Direct Primary Care: Lower Costs and Better Health

by Charles Katebi

What is Direct Primary Care?

Direct primary care is a direct patient-to-provider relationship that delivers quality healthcare at an affordable price. Under a direct primary care contract, patients pay their physicians a flat, monthly fee. And in exchange, their physicians provides a range of primary care services. These services include preventive care, urgent care, chronic disease management, and wellness support.

How Much Does Direct Primary Care Cost?

Direct primary care costs patients substantially less than fee-for-service insurance. According to a survey of direct primary care practices published in the Journal of the American Board of Medicine, the average monthly membership fee to join a direct primary care practice is just $93. But some practices charge as little as $26 per month. As you can see in the figure below, Obamacare's bronze plan costs eight times more than the average direct primary plan.

Direct Primary Care Improves Patient Health

Direct primary care's flat monthly fees encourage doctors to provide better healthcare rather than more healthcare. A 2010 study in Health Affairs compared the medical outcomes of those treated under direct primary care alongside those using fee-for-service insurance programs. Their data showed:

• Direct primary care patients used the Emergency Room 65 percent less often.
• Direct primary care patients spent 43 percent less time in the hospital.
• Direct primary care patients needed 82 percent fewer surgeries.
• And other beneficial health outcomes.