from cost and insurance to how DPC compares with concierge medicine.

Dr. Mudita Malhotra

Family Physician | Aurora Primary Care

7-min read
  •  
July 15, 2026
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Dr. Mudita Malhotra, MD, of Aurora Primary Care reviewing a health checklist with a parent and college-bound student in Rockville, Maryland
Wellness & Lifestyle

August 19, 2026

A Parent's Health Checklist Before College

A physician-reviewed checklist to help Rockville, MD families prepare a student's health, immunizations, medications, and insurance before college move-in.

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Dr. Mudita Malhotra of Aurora Primary Care discussing cyclosporiasis symptoms and summer food safety in Rockville, MD
Clinical Insights

August 7, 2026

Cyclosporiasis: What You Need to Know About This Summer's Foodborne Illness

Cyclosporiasis cases are rising in Maryland and Virginia this summer. Learn the symptoms, causes, and treatment from Aurora Primary Care in Rockville.

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Wellness & Lifestyle

July 22, 2026

Managing Stress Through Sleep Hygiene: How Your Stress Response and Sleep Are Connected

Many patients describe the same pattern: a stressful day, a wired-but-exhausted feeling at bedtime, and a poor night of sleep. Dr. Malhotra breaks down the stress-sleep cycle — and the habits that actually help.

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Clinical Insights

June 30, 2026

Proactive Longevity: What Your Yearly Physical Is Missing

At Aurora Primary Care in Rockville MD, our DPC membership goes beyond the annual physical with deeper metabolic screening and continuous, personalized preventive care.

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Clinical Insights

May 30, 2026

Don't Let a Tick Ruin Your Summer: A Maryland Hiker's Guide to Tick Bite and Lyme Disease Prevention

Dr. Mudita Malhotra at Aurora Primary Care in Rockville, MD shares expert guidance on tick bite prevention, Lyme disease symptoms, and when to see a doctor this summer.

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Clinical Insights

May 15, 2026

Urgent Care vs Primary Care Doctor: When to Choose Which

Not sure whether to head to urgent care or call your primary care doctor? Dr. Mudita Malhotra breaks down the real cost difference, a condition-by-condition guide, and why a Direct Primary Care membership beats paying out of pocket again and again — especially if you're uninsured or self-pay in the DMV area.

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Clinical Insights

May 11, 2026

Hantavirus Symptoms, Transmission & Risk: What Maryland and DC Residents Need to Know Right Now

Recent headlines about hantavirus linked to an expedition cruise ship in South America have raised questions — and patients in Maryland and the DMV are asking what it means for them. Dr. Mudita Malhotra breaks down how hantavirus spreads, what symptoms to watch for, and what the actual risk level is for residents of the DC metro area.

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Wellness & Lifestyle

May 7, 2026

Women’s Health Month: Preventive Care for Every Stage of Life From a Primary Care Physician in Maryland

For many women, healthcare becomes something that happens reactively rather than proactively — appointments are delayed, symptoms are minimized, and preventive care is postponed. As a primary care physician serving Maryland, DC, and Northern Virginia, Dr. Mudita Malhotra explores why this May is the right moment to change that, and what preventive care actually looks like at every stage of life.

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Wellness & Lifestyle

April 23, 2026

Allergies, a Cold, or a Sinus Infection? Here's How to Tell the Difference

Congested, headachy, and not sure whether to take an antihistamine or call your doctor? It matters more than most people realize — treating a sinus infection with an allergy medication won't help, and antibiotics for allergies can cause real harm. Dr. Malhotra walks through the key differences so you can read your own symptoms clearly.

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DPC 101

April 11, 2026

The Maryland Healthcare Combination That's Saving Patients Up to $1,200 a Year

Do you have to give up your insurance to join a DPC practice? No — and for many Maryland, DC, and Virginia patients, pairing an Aurora membership with the right insurance plan actually costs significantly less than traditional coverage alone. Here's the 2026 math, built from real local insurance rates and Aurora's actual pricing.

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Clinical Insights

March 31, 2026

Seasonal Allergies Without Insurance: What Are Your Real Options?

"I have allergies but no insurance — where do I even go?" It's one of the most common questions at Aurora this time of year. Dr. Malhotra compares your real options — urgent care, allergists, telehealth, and DPC — so you can get effective allergy care without overpaying or going without.

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Clinical Insights

March 19, 2026

When to Visit Your Doctor vs. the ER or Urgent Care

Choosing between your doctor, urgent care, and the ER isn't just a health decision — it's a financial one. Dr. Malhotra breaks down exactly which setting is right for which situations, and explains why your DPC doctor should almost always be your first call, even when something feels urgent.

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Wellness & Lifestyle

February 28, 2026

Flu vs. Cold vs. Allergies: How to Tell the Difference and When to Seek Care

Congestion, sore throat, fatigue — when symptoms overlap this much, self-diagnosis is often wrong. Dr. Malhotra explains the key clinical patterns that distinguish flu from a cold from allergies, and why getting it right determines whether you need antivirals, allergy treatment, or simply time to rest.

