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HEALTH INSURANCE INFORMATION 2025
We will soon be accepting Medicare patients!
Anticipated timeframe to schedule an appointment
~~SUMMER 2025~~
Insurances we accept:
| Commercial Plans | Plan Name |
|---|---|
| Aetna | Aetna Open Choice, Traditional Choice, Aetna PPO and POS |
| BlueCross BlueShield | Network P and S. *Most PPOs plans accepted. |
| Cigna | POS, PPO, EPO, Open Access Plus Network, Network POS, Network Open Access and POS Open Access, GWH-Cigna, PPO and Open Access, Cigna Partnership PPO, Cigna Standard PPO, and Cigna Local Plus |
| Farm Bureau | All plans EXCEPT Medicare Advantage |
| Claritev/MultiPlan | Most plan types accepted. Call us to verify. |
| Medicare | Plan types and acceptance dates TBD |
| UnitedHealthcare | UnitedHealthcare PPO, POS, Select Plus |
| UMR | Most plans accepted. |
*If you have questions, or your plan is not listed, please call us and inquire. At times, insurance websites have our office listed as being in network and that is not always accurate! Please verify with us directly before signing up. 931-528-7312 Monday-Friday 7 am-6 pm. | |
Prices for patients paying cash:
| Service | Self-Pay Price |
|---|---|
| Office Visit | $75 at check-in window |
| X-rays | $79 per study |
| Ultrasounds | $145 |
| Cardiac Echos | $800 |
| Lab Tests | Most individual lab tests are under $50. Complete list here |
| UnitedHealthcare | UnitedHealthcare PPO, POS, Select Plus |
| UMR | Most plans accepted. |
*If you have questions, or your plan is not listed, please call us and inquire. At times, insurance websites have our office listed as accepting them and we may not. Please verify with us directly before signing up. 931-528-7312 Monday-Friday 7 am-6 pm. |
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We are partnered with Care Credit, a credit card system designed for healthcare. Care Credit enables you to get the care or treatment you need TODAY and make affordable monthly payments on your balance. Click on the payment calculator to see what your monthly payments could be.
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Medical Doctors
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Dr. James Cates, M.D. The oldest of four sons born to Jimmy and JoAnn Cates in Cookeville, TN, James W. Cates, M.D., graduated from Castle Heights Military Academy in Lebanon, TN. Excelling both academics and sports, Dr. Cates was chosen his senior year by the faculty as Battalion Commander for the entire corp, graduated with honors, and was a varsity letterman in both football and track. After high school, Dr. Cates attended undergraduate programs at UTK, UCLA, and TSU, where he earned his Bachelor of Science. In 1985, Dr. Cates graduated from medical school at Meharry College of Medicine in Nashville and subsequently completed his three-year residency at the UT Medical Center in the Family Physician Program. Dr. Cates has experience in cancer research at the UT Medical Center, microbiology work at UCLA, and in the Department of Endocrinology at Vanderbilt. In 1987 he began practicing emergency medicine at Cookeville Regional Medical Center and also gained experience while working at Livingston Regional Hospital from 1988-1998, and at Mid State Sports Medicine with Orthopedist Dr. Richard Williams. Dr. Cates achieved medical board re-certification in 2022, pushing his certification into 2030. Dr. Cates is board-certified in Family Medicine and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice (FAAFP). Dr. Cates is the head Medical Doctor and full-time Chief Manager of Satellite Med. |
Mid-Level Providers
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Bill Dycus, FNP
Bill was born and raised right down the road in Gainesboro, TN. He attended Roane State Community College in 1993, earning an Associates' Degree in nursing that helped start his career as a Registered Nurse. Following graduation he worked as a Charge Nurse at Livingston Regional Hospital and the ICU and Emergency Department. Then he stepped into Home Health Management roles while obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at TN Tech University in 2001. | Larissa Rich, PA-C Larissa worked as a scribe at Satellite Med while attending Tennessee Tech University. She completed part of her South College clinical rotation at Satellite Med. Larissa is from Hermitage Springs, TN but has lived in Cookeville since 2012. She attended Tennessee Tech University for three and a half years to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology & Health Sciences. She then graduated from South College's Physician Assistant program in Knoxville, TN. She enjoys hiking, traveling, and returning home to spend time with her family. | Cora Wilson, PA-C Cora is from Rickman, TN. She attended Tennessee Technological University and earned a Bachelor of Science in Education with concentrations in Exercise Science, Physical Education, and Wellness. Cora then attended Milligan University in Elizabethtown, TN, earning a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, reading, going to the lake, and spending time with her family and friends.
