The Driving Factors Behind the Growth of Direct Primary Care
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Direct Primary Care (DPC) is quickly rising in popularity and there are a number of reasons behind that increase. In some ways, DPC is actually reminiscent of how medicine operated years ago when patients paid their doctor directly for services, rather than working through an insurance company as a “middle man”.
Well, here history is repeating itself! Read on to learn about the driving factors behind DPC today, and why it is gaining so much popularity as of late.
The Driving Factors Behind the Growth of Direct Primary Care:
The uneasy uncertainty of healthcare right now
The world of healthcare is certainly an unpredictable and uncertain one. While insurance companies dictate and control almost every aspect of healthcare in the U.S., in the DPC model, patients have more freedom to visit the doctor without the worry of additional out of pocket costs or unnecessary claims.
Because traditional insurance is so hard to navigate on a patient level, it makes DPC a more straightforward and understandable way to receive medical care and avoid astronomical fees.
It benefits doctors, too
DPC doesn’t just benefit individual patients and employer groups. It also is beneficial for doctors and their practices.
Operating in the DPC capacity gives doctors more control over their practice and it has lower costs associated with it for them. DPC practices also have less patients, giving doctors a break.
Many practices that accept regular insurance have thousands and thousands of patients, putting a strain on doctors. Finally, Direct Primary Care practices usually have less than a thousand patients allowing the doctor to have a stronger, closer, doctor-patient relationship, which is – for most practitioners – something they heavily enjoy and value.
It’s geared towards millennials, but appreciated by all
The generation of millennials is the largest in America as of right now, and DPC is well-aligned with the mindset of them. First, DPC provides instant gratification for its patients, which is something millennials love.
Being able to immediately schedule appointments, receive quick answers and attention from your physician, and having more open communication with your doctor’s office is a much quicker and convenient way of receiving medical care than with traditional insurance.
This makes this type of healthcare benefit more appealing to millennials, which is – at least in part – responsible for it rising in popularity.
It provides transparency
This method of receiving primary care is much more transparent than that of traditional insurance models. Because doctors are paid on a retainer instead of a fee-for-service basis, it takes the guessing game out of what patients will pay for medical costs.
Doctors also have more time with their patients in a DPC model, meaning that they have more time to discuss symptoms and treatment options with their patients and to really get to the root of health issues. They even help their patients get the best cash price for any procedure not covered by the DPC. This helps people decide if paying cash is a better option or using their insurance.
As time goes on, experts expect the DPC model to grow even further in popularity. The above factors are driving forces in that, paired with the fact that this healthcare model is proven to save money for both individuals as well as employers offering their employees healthcare benefits.
DPC has many great advantages, and we can certainly see why the demand for it is on the rise!
Now you know some of the reasons behind the rise in popularity of DPC, check out how it creates a better experience for patients.