Dr. Marta Roth, of Roth Family Medicine, is determined to change the way we view the doctor-patient relationship
By Beth Newcomb
It’s doubtful you’ve ever stood sipping a cocktail at a party and heard anyone bragging about their insurance deductible. These days, deductibles are so high, insurance coverage feels practically useless unless you have a catastrophic event, or you’re going to the doctor for an annual screening like a PAP test or wellness physical.
The pain of having to chip away at a deductible in the several thousand dollar range has many of us medically “benched”—unwilling to dip too far into our own pockets to cover the cost of a doctor’s visit.
But Dr. Marta Roth, owner of Roth Family Medicine, is determined to provide care to everyone in our area. That’s why she revamped her popular Fairlawn-based medical practice and made it even more accessible to people who turn to her for care.
“The insurance companies make it almost impossible for doctors to practice good medicine,” she laments. “I wanted to change that by offering an affordable option that provides people with access to total medical care.”
Dr. Roth converted her practice into a concierge-style forum, where patients purchase “memberships” and are rewarded with unlimited visits, more time with the doctor, disease prevention guidance, a head-to-toe physical, a skin check, basic dermatology, basic gynecology, immunizations and health maintenance for one annual price.
The cost for adults is $1,200 per year. People on Medicare pay just $1,100. Patients under the age of 26 are free with a paid parent membership. If Dr. Roth feels it’s necessary to refer you to an outside resource for specialized care, X-rays, bloodwork or medication, those charges are not included.
“When you consider that the average family deductible is around $4,000, coming to me is a bargain,” she suggests.
Once you’ve paid your membership fee, that fee will go towards your deductible and co-pays. Dr. Roth will bill your insurance the same as any other doctor and will accept as payment whatever amount your insurance company pays.
“This is really a win-win for everyone,” she smiles. “By becoming a membership-based doctor, I get to decide how much time I spend with each patient. I have patients that span every age range, with a few nearing 100. I specialize in caring for the entire family.”
That care includes offering sports physicals for student athletes and care for kids after they’ve received their childhood immunizations. Dr. Roth notes that she follows all standard medical protocols and recommendations.
Meet the Doctor
Her tiny frame belying the strength she brings to every patient interaction, Dr. Marta Roth is the child of parents who were Holocaust survivors. “My being born was a miracle,” she says with tears in her eyes while remembering the horror her parents endured.
At the age of 39, with two young children at home, Dr. Roth decided to answer the call that had been nagging her for some time and went to medical school.
“I feel as though I was brought into this world for a purpose, and that is to care for other people,” she says.
“I became a doctor to serve others. For me, this is not a 9-5 job. I’m doing this because I need to take care of people in the most effective way I can. If I can make a little bit of a difference in someone’s life, that’s the reward. If the time comes when I can no longer make a difference, I will stop.”
The office of Roth Family Medicine is at 3094 W. Market Street, Suite 136, in Fairlawn. The phone number is 330-864-0902. The web address is RothFamilyMedicine.com. Dr. Roth is board certified in family medicine and sees men, women and children of all ages. Dr. Roth is currently a clinical professor at NEOMED. She is fluent in several languages including Czech, Russian and German.