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Christina Green, B.S., M.S., EdS., M.A. Christina (Tina) has spent the past 30 years serving as a professional educator, with three degrees in education and a passion for serving special needs children and their parents. In addition, she has worked side-by-side with her husband, Dr. Craig Green, as a pastoral counselor—which is the area of specialization in her latest degree—a Master's in pastoral counseling. Christina has served as the Special Education Supervisor for the Overton County School System for the past five years. She will always be an advocate for those who can defend themselves least. God has ordained a new season of service for Tina—one free from constraints to openly share the One and only One who truly defends the weak and who truly heals the wounded—Jesus Christ the Lord. With deep trust in the power of the Holy Spirit to bring real and lasting healing, Tina will gently and lovingly engage her clients as they receive the healing available in areas such as: *Depression *Anxiety *Autism, Asperger’s, ADHD, ADD *Alcohol and substance abuse *Juvenile delinquency *Conflict resolution *Grief counseling *Marriage Counseling (Pre, Present, Post) *Sexual abuse counseling *Eating Disorders and self-harm *Post-Traumatic Stress (PTSD) |
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Coming Soon!
Satellite Med Vision
Satellite Med was founded in 2003 by Dr. James Cates, M.D. After practicing medicine for many years, Dr. Cates was frustrated by the modern day healthcare system. He believed many aspects of the system were broken and prevented the physicians from practicing to their full potential and treating patients appropriately. Dr. Cates continued to see healthcare costs rise as the quality of care and patient satisfaction declined. Being a strong Christian, Dr. Cates began to go to the Lord, The Great Physician to seek new answers. The Lord began to reveal answers and a plan. Stepping out in faith he began to follow the path reveal to him by the Lord.
As a result of his faithfulness, Dr. Cates and his dedicated wife, Connie, established Satellite Med. The Lord led them to Dr. Matthew Bolton, and Dr. Marilyn Vermeesch. They began to work earnestly to establish Satellite Med. Their goals were to have a medical facility based on Christian principles, while utilizing cutting-edge technology, to deliver quality healthcare to the community, using the best of evidence based medicine, offering multiple services at one central location to make quality healthcare affordable to everyone.
In January 2006, the physical clinic was built in Cookeville, Tennessee. After several months of setting up, the doors opened on April 7, 2006. The business model of Satellite Med was new to healthcare providers, patients, and employers. It did not take long for the new model to catch on and the community to start visiting Satellite Med. During the first two years of operation, over 32,000 patients visits were made to Satellite Med.
The owners and employees continue to focus on the Lord and their commitment to serve the community. Together, everyone strives daily to improve the healthcare system and deliver quality healthcare to all of our patients.
As Satellite Med grows, the prayer is to bring the new healthcare model to communities everywhere as the Lord leads. We continue to pray and believe that God will open the hearts of those He wants involved and close the hearts of those he does not.
Satellite Med Mission Statement
The Satellite Med team is based on Christian principles, focusing on service to our neighbors. Our purpose is to positively impact the health of our patients by improving the quality and affordability of healthcare using evidence-based medicine and innovative technology. Satellite Med strives to improve the healthcare system by working together with patients to drive traditional medicine into the 21st century.
If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides us, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:11NIV
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