Short answer: Nobody can say for sure yet. Direct primary care doctors tend to care for fewer patients than traditional doctors, so some worry about access. Supporters say the model gives patients more time and doctors a better work life. The American College of Physicians says it needs more independent research.
A "panel" is the group of patients a doctor takes care of. A study published in the Annals of Family Medicine says patient panels tend to be smaller at direct primary care practices. In the traditional fee-for-service system, by contrast, the doctor is paid for each visit. A smaller panel means each doctor can care for fewer people.
The American College of Physicians (ACP), a large group of internal medicine doctors, says there are concerns that these practices may cause access problems for patients. The concern is greatest for people who cannot afford to pay directly for care.
The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) says direct primary care gives patients a greater degree of access to their doctors and more time with them. It also says that for doctors the model is linked to higher practice satisfaction and reduced burnout. Burnout means feeling worn out and discouraged by work. Primary care is the everyday care you get from a family doctor or internist.
The ACP also lists the possible benefits, including better access and more time with physicians for the patients who join. The ACP asks lawmakers to look at the pressures behind burnout and the interest in these practices.
The ACP says there is little high quality, independent research on these practices. It neither endorses nor opposes them. It asks for studies that count how many doctors work in these practices, how fast they are growing, and what they mean for the health care workforce, costs and results for patients.
That same study looked at where direct primary care practices are located. It found that about 44 percent of the practices were in areas with a shortage of health professionals, compared with about 47 percent of other primary care doctors. Because it compared practices with individual doctors, the two numbers are not an exact match. The authors also said smaller panels would mean more doctors are needed to serve the same number of people, and that a practice being nearby does not mean it is easy to use, because cost and coverage matter too. The study counted practices, not individual direct primary care doctors, so it cannot settle the question.
This debate is about the whole country, but your decision is personal. A membership practice may give you easier access to one doctor. It is not health insurance, so you may still need coverage for emergencies and hospital care. You can read more about what direct primary care is and what it costs.
You can also find a direct-pay doctor near you and compare several practices. For an emergency such as chest pain or trouble breathing, call 911.
A study published in the Annals of Family Medicine says patient panels tend to be smaller at direct primary care and concierge practices. A panel is the group of patients a doctor cares for.
It neither endorses nor opposes these practices. It says there is limited evidence on their effect on quality, cost and access to care and calls for more independent research.
The AAFP says direct primary care is linked to higher practice satisfaction and reduced burnout for physicians.
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