Medical insurance plans cost a lot, have high deductibles, and control what is covered; your physician has no control over what is covered, even if it is deemed medically necessary.
At the same time, insurance companies want to limit payout. They reduce the percentage of reimbursement, which leads medical offices to charge more so they get more reimbursement. Insurance companies profit millions of dollars on these plans, and physicians must see more and more patients just to cover expenses.
Direct Primary Care wipes all of this away.
In traditional practice, a physician is paid only if she sees you, which is why many offices force you to schedule an appointment for things that could easily be handled via phone, email, or text. With DPC, the doctor is paid monthly, which covers patient portal questions, med refills, appointments, and phone calls.
What is Direct Primary Care?
Direct Primary Care (DPC) is a model of primary care that gives you access to your doctor when you need it. DPC improves the quality of patient care and outcomes, improves physician access and availability, and ultimately reduces costs.
Better Access to Your Physician: Dr. Ratliff’s maximum patient load is 400-600…instead of 3,000. You can access her via email, call, text, or have a same-day or next-day appointment. No waiting weeks or months to be seen by your physician, and you’ll never be seen by a nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant—you’ll always see your doctor.
Lower Costs for You: You’ll never have to deal with unexpected co-pays…because appointments are included in your monthly membership. Additionally, you’ll get reduced pricing on labs, imaging, and prescriptions. You can also consider adjusting insurance premiums to a higher-deductible plan, or opt for only catastrophic coverage.
Higher Quality of Care: Instead of sitting in a waiting room for an hour just to see the doctor for 10 minutes, you’ll have longer appointments (30-60 min) where you’re able to actually discuss your health goals and concerns.
No Interference from Insurance Companies & Hospital Systems: Instead of fighting with big corporations just to get the care you need, you’ll be able to focus on what’s most important—your health.
No Insurance-Required Charting: Instead of twiddling your thumbs while your doctor is fixated on clicking all the buttons on her computer, Dr. Ratliff documents what she needs to and not what insurance or a corporate system dictates. This means she can look you in the eyes and listen to you.