About the practice
One physician who knows your story.
Dr. Daniel Kohl opened Kohl Direct Family Care to practice primary care with time, trust, and a holistic view of each patient's health.
Dr. Daniel Kohl
Family physician and functional medicine practitioner.
Born and raised in Cedarville, Ohio, I became very interested in medicine while serving on medical-mission trips to Philadelphia, India, Nepal, and Paraguay. Witnessing physical and spiritual needs in the United States and around the world sparked a passion to serve others through medicine.
I studied molecular and cellular biology at Cedarville University, with minors in Bible and Spanish, graduating in 2016. Around that time, my closest childhood friend became my wife and our family began. Our journey later led us to Columbus, Ohio, where I earned my Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine and developed skills in osteopathic manipulative treatment, nutrition, sports medicine, and functional medicine.
The next step for our family was moving to the Rio Grande Valley for residency at Valley Baptist Family Practice in Harlingen. My physician mentors modeled excellent care for physical and spiritual needs while respecting patient choices. Being fluent in Spanish, I also enjoyed connecting with Spanish-speaking patients.
During residency, I encountered the limitations of insurance-based care, including rushed visits that leave little time for a doctor-patient relationship, root-cause thinking, or practical steps toward a healthier lifestyle. I began observing direct primary care clinics and became convinced that this model allows doctors and patients to work together toward health goals while building trusted relationships.
After completing board exams and case reports, I became a Family Medicine diplomate of the American Board of Physician Specialties. I completed foundational coursework with the Institute for Functional Medicine, trained in a comprehensive mold illness protocol through the MC360 Precision Mold Master Class, and in 2026 became a member of the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS), where I studied holistic treatments for tickborne illnesses through the ILADS Fundamentals Course.
My wife's hometown of McAllen became our permanent home. We love the people, flavors, and sunshine that make the Valley a wonderful place to live. As a family, you can usually find us hiking, playing soccer, hosting family game nights, trying new foods at farmers markets, homeschooling our three active sons, and worshiping and serving with our local church.
I am thankful for the opportunity to open Kohl Direct Family Care on the campus of Rio Grande Bible Ministries. As a family doctor, I treat patients of all ages and have particular interests in nutrition, supplements, sports medicine, functional medicine, and osteopathic manipulative treatment. I would be honored to care for you and your family, and I look forward to hearing your story too.
Clinic assistant and phlebotomist
Meet Esteban Ramirez.
Meet our clinic assistant and phlebotomist. Esteban answers office calls and texts, helps with membership, appointment, and billing questions, checks vital signs, assists Dr. Kohl, and draws blood.
My name is Esteban Ramirez, and I am a phlebotomist at Kohl Direct Family Care. Originally from Weslaco, Texas, I have more than three years of experience working as both a medical assistant and phlebotomist. I graduated in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and obtained my phlebotomy certification through UTRGV's Continuing Education program.
I am bilingual and have developed a strong foundation in patient care, blood collection, and laboratory procedures throughout my career. I am passionate about healthcare and am working toward my goal of becoming a physician assistant.
Outside of my professional life, I am a dedicated husband and father. I enjoy spending time with my family, serving at my local church, and watching sports. I am committed to growing both personally and professionally, and I look forward to continuing to serve the community.
Q&A with Dr. Kohl
Approach to care.
What is Dr. Kohl's overall approach to health?
Dr. Kohl starts by learning your family history, previous health conditions, lifestyle, physical exam findings, and test results. The goal is to identify root causes and build a step-by-step plan using nutrition, exercise, sleep, healthy relationships, supplements, functional medicine, osteopathic manipulative treatment, medications, or procedures when appropriate.
What is a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine?
D.O. physicians are trained similarly to M.D. physicians, with additional emphasis on prevention, lifestyle, and osteopathic manipulative treatment.
What is osteopathic manipulative treatment?
Osteopathic manipulative treatment, or OMT, is a hands-on technique used to help relieve pain, restriction, and swelling. Dr. Kohl uses OMT for concerns such as headaches, constipation, carpal tunnel syndrome, and back pain.
What is functional medicine?
Functional medicine looks at biological functions such as digestion, growth, detoxification, and immunity. Dr. Kohl uses this approach to understand a patient's health story, identify dysfunction, and support improvement through sleep, exercise, nutrition, stress management, relationships, and targeted testing when needed.
What is your connection with Rio Grande Bible Ministries?
Kohl Direct Family Care rents office space from Rio Grande Bible Ministries. Dr. Kohl is not an employee of RGBM, and no affiliation with RGBM is required to join the practice.
Services
How the clinic works.
What ages do you see?
As a family doctor, Dr. Kohl treats the whole family in one practice, from newborn babies to seniors. Children can be accepted as members whether or not their parents are members.
How long is each appointment?
The first visit is scheduled for one hour. Member follow-up appointments are typically scheduled for 30 minutes.
Do you accept walk-ins?
