This article was written in 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, and describes health care at that time. Please check current public health guidance for advice today. The pandemic added strain to America’s primary care crisis, and many patients began looking for a better way to get care.
Many people feel that America’s traditional, fee-for-service system is struggling to keep up with the public’s demand for good patient care.
A common complaint is that insurance companies and large hospital systems, rather than doctors and patients, make many of the decisions about care. Many doctors and patients say this has led to overbooked, burnt-out physicians, high medical bills, and patients who do not get the attention they need.
Many Americans also pay a lot out of pocket for health care (such as co-payments, insurance deductibles, and prescription medicine), and many feel they do not get good value for that money.
This is one reason membership-based models such as Direct Primary Care have drawn so much interest.
Some doctors believe Direct Primary Care could help fix parts of primary care in America. It works very differently from the traditional, fee-for-service approach the country has grown used to.
Patients pay a regular Direct Primary Care subscription fee instead of paying for every service they use. Another big difference from the traditional, insurance-based model is that the doctor and the patient deal with each other directly, without an insurance company in the middle.
Many DPC practices offer text or phone access and longer visits, though services vary and for emergencies you should call 911. Learn more about Direct Primary Care benefits.
DPC practices often have lower office overhead because they do not bill insurance.
Because Direct Primary Care aims to make primary care easier to reach, it also tries to make seeing your doctor more affordable.
With a set fee, patients can keep in touch with their primary care physician without worrying about a separate bill for every visit.
Prices vary by practice. Many memberships also include discounted outpatient services and medications, plus direct phone or text access to the primary care physician for urgent questions that are not emergencies.
Many Direct Primary Care practices let patients reach their physician quickly by phone or text. This can be a welcome change from long waits for an appointment.
For some patients, it can feel like having a doctor in the family. Your DPC doctor can help with urgent questions that are not emergencies, and some practices offer home visits. For an emergency such as chest pain, trouble breathing, signs of a stroke or fainting, call 911. Patients like Mick Lowderman value this kind of access.
It’s awesome that I can call or text my DPC physician, when my children are sick and that I have a solution before they leave for school. Says - Mick Lowderman, 56, who is married and has two children.
Membership-based models, such as Direct Primary Care, often use telemedicine to extend patient care. Patients may spend less time in waiting rooms and more time with their doctor.
With Direct Primary Care, an empty clinic is a good sign. Direct Primary Care physicians can check in with their patients online or via mobile. Clinic visits are reserved for diagnostic screenings and more serious situations which require hands-on medical attention.
Longer visits and easy access may help doctors notice problems sooner.
Regular access to primary care may help lower the chances of ER trips and hospital stays. Building a relationship with your primary care physician can help you catch health problems early.
So is Direct Primary Care the future of health care? No one can say for sure. Many patients like it, and many doctors say it lets them focus on what they trained to do, which is caring for patients.
Do you think you would benefit from a DPC doctor? You can search our directory of DPC doctors in the US to find one in your area.
