Circle Medical, MD-Led Platform

Circle Medical is a San Francisco-based telehealth primary care clinic that connects patients across 30+ U.S. states with board-certified family medicine and internal medicine physicians for same-day or next-day video appointments. Founded in 2015 with a focus on removing barriers to routine primary care, the company expanded into mental health conditions including ADHD, anxiety, and depression — areas where primary care physicians are legally and clinically qualified to diagnose and prescribe, yet where demand dramatically outpaces the supply of specialist appointments. The ADHD offering at Circle Medical is grounded in the primary care model. Physicians evaluate patients for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder using clinical interviews and validated symptom scales (ADHD-RS, ASRS), assess for relevant comorbidities, and prescribe both stimulant medications (Adderall, Ritalin, Vyvanse, and generics) and non-stimulants (Strattera, Wellbutrin) where clinically appropriate. Because Circle Medical providers are generalists, they are particularly well positioned for patients whose ADHD co-occurs with conditions like anxiety, sleep disturbance, or hypertension — situations where a psychiatrist focused narrowly on attention may miss the broader clinical picture. A key operational policy governs stimulant prescribing: any patient requiring a controlled substance must have an Annual Wellness Exam on record from within the previous 12 months, either completed with a Circle Medical provider or submitted from an outside physician. This policy reflects both regulatory prudence and Circle Medical's positioning as a primary care home rather than a transactional prescription platform. The requirement adds a step for new patients who lack a recent wellness exam, but it also positions Circle Medical as a more clinically grounded option than platforms that prescribe stimulants with no baseline health assessment. Controlled substance prescriptions are not available to patients residing in Georgia, Ohio, Michigan, or North Carolina, reflecting licensing and regulatory complexity in those states. In all other states where Circle Medical operates, stimulant prescriptions are handled through the standard telehealth appointment and can be sent electronically to any pharmacy. Circle Medical accepts more than 1,500 insurance plans, which meaningfully lowers the cost of care. Most insured patients with ADHD pay under $40 per visit — a significant advantage over cash-pay platforms charging $150–$299 per appointment. The platform does not charge subscription or membership fees, billing strictly per visit. Founded in 2015 with a focus on removing barriers to routine primary care, the company expanded into mental health conditions including ADHD, anxiety, and depression — areas where primary care physicians are legally and clinically qualified to diagnose and prescribe, yet where demand dramatically outpaces the supply of specialist appointments. The ADHD offering at Circle Medical is grounded in the primary care model. Physicians evaluate patients for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder using clinical interviews and validated symptom scales (ADHD-RS, ASRS), assess for relevant comorbidities, and prescribe both stimulant medications (Adderall, Ritalin, Vyvanse, and generics) and non-stimulants (Strattera, Wellbutrin) where clinically appropriate. Because Circle Medical providers are generalists, they are particularly well positioned for patients whose ADHD co-occurs with conditions like anxiety, sleep disturbance, or hypertension — situations where a psychiatrist focused narrowly on attention may miss the broader clinical picture. A key operational policy governs stimulant prescribing: any patient requiring a controlled substance must have an Annual Wellness Exam on record from within the previous 12 months, either completed with a Circle Medical provider or submitted from an outside physician. This policy reflects both regulatory prudence and Circle Medical's positioning as a primary care home rather than a transactional prescription platform. The requirement adds a step for new patients who lack a recent wellness exam, but it also positions Circle Medical as a more clinically grounded option than platforms that prescribe stimulants with no baseline health assessment. Controlled substance prescriptions are not available to patients residing in Georgia, Ohio, Michigan, or North Carolina, reflecting licensing and regulatory complexity in those states. In all other states where Circle Medical operates, stimulant prescriptions are handled through the standard telehealth appointment and can be sent electronically to any pharmacy. Circle Medical accepts more than 1,500 insurance plans, which meaningfully lowers the cost of care. Most insured patients with ADHD pay under $40 per visit — a significant advantage over cash-pay platforms charging $150–$299 per appointment. The platform does not charge subscription or membership fees, billing strictly per visit.