Differentiating Direct Primary Care from Concierge Medicine

Direct Primary Care (DPC) is a modern primary care delivery model based around an arrangement between a patient and his/her provider. For a low monthly fee, a patient has direct access to his/her doctor at all times. This reduces barriers to access appropriate medical care.

Not surprisingly, Concierge Medicine is frequently lumped together with Direct Primary Care. Many important differences exist between the two models of care. Most importantly, Concierge Medicine is catered to people that have expendable income for a high retainer fee. Direct Primary Care is affordable for the masses with a monthly premium around that of your cellphone bill. Concierge Medicine bills a patient’s insurance in addition to the retainer fee to be a member. Direct Primary Care works completely outside of insurance, which allows the focus to be on the patient only.

Typically, DPC offices are small, local businesses that are involved in the local community. In an effort to provide transparency in pricing, DPC offices frequently dispense wholesale medications from the office. DPC offices typically also extend reduced cost cash pay pricing for labs and imaging directly to patients. These are ways to drive down the cost of healthcare in local communities.