What DPC Medicine is:
Direct Primary Care (DPC) is an exciting new and growing model of medicine. Direct Primary Care (DPC) is a way for family physicians or specialists, such as pediatricians, to deliver the highest quality medical care directly to you.
There are no insurance companies dictating care restrictions, no computer programs that distance you from your doctor, no rushed appointments. By keeping the practice size small, your doctor has the time to really know you and have the time to answer all your questions. Your family, your child, is at the heart of the care team.
The DPC model focuses on caring for the whole person, while decreasing costs, wait-times, and other challenges that have become common with typical fee-for-service and third-party-payer medical practices. DPC promotes relationship based medicine.
DPC medicine is a “subscription based membership.” Patients pay a monthly fee that allows full access to their doctor, with no hidden costs. Included in that monthly fee are same day/next day appointments for acute visits, the ability to reach YOUR DOCTOR by email or phone during the day for routine questions, and at night for emergencies. Annual and sports physicals are included.
DPC is not “Concierge Medicine”. Concierge Medicine charges a membership fee that covers only non-medical services — insurance is still billed and there are still fees for additional services. Concierge Medicine memberships can cost two to three times the amount as a DPC membership.
The DPC model offers price transparency. Many office procedures, and basic lab testing are done on site, with no additional charges. When labs need to be sent out, costs are discussed prior to being obtained. DPC practices have access to to significantly discounted labs and medications; these savings are passed onto you. Often, costs for labs and medications are pennies on the dollar to what your typical copay would be.