Short answer: Familydoctor.org, a patient website from family doctors, names electrocardiograms (EKGs), stitches for cuts and skin biopsies as procedures direct primary care doctors do. What a given practice offers varies, and some things may cost extra. Ask for the list of in-office procedures in writing before you join.
Familydoctor.org, the patient website of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), lists EKGs, stitches for cuts and biopsies for skin problems as examples of procedures direct primary care (DPC) doctors perform. An EKG is a quick test that records the heart's electrical activity. A biopsy is when a doctor removes a small piece of skin to test it. The AAFP's own DPC page also names EKGs and biopsies or excisions, which means cutting out a small growth or piece of tissue, as popular in-office procedures.
The AAFP offers training courses for family physicians in skills it describes as practice-ready for the clinic. These include suturing (stitches), nail procedures, splinting, wrapping and casting, and joint injections and aspiration, which means drawing fluid out of a joint with a needle. Having training does not mean every practice does every one of these, so use the list as a set of questions rather than a promise. You can read more about what direct primary care is.
No. There is no single list that applies to every practice. The AAFP says the fee covers all or most primary care services. Each practice decides what it does in the office, based on its equipment and the doctor's training. Some problems need a specialist or a hospital, and a DPC membership is not insurance. For emergencies, call 911.
Familydoctor.org says prescriptions, some lab tests and some procedures may have additional costs, though they are often discounted in a DPC office. It also says the doctor can give you prices before your visit. The AAFP says some services are not covered by the membership retainer. Ask whether each procedure is included in the fee or billed separately.
If you plan to use a health savings account (HSA), the IRS says an arrangement that qualifies for HSA contributions covers primary care only, and it does not include procedures that need general anesthesia. Check with the practice and a tax adviser about how that applies to you. Our page on using an HSA with direct primary care explains these rules.
To compare offices, find a direct-pay doctor near you, or see what direct primary care costs to understand how fees work.
Familydoctor.org and the AAFP both name EKGs as an in-office procedure in direct primary care. Ask your practice whether it offers one.
Familydoctor.org lists stitches for cuts as an example of a DPC procedure. Whether a particular practice does this varies, so ask.
Familydoctor.org says some procedures may have additional costs. Ask the practice which are included and which are billed separately.