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Clinical Insights

February 27, 2026

Why Urgent Care Isn’t Your Only Option for Flu Treatment

When flu hits, urgent care feels like the obvious move — but it's not the only one, and it's not always the best one. For DPC members, same-day primary care access means you get evaluated by a physician who knows your history, without the wait times, episodic care, and added costs that urgent care often brings.

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Wellness & Lifestyle

February 27, 2026

Natural vs. Medical Flu Recovery: A Physician’s Balanced Approach

Should you tough it out with rest and home remedies, or is antiviral medication the right call? For most people, the answer lies somewhere in between. Dr. Malhotra breaks down what the evidence says — and why the best flu plan depends on timing, risk factors, and symptoms, not a one-size-fits-all approach.

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Clinical Insights

February 27, 2026

The DPC Advantage: Same-Day Flu Testing and Prescription Access

With flu, the first 48 hours matter — and most healthcare models aren't built for that kind of speed. At Aurora Primary Care, same-day evaluation, in-office rapid testing, and direct prescription access are built into the membership, so clinical decisions get made at the right time, not weeks later.

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Wellness & Lifestyle

February 26, 2026

The 2026 Physician's Guide to Respiratory Health

Flu, RSV, a bad cold, or something more serious? Every respiratory season brings the same confusing overlap of symptoms — and the same question of when to wait it out and when to get checked. Dr. Malhotra's comprehensive guide helps you understand the full spectrum of respiratory illness and how Aurora's DPC model delivers the timely, personalized care that respiratory season demands.

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Wellness & Lifestyle

January 28, 2026

Most Serious Conditions Don’t Start with Symptoms: The Power of Prevention

Most serious health conditions develop slowly, silently, and without warning — which is exactly why regular preventive care matters. Dr. Malhotra shares the real story of how a routine blood test caught something that changed a patient's life, and why a long-term relationship with your physician is your most powerful health tool.

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Clinical Insights

January 14, 2026

Common Health Issues You Can Manage Better with DPC

Diabetes, high blood pressure, thyroid disorders — chronic conditions aren't just numbers to track. They're complex, personal, and need time and continuity to manage well. Here's why patients at Aurora Primary Care often achieve better results than they ever did in the traditional system.

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Wellness & Lifestyle

January 1, 2026

From Holidays to the New Year: A Steadier Way to a Healthier You!

January doesn't need to mean drastic resolutions or detox plans — it needs to mean reflection. Dr. Malhotra shares why small, intentional habits beat ambitious overhauls, and why the start of a new year is actually the perfect time to schedule the preventive care you've been putting off.

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Wellness & Lifestyle

December 18, 2025

Taking Care of Your Health During the Holidays: A Doctor's Perspective

The health impact of the holidays often shows up not during the celebrations, but in the weeks after. Dr. Malhotra shares practical, non-restrictive advice on managing stress, sleep, and nutrition through the season — without sacrificing the joy of it.

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DPC 101

December 7, 2025

DPC vs. Concierge Medicine: Understanding the Difference

Direct Primary Care and Concierge Medicine both offer personalized care and closer doctor access — but the differences in cost, billing, and philosophy are significant. If you're deciding between the two, this breakdown will help you choose the model that's right for your life.

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DPC 101

November 22, 2025

Healthcare that Works for Everyone: Insured or Not

One of the most common misconceptions about Direct Primary Care is that it's only for people without insurance. The truth is, DPC works beautifully either way — complementing your existing coverage or replacing the unpredictable costs of going uninsured. Here's how.

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Clinical Insights

November 14, 2025

How to Find a Family Doctor Who Truly Cares: Your Family Doctor's Office, Re-Imagined

What if your doctor's office felt less like a transaction and more like a partnership? Aurora Primary Care combines the warmth of old-fashioned medicine with modern tools — same-day appointments, virtual visits, and a doctor who actually listens. Here's what that looks like in practice.

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DPC 101

November 5, 2025

Is Direct Primary Care Worth It? Why Patients and Doctors Love DPC

DPC members report fewer ER visits, better chronic disease control, and lower overall healthcare costs — but the real value goes beyond the numbers. When your doctor truly knows you, has time to listen, and can be reached when you need them, the entire healthcare experience changes.

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DPC 101

October 27, 2025

What is Direct Primary Care?

Six-week waits. Ten-minute visits. Surprise bills. Sound familiar? Direct Primary Care was built to fix exactly that — a simple monthly membership that replaces insurance complexity with direct, relationship-based access to your physician. No copays, no deductibles, no surprises.

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Practice News

October 22, 2025

Returning to the Heart of Medicine: Why I Chose to Bring Back Personalized Primary Care

After 25 years in large healthcare systems, Dr. Malhotra made a deliberate choice: to return to the kind of medicine her father practiced — personal, unhurried, and built entirely on trust. Direct Primary Care made that possible. This is her story.

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