The Difference Between Concierge Medicine
and Direct Primary Care
Direct primary care (DPC) is a term often
linked to its companion in health care, 'concierge medicine.' Although the two
terms are similar and belong to the same family, concierge medicine is a term
that fully embraces or 'includes' many different health care delivery models,
direct primary care being one of them.
Similarities
DPC practices, similar in philosophy to
their concierge medicine lineage - bypass insurance and go for a more 'direct'
financial relationship with patients and also provide comprehensive care and
preventive services for an affordable fee. However, DPC is only one branch in
the family tree of concierge medicine.
DPC, like concierge health care practices,
remove many of the financial barriers to 'accessing' care whenever care is
needed. There are no insurance co-pays, deductibles or co-insurance fees. DPC
practices also do not typically accept insurance payments, thus avoiding the
overhead and complexity of maintaining relationships with insurers, which can
consume as much as $0.40 of each medical dollar spent (See Sources Below).
Differences
According to sources (see below) DPC is a
'mass-market variant of concierge medicine, distinguished by its low prices.'
Simply stated, the biggest difference between 'direct primary care' and
retainer based practices is that DPC takes a low, flat rate fee whereas omodels,
(although plans may vary by practice) - usually charge an annual retainer fee
and promise more 'access' to the doctor.
According to Concierge Medicine Today
(MDNewsToday), the first official news outlet for this marketplace, both health
care delivery models are providing affordable, cost-effective health care to
thousands of patients across the U.S. MDNewsToday is also the only known
organization that is officially tracking and collecting data on these practices
and the physicians -- including the precise number of concierge physicians and
practices throughout the U.S.
"This primary care business model
[direct primary care] gives these type of providers the time to deliver more
personalized care to their patients and pursue a comprehensive medical home approach,"
said Norm Wu, CEO of Qliance Medical Management based in Seattle, Washington.
"One in which the provider's incentives are fully aligned with the
patient's incentives."
No comments:
Post a Comment