Direct Primary Care

Full Scope Human Longevity

This episode discusses my OPINIONS regarding Direct Primary Care. It is not intended to provide medical knowledge. Just an interesting discussion!

Summary

Direct Primary Care (DPC) is a new movement in primary care designed to improve the provider patient relationship, accessibility of providers to their patients, and transparency of pricing. At its core, it is defined by patients or their employers paying for primary care directly. This is in opposition to using medical insurance or another third party like the government. This new model is growing and has the potential to disrupt healthcare in an amazing way.

Morbidity and Mortality

United States healthcare is bankrupting people and companies at alarming rates. This is because healthcare costs are out of control. As financial security is a more important driver of health than access to medical care, I question whether the United States healthcare system actually helps more people then it hurts. DPC realigns incentives and seeks to control costs. This puts the breaks on healthcare spending.

Key Points

1. DPCs often utilize affordable subscription-based care. Patients can often call their providers directly whenever medically needed.

2. DPC providers take on about ½ to ¼ of the patients in traditional primary care. This allows them more time with patients and improves care.

3. DPC offices know the cost of everything they recommend, as such expensive treatments, medications, and diagnostics are appropriately avoided.

4. DPC doctors practice a broader scope of care than traditional primary care doctors. This prevents communications errors and adds value to consumers as the more providers someone sees the more expensive care gets.

5. Employers who use DPC save money on total healthcare expenses. One study of 10 clinics found a 20% reduction in total healthcare expenses, 40% less emergency department visits, and 26% less hospitalizations compared to traditional care.

6. DPC is thriving in spite of medical insurance and healthcare policies that undermine it. Imagine how successful it could be with the support of legislation.

References

- Personal experience as a primary care physician that has worked in traditional insurance based primary care clinics as well as owns and operates Wander Medicine clinic, a DPC in Boise, ID.

- Millman Inc. Direct Primary Care: Evaluating a New Model Of Delivery and Financing. 2020. Available at: https://www.soa.org/globalassets/assets/files/resources/research-report/2020/direct-primary-care-eval-model.pdf