Lionheart DPC

10/15/2026

I’m constantly asked by parents, “What can I do to strengthen my child’s immune system?”

And this probably isn’t the answer they’re expecting: FIBER !

There are two broad types:

💧 Soluble fiber dissolves in water and forms a gel-like substance in the gut. It can help with things like cholesterol, blood sugar regulation, and feeding beneficial gut bacteria.

🌾 Insoluble fiber adds bulk and helps keep things moving through the digestive tract.

And most whole plant foods actually contain a combination of both — which is one reason I’m a big fan of getting fiber from food whenever we can.

Fiber supplements can absolutely be useful. If you’re not getting enough fiber, supplementing is better than getting very little at all.

But a scoop of isolated fiber isn’t quite the same thing as eating whole foods. Whole foods give us different types of fibers along with vitamins, minerals and other plant compounds — and that variety helps support a more diverse gut microbiome.

My top 5 ways to get more fiber from food:
🫘 Beans and lentils
🫐 Berries
🥑 Avocado
🌱 Chia seeds
🌾 Whole grains — oatmeal, whole-grain bread, quinoa and brown rice

10/13/2026

Open enrollment is about a lot more than finding the lowest monthly premium. A few other things I want families to know:

💊 If anyone in your family takes regular medications, check the formulary.

Prescription coverage isn’t simply an HMO vs. PPO issue. Every plan has its own formulary, tiers, prior authorizations, and preferred medications.

This is especially important with expensive or chronic medications—growth hormone, certain ADHD medications, biologics, newer diabetes/weight-management medications, and other specialty drugs.

And don’t assume that because a medication was covered this year, it will be covered the same way next year❗️
Formularies change. A medication you’ve taken for years can suddenly require prior authorization, become non-preferred, or cost hundreds of dollars.

If a medication matters to your family, look it up before choosing the plan.

💰 Having insurance doesn’t automatically mean using it is the cheapest option.

For routine bloodwork, a simple X-ray, and other bread-and-butter services, cash pricing can sometimes be significantly less expensive—especially with a high deductible.

That’s another way DPC can work alongside insurance. We can use insurance for the bigger-ticket items where we really need it, while using transparent cash pricing for everyday healthcare when it saves you money.

🏦 Have an HSA or FSA? You can use those dollars for Direct Primary Care.

Starting in 2026, HSA funds can be used tax-free for DPC membership fees:

• Up to $150/month — individual
• Up to $300/month — family

Those are pre-tax healthcare dollars, which can mean meaningful tax savings on money you’re already spending on healthcare.

FSA funds can also be used for your DPC membership, but the rules for accessing those funds or getting reimbursed may vary from one employer to another. Check with your employer or FSA administrator for how to proceed.

👉🏻So during open enrollment, don’t just ask, “What’s my premium?”

🕵🏻‍♂️Look at your network, medications, deductible, out-of-pocket maximum, and HSA/FSA options.

⭐️ Most importantly, think about how your family actually uses healthcare—and what you need from your plan to get the care you need. ⭐️

*Physician

10/08/2026

I’ve had several families reach out to me lately with different concerns because they haven’t been able to reach their child’s P*P or get an appointment.

And it got me thinking… what is a P*P, exactly?

Your insurance card may say your child has one. But when your child is sick at 4:30 on a Thursday, what does having a P*P actually look like?

❓ Can you reach someone who knows your child?

❓ Can they actually be seen when they’re sick—not three weeks from now, but when you need help?

❓ Can you send a picture of a rash and ask, “Does this need to be seen?”

❓ Can you reach out when something happens and you’re stressed, worried, and just not sure what to do next?

❓ Can you get a sports clearance without panicking the week before tryouts, calling several times, and hoping someone can squeeze you in?

❓ Does your doctor know your child well enough to recognize when something is just…off?

And if we’re really honest, do you ever put off making an appointment because of the cost? Or because you’re afraid you’ll go through all the trouble of getting there only to leave feeling dismissed, so you just wait it out instead?

Primary care is more than a name on an insurance card.

A P*P should be someone you can turn to first. Someone you feel comfortable asking the little questions before they become big ones. A doctor who has time to listen, knows your child well enough to recognize when something isn’t right, and is there to help you figure out what comes next when you’re not sure.

That relationship, that support, and knowing you have someone in your corner—that’s what having a P*P should mean.

Insurance can put a doctor’s name on a card, but I think there’s a much more important question for families to ask:

✨Who is actually there for my family?✨

If this is what you want your child’s primary care to look like, that’s exactly why we built Lionheart. 🦁💛

10/06/2026

🧠 What we pay attention to matters.

Our brains are constantly filtering an enormous amount of information—and sometimes, without realizing it, we get really good at finding evidence for the things we’re already worried about.

The goal isn’t to ignore what’s hard or force ourselves to “think positive.” It’s to make sure the hard things aren’t the ONLY things getting our attention.

Try it this week. Pick one thing you want to train your brain to notice:

💼 Having a hard time at work? Look for the moments when you made a difference. What did you do well today? Where did something you did have an impact—even a small one?

