Frequently Asked Questions

Azum Medical is a physician-led primary care and wellness practice providing comprehensive, personalized healthcare from A to Z.

We offer traditional insurance-based care, self-pay options, Direct Primary Care memberships, and select wellness services.

Azum Medical was founded by Dr. Catherine Chokuba-Azum, a board-certified Family Medicine physician committed to compassionate, patient-centered care.

Yes. Azum Medical welcomes new patients for in-person primary care appointments.

Azum Medical provides Family Medicine and primary care services for adolescents and adults, depending on the service requested and individual clinical needs.

Azum Medical is located in Houston, Texas. Visit our Contact page for the current address, directions, parking information, and office hours.

Appointments may be scheduled through our online booking system or by contacting the Azum Medical office.

Availability varies. We encourage patients with non-emergency acute concerns to contact us as soon as possible so we can determine the most appropriate appointment option.

Appointment length varies depending on the type and complexity of the visit. Azum Medical values thoughtful, personalized care and strives to provide adequate time for your medical concerns.

Please bring:

• A valid photo ID
• Your current insurance card, if using insurance
• A list of medications and supplements
• Relevant medical records
• Specialist information, if applicable
• Questions or concerns you would like to discuss

Completing your new-patient paperwork before arrival can also help make your visit more efficient.

Azum Medical requests at least 24 hours' notice when cancelling or rescheduling an appointment.

Yes. A $30 no-show fee may apply when an appointment is missed without appropriate notice.

Yes. Automated appointment reminders are sent through our practice-management system. Our team may also contact scheduled patients to confirm upcoming appointments.

Yes. Azum Medical participates with a variety of insurance plans.

Because participation can vary by the specific insurance product or network, we recommend verifying your individual plan before your appointment.

Please contact our office with your insurance information or contact the member-services number on your insurance card.

Being contracted with an insurance carrier does not necessarily mean every plan offered by that carrier is considered in network.

Many insurance plans cover eligible preventive wellness services with little or no patient cost-sharing. However, coverage depends on your specific plan.

If additional medical problems are evaluated or treated during the same visit, those services may be subject to your usual copay, deductible, or coinsurance.

Your financial responsibility may include:

• Copayments
• Deductibles
• Coinsurance
• Non-covered services
• Out-of-network services

Insurance coverage is ultimately determined by your health plan.

Yes. Azum Medical offers self-pay care for patients who do not have insurance or prefer not to use insurance.

The current self-pay rate for an in-person primary care visit is $189.

Additional services, testing, procedures, medications, or outside services may have separate charges.

No. Self-pay patients may pay per visit without enrolling in Direct Primary Care.

Direct Primary Care, or DPC, is a membership-based model in which patients pay a predictable monthly fee directly to Azum Medical for eligible primary-care services included in the membership.

No. DPC is not health insurance and does not replace health insurance.

Patients should maintain appropriate coverage for services outside the membership, such as emergency care, hospitalization, specialty services, surgery, imaging, and other healthcare needs.

Current membership pricing is:

• Individual: $199/month
• Second Adult: $150/month
• Dependent: $50/month

Membership options may be available for 3-, 6-, or 12-month terms.

Yes. Patients may maintain health insurance for services outside the DPC membership while choosing Azum Medical's Direct Primary Care option for eligible primary-care services.

Insurance-based care and DPC are offered as separate care models at Azum Medical.

Yes. Telemedicine is available for eligible established patients when the medical concern can be appropriately evaluated virtually.

No. At this time, Azum Medical requires new patients to establish care through an in-person visit before utilizing eligible telemedicine services.

The current self-pay rate is $125.

No. Some concerns require an in-person examination, vital signs, diagnostic testing, procedures, or additional evaluation.

Your provider may recommend an in-person appointment when medically necessary.

Patients should request refills through the recommended patient-portal or office process and provide adequate time for review.

Certain medications require ongoing monitoring to ensure they remain safe and appropriate.

Depending on the medication and condition, your provider may require:

• A follow-up appointment
• Updated laboratory testing
• Blood-pressure monitoring
• Other clinical assessment

Not necessarily. Dr. Azum may need to evaluate the condition, review previous records, and determine whether continuing the medication is medically appropriate.

Azum Medical frequently works with outside laboratory facilities such as Quest Diagnostics, depending on the testing ordered and patient preference or insurance requirements.

Generally, outside laboratory charges are separate from the office visit unless specifically stated otherwise.

Coverage depends on your individual insurance plan, diagnosis, deductible, and laboratory benefits.

Azum Medical cannot guarantee that a particular laboratory test will be covered.

Results may be communicated through the patient portal, telephone, or during an appropriate follow-up appointment depending on the result and clinical circumstances.

Certain results require a more detailed medical evaluation, treatment discussion, medication adjustment, or additional testing. In those situations, a separate follow-up visit may be recommended.

Yes. When clinically appropriate, Azum Medical can coordinate referrals to specialists.

Some plans—particularly certain HMO plans—may require a referral or authorization before specialty care. Requirements are determined by your insurance plan.

No. Specialist network participation can change. Patients should verify coverage with both the specialist and their insurance carrier.

Yes. Azum Medical provides physician-supervised Medical Weight Management with individualized evaluation, laboratory testing when appropriate, lifestyle guidance, progress monitoring, and prescription treatment when medically appropriate.

When medically appropriate, prescription treatment may include GLP-1 receptor agonists and dual GIP/GLP-1 medications, including medications containing semaglutide or tirzepatide.

Eligibility is determined after medical evaluation.

Patients may participate through:

• Insurance-based care
• Self-pay
• Direct Primary Care

However, insurance coverage for weight-management medication is not guaranteed.

Coverage varies significantly by insurance carrier, employer plan, formulary, diagnosis, prior-authorization requirements, and whether the plan includes weight-loss medication benefits.

Yes. When prescription treatment is medically appropriate, prescriptions may be coordinated with local or retail pharmacies.

Azum Medical may also work with licensed compounding pharmacies in circumstances where compounded medication is clinically appropriate and legally permissible.

Fit3D provides a non-invasive 3D assessment that allows patients to visualize and track body measurements and body-composition changes over time.

No. Fit3D may be used by individuals interested in establishing baseline measurements or tracking changes related to nutrition, fitness, wellness, or body-composition goals.

No. Fit3D is a non-invasive optical body-scanning system.

SoftWave is a non-invasive shockwave therapy that uses acoustic waves delivered to a targeted treatment area.

It may be considered for appropriate musculoskeletal and soft-tissue concerns following evaluation.

No. SoftWave treatment is performed externally and does not require injections or incisions.

Treatment begins with an evaluation to better understand your symptoms, previous treatments, health history, and goals.

Not every type of pain or injury is appropriate for SoftWave therapy.

Our Celluma CONTOUR PLUS system offers five treatment modes:

• Acne
• Aging Skin / Wrinkles
• Aches & Pains
• Hair Growth
• Body Contouring

No. Celluma uses programmed blue, red, and near-infrared LED light and does not use ultraviolet tanning light.

Celluma is non-invasive, and most patients can generally return to their normal activities following treatment.

Depending on your individual goals and medical history, Celluma may complement services such as:

• Medical Weight Management
• Fit3D Body Composition Scanning
• SoftWave Therapy
• Primary Care and Preventive Wellness

The Patient Portal provides patients with convenient online access to available information and features related to their care.

After Azum Medical sends your invitation:

1. Open the invitation email and click Get Started.
2. Create a password and enter your date of birth.
3. Click Create Account.

Your email address should automatically populate from the invitation.

Please check your spam or junk folder first. If you still cannot locate it, contact Azum Medical and our team can assist you.