The clinic does not accept walk-ins, but members can usually be scheduled for a same-day appointment. Patients can schedule through the online patient hub or by calling the office.
Do you provide women's health services?
Kohl Direct Family Care does not provide breast exams, pelvic exams, pap smears, prenatal care, or deliveries. The clinic can refer patients to qualified obstetrician-gynecologists, midwives, lactation consultants, or other women's healthcare providers in the Rio Grande Valley.
Kohl Direct Family Care is not affiliated with these providers, but patients may find these local options helpful: Dr. Belinda Jordan, Dr. Jonathan Lugo MD OBGYN, Namitha Nagaraj MD OBGYN, Blessed Womb, and Holy Family Birth Center.
Do you provide school or work notes?
Dr. Kohl can provide a brief note stating that he treated you and when he suggests you return to school or work.
Do you provide government regulated exams for Disability Benefits, Worker's Compensation, or Department of Transportation?
No. The clinic team can help direct you to an occupational health clinic to assist you with these documents.
Do you give vaccines or complete vaccine exemptions?
The clinic does not provide vaccinations in the office. Dr. Kohl can discuss risks, benefits, and alternatives, and can direct patients to a pharmacy or health department if they choose to receive a vaccine.
If he identifies a qualifying medical reason why a patient should not receive a specific vaccine, he can complete a medical exemption. He can also provide information about conscience vaccine exemption forms when applicable.
Are masks, vaccines, or insurance required?
Masks, vaccines, and health insurance are not required to become a patient at Kohl Direct Family Care.
How is patient information protected?
Patient information is protected in accordance with HIPAA requirements. Information will not be shared with health insurance companies unless you request that Kohl Direct Family Care bill your health insurance for a test. You may opt out your chart from utilizing AI (artificial intelligence) tools if you provide a written request.
What happens if I need a hospital or specialist?
Dr. Kohl seeks to reduce hospitalizations and specialty referrals through comprehensive primary care. When additional care is required, he can provide information to share with a hospitalist, specialist, or surgeon.
He does not have hospital privileges to treat patients while they are in the hospital, but he can follow up after discharge.
What if I am traveling?
Dr. Kohl is licensed to practice medicine in Texas only. While patients are traveling within Texas, many concerns can be addressed by phone, email, text, or webcam.
For travel outside Texas, he can help address concerns and refill appropriate prescriptions before departure, and he can share medical records with another doctor when needed.
Cost savings
Why membership can save money.
Is there a co-pay for each office visit?
Member visits are covered through the monthly membership fee, so no co-pay is required. With membership, patients can call, text, and visit Dr. Kohl as much as needed. See Contact Dr. Kohl for Members for communication guidance.
Dr. Kohl informs patients of any fees before performing labs, tests, or procedures. See Service Pricing for more details. A fee per visit applies to non-members.
Does Kohl DFC accept health insurance?
Kohl Direct Family Care does not accept health insurance payments. The clinic works directly with patients to keep care personal, transparent, and connected to cash savings on labs, imaging, and medications.
This direct relationship avoids insurance middlemen and keeps decisions between the patient and doctor.
How can membership fit into my budget?
The John Locke Foundation published an article showing direct primary care members in North Carolina reported improved health and “spend 46 percent less out-of-pocket for prescription and medical expenses” compared with non-members. Consumer Reports and Yahoo Finance also reported direct primary care improves healthcare quality and reduces costs.
In the insurance health system, most Americans who get sick or injured have to wait 21 days to get an appointment or even a call back from their family doctors. If they worsen, they have to go to urgent care or the ER, where they pay for expensive tests, imaging, and treatments from a provider who does not know them. In many cases they get medications and procedures that fail to fix their underlying problems.
Members of Kohl DFC, on the other hand, get same-day appointments and telemedicine for free. Dr. Kohl relies primarily on your history and exam, not tests and imaging, to craft a holistic treatment plan to get you back to peak health. This approach helps keep your money in your wallet and keep you out of the hospital and operating room.
Will I benefit if I do not need frequent medical attention?
Yes. The clinic is available for unexpected illness or injury and can also help patients pursue long-term health goals such as more energy, less pain, better sleep, or sharper focus.
How do I get lab tests, imaging, or medications?
When lab tests, imaging, or medications are needed, Dr. Kohl can help patients find local, low cash prices not available through insurance. He can perform many tests in the office, such as blood draws, flu tests, and skin biopsies, for a low fee.
He can also order discounted conventional and functional medicine labs through Fullscript, which coordinates collection, payment, and results. See Service Pricing for more details.
Can Medicare or Medicaid patients join?
Yes. Eligible patients sign a one-time waiver stating that neither the patient nor the doctor will directly bill Medicare or Medicaid for Kohl DFC services. Outside labs, imaging, or medications may still be billed separately by outside providers.
Can I pay one visit at a time instead of joining?
Yes. Non-members can pay $225 for an office visit or telemedicine consult during business hours. Non-members do not have access to the member number, after-hours care, or guaranteed same/next-day appointments.