Discover the benefits of direct primary care

What is direct primary care?

The direct primary care model gives family physicians a meaningful alternative to fee-for-service insurance billing, typically by charging patients a monthly, quarterly, or annual fee. This fee covers all or most primary care services, including clinical and laboratory services, consultative services, care coordination, and comprehensive care management.

Because some services are not covered by a retainer, DPC practices often suggest that patients acquire a high-deductible wraparound policy to cover emergencies.

DPC vs. Concierge Care

Though these two distinct models are often mistaken for one another, direct primary care is different than concierge care in the following ways: it typically offers lower monthly fees, does not participate in any payer programs, and applies the patient's membership fees to a broader range of in-house services.

DPC Practices:

• Monthly membership fees paid by patients or, sometimes, the patient’s employer

• Patient fees cover extended visits, clinical exams, lab and consultative services, care coordination, and comprehensive care management

• Do not accept insurance or participate in government programs, relying solely on patient fees

• Great option for uninsured or underinsured populations

Concierge Practices

• Annual patient membership contract with higher fees that can be paid annually or monthly

• Membership fees cover a in-depth physical exam and screenings

• Most continue to accept insurance plans and government programs and bill patient’s insurance company for covered services

• Generally cater to higher income populations

DPC stats

See how DPC physicians described their practices. Download the 2022 direct primary care data brief for more details.

Average DPC practice patient panel size is 413 patients, with most DPC physicians accepting no more than 600. For reference, most traditional fee-for-service family practice physicians manage between 2000 and 3000 patients.

Most popular procedures are EKGs and skin excisions/biopsies

99% of practices provide same day appointments, including not only in-person visits, but also video, email, text, and phone interactions

Monthly membership fees typically range from $50 to $100

What are the benefits of DPC?

DPC benefits patients by providing substantial savings and a greater degree of access to, and time with, their physicians.

DPC benefits family physicians by allowing them to care for the whole person while reducing the overhead and negative incentives associated with fee-for-service third-party-payer billing. Benefits of DPC to physicians include:

• More time with each patient, and fewer visits overall

• Simplified revenue structure

• Decreased practice overhead

• Greatly reduced administrative burden

• High practice satisfaction and low burnout