🌤️ Have a child who struggles with anxiety? Help them look for the times when something they worried about turned out okay. When did they feel safe? When did they do something even though they were nervous? What went better than they expected?

🌱 When life feels heavy: Look for what is still good—the person who checked in, something that made you laugh, or one moment in your day that felt peaceful.

And perhaps it shouldn’t surprise us that our brains work this way. Scripture has been telling us for a very long time to be intentional about where we fix our attention: whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and worthy of praise - think about these things.
Philippians 4:8. ❤️

Not because the hard things aren’t real. Because they aren’t the whole picture.

10/03/2026

IBCLC training & clinical hours: DONE! 🩷✅ [101 hours!]

Next step: trying to wait patiently for the exam this spring… because it’s only offered twice a year. 🙃

In the meantime, no slowing down over here! 🙌🏻🙌🏻

Fresh cup of coffee ☕️, computer open, and today I’m starting training for another certification I am SO excited about.

This one fills an important missing piece—helping bridge the gap between something we deeply value at Lionheart and how we can actually support our patients and families with it.

I’m buzzing with excitement and determination over here. 😃 🦁💛

10/01/2026

$1,500 monthly premium x 12 = 18k
+ 5k annual deductible = 23k
Before they cover a penny of services needed

Is anyone else scratching their head??

If a doctor says a study or procedure is needed, and the facility is willing and able to schedule them and do it, why are we still asking insurance for permission to make care happen?

Why do they, with no medical training or license, get to determine our care?

Health insurance is one of the few things we pay thousands of dollars for every year and still have to ask permission before we can use it.

And I understand why there are checks in the system. Insurance companies can’t blindly approve every test, procedure, or medication that gets submitted.

But the amount of friction between doctors, patients, and insurance companies has gotten ridiculous.

Prior authorizations. Denials. Appeals. Networks. Formularies. Deductibles. Copays. Coinsurance.

You can have a doctor sitting across from you saying, “This is the treatment I recommend,” and still have absolutely no idea whether your insurance company is going to cover it or what your final bill will be.

That’s the part I can’t get past.

We’ve built a healthcare system where having insurance doesn’t necessarily mean you know what something costs, whether it’s covered, or whether you can actually get the treatment without fighting for it first.

There has to be a better balance between controlling healthcare costs and letting doctors actually treat their patients.

Because paying a fortune for health insurance and then having to fight the company you’re paying to get healthcare covered is a pretty wild business model.

10/01/2026

Does your kiddo get carsick? 🚗
Here are a few things that can help:

👀 Eyes forward. Encourage them to look out the front window at a distant, stable point rather than looking down at a book, tablet, or phone.

💨 Keep things cool. Fresh air, a cracked window, or cool air from the vent can help with nausea.

🥨 Don’t travel on an empty—or overly full—stomach. A small, bland snack before the trip is often better than a heavy meal.

🛑 Take breaks when you can. On longer trips, getting out of the car and walking around for a few minutes can help reset things.

😴 Pay attention to sleep. Being overtired can make motion sickness worse for some kids.

⏰ Stay ahead of it. Motion sickness is much easier to prevent than to get under control once significant nausea has already started. Start these strategies before your child feels sick—not once they’re already miserable.

And remember, that kid who gets carsick on every road trip may be giving us an interesting clue about how their nervous system is wired 🩷

09/29/2026

Well this was an unexpected surprise!!

Thank you so much to Momentum Aroostook for this recognition, and to everyone who has reached out with such kind and encouraging words. I’m truly honored and incredibly grateful 🥹💜

Congratulations to all the other achievers, this year’s and past - and a special warm celebration hug to my good friend Paige Czosnek Wellness ! So fun to share this with you!!

It takes all of us—showing up, supporting one another, and doing our part to make this community a little better, every day, bit by bit !!!

Very grateful to be a part of it 🦁💛🌲

⭐ 2026 AROOSTOOK ACHIEVERS: HEALTH & WELLNESS ⭐

Please join us in celebrating this year’s Health & Wellness honorees:

✨ PAIGE CZOSNEK, Paige Czosnek Wellness
✨ DR. MARIA RUTMANN, Lionheart DPC
✨ LISA SMITH, Aroostook Regional Transportation System, Inc.

These local leaders are making a meaningful impact across Aroostook County through their dedication to health, wellness, and the well-being of our community. 💙

And we’re not done yet! 👀 More honorees are still to come, so stay tuned as we continue celebrating the 2026 Aroostook Achievers!

09/28/2026

How is it almost October already?! 🎃

If you’ve been thinking about joining Lionheart, this is your reminder that there are just a few days left to take advantage of our September special!

🦁 Enrollment fees are waived for all new families through September 30.

And with our panel continuing to fill up, there’s really no better time to join us. 🧡

09/26/2026

Her parents are absolutely floored by the support and so, so appreciative of every single person who has shown up for their family.

💜 Bella’s surgery is on track for October 22nd, so please keep those prayers coming!