The prices of healthcare are growing faster compared to the overall economy. No wonder, about 92 % of people in America have issues clearing bills for minor or major services. This percentage depends on various factors that have motivated physicians to offer affordable access to health care. Direct Primary Care provides give patients convenient primary care to prevent ailments, encourage healthy living, and lower hospitalization.
Direct Primary Care basic model
The DPC model was launched in the 1990s as an alternative to the traditional fee for services rendered payments. It allows physicians to offer primary care services without a monthly fee, quarterly fee, or annual fee. DPC is a great alternative to fee-for-service billing.
The physician offers treatment without worrying about insurance billing codes. Physicians who offer DPC avoid the administrative aspects of filing for insurance and billing. This allows extra time to attend to patients.
Employers might have a service arrangement with a DPC provider to offer staff treatment for services including routine lab tests, physicals, and management of the chronic disease. Additionally, the arrangement gives beneficiaries faster access to the physician, after-hour calls, and limited wait times.
Why direct primary care?
The goal of DPC providers is to offer patients convenient access to basic primary care. Access to Direct Primary Care in Orlando builds trust between patients and the doctor. This allows better communication and consistent monitoring of their health problems. Primary caregivers offer appropriate, effective, and pocket-friendly treatment before visiting a specialist.
Exclusive considerations when selecting a DPC:
Cost
The most significant difference between DPC and regular health care plans is affordability. Having predetermined membership plans, patients can make decisions that won’t expose them to unexpected bills and financial burdens.
Keep in mind that there is a clear distinction between DPC and Concierge plans. These offer similar benefits although usually at a premium price. Patients can select from a monthly, bi-annual, or annual billing membership.
Availability
The ideal DPC provider should offer care during after-office hours. This means that the physician should always be available when patients urgent care. When having symptoms or other insurance problems, patients should be able to reach the doctor through a phone call, video call, or text. Knowing that the physician is always available for training gives patients peace of mind.
Care for acute and chronic conditions
Patients are in a better position to build a strong bond with their DPC provider. This encourages the discovery of disease and illness sooner. Eliminating barriers that inhibit access to quality primary care allows physicians and patients to detect, treat, and handle diseases better.
Using a DPC lessens recurring issues for people with chronic conditions and limits urgent care visits. So, it is important to select a DPC whose specialty includes your chronic condition.
Mobility
The patient’s information regarding their background is in Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems. Traditionally, direct primary care didn’t support collaboration between HER systems leading to fragmentation in the health care system.
Modern DPC relies on Mobile Electronic Medical Records (EMR) for more accuracy and efficiency. This comes in handy wherever a patient needs to refill their prescription, has a new medicine prescription, or lab tests need reviewing. The ideal DPC provider should offer plans providing various locations during relocation or travel.
Patient navigation
Sometimes navigating the healthcare system can get confusing. Building a relationship with the DPC allows having peace of mind. The patient rests assured that there’s someone to hold their back during every step of their treatment.
A reliable provider will navigate through the patient’s records in the healthcare system. Apart from this, patients benefit from quality and affordable care.
Concierge Medicine vs. Direct Primary Care
There has been the emergence of Concierge Medicine and DPC healthcare models offering different options, unlike regular insurance models. All these models are growing popular despite having similarities and differences.
Both models carry a membership fee paid by an employer or individual. Additionally, these two treatment models have smaller patient panels allowing physicians to spend more time with patients.
Medical offices with regular insurance plans schedule about 15 to 20 minutes for patients to see the healthcare professional. This is quite challenging when having health issues that require urgent attention.
Keep in mind that patients wait in long queues for charting and coding lowering the time the patient spends at the clinic. Smaller patient panels allow physicians to devote more time to patients. Lastly, receiving fewer patients allows personal and virtual meetings baked by other solutions like phone calls and text messages.
However, DPC providers charge considerably low compared to concierge practices. Concierge services usually cost higher but include access to premium services including vascular scans and another preventive testing that insurance can’t handle.
Additionally, DPC doesn’t bill insurance despite allowing patients with insurance to join after signing an understanding with the practice. Concierge services have a membership fee and continue to bill insurance companies.
Bottom line
Direct primary care benefits patients, employers, and service providers. It allows access to convenient but affordable quality services.
