Direct Primary Care Vs Concierge Medicine

Pros and Cons of Concierge Medicine

There are several pros and cons to concierge medicine.

Pros:

1. More time for the patient: The physicians tend to book fewer appointments during the day with their patients and schedule an ample amount of time for the visit. The patient can, thus, interact with him or her directly without having to communicate via other staff. In general, this allows for a better relationship with the doctor and leads to excellent healthcare for the patient.
2. Preventative care: In other healthcare models, the doctor operates robotically to treat the patient and does not expend much time on their wellness and preventive care. Care focuses on treating the illness rather than digging up the root cause and can be reactive in nature. The concierge model allows the physician to spend time digging into the reason behind your symptoms and help you get on the track to a healthier and well-rounded life.
3. Extra support for those who need it: It is beneficial for patients that need unrestricted access to their doctor for support or smoothing out anxieties, such as people with chronic illnesses. Concierge medicine operates on the basis of unrestricted physician access; over the phone or in the office.

Cons:

1. Expensive: Concierge medicine is luxury medical care, in a nutshell. It has several out-of-pocket medical expenses that many people cannot afford, as people have to pay retainer fees in addition to insurance premiums. In addition, fees vary according to location. Direct access to your doctor comes at a hefty cost.
2. Little or no coverage: The American healthcare system is unequal. There is a wide disparity between how lower-income families experience the healthcare system in comparison to higher-income families. The latter gets better care, and this model is an example of that. Membership-based care services limit access to good healthcare for low-income families. In addition, since doctors get to select which patients to take one, the set-up can be riddled with bias.

Is concierge medicine the same as direct primary care?

There are several key differences between the two independent healthcare models:

1. Direct primary care involves fees paid by patients or the patient’s employer, while concierge medicine features an annual, monthly or quarterly membership contract with higher fees. The latter is more expensive and exclusive, catering to wealthier people.
2. With concierge medicine, patient fees cover only in-depth physical exams and screenings; while in DPC, fees cover clinical, lab, consultative and care services along with care coordination and comprehensive care management.
3. Direct primary care services do not accept insurance and rely solely upon patient fees. On the other hand, Concierge care accepts insurance plans and government programs. It also charges insurance companies for services rendered.