Let Freedom Ring? How the OBBBA Works with Direct Primary Care

Posted on by

Okay, first let me wish you all a Happy July Fourth weekend! We still live in the best country in the world.

“America did not exist. Four centuries of work, of bloodshed, of loneliness and fear created this land. We built America and the process made us Americans–a new breed, rooted in all races, stained and tinted with all colors, a seeming ethnic anarchy. Then in a little, little time, we became more alike than we were different–a new society; not great, but fitted by our very faults for greatness, E Pluribus Unum.” 

John Steinbeck

“Out of Many, One”

Here is what the OBBBA, which passed, says:

  • Starting next January, you can use your own Health Savings Account (HSA) to fund an affordable monthly #DPC agreement of $150 per month or less with your primary care doctor without worrying about the IRS knocking at your door because you are considered ineligible to fund an #HSA.
  • Your employer may cover a #DPC agreement as a part of your health benefits plan, with even if that plan is a high deductible health plan (HDHP) with an HSA.
  • Spending on that DPC agreement would count toward the deductible in your #HDHP plan.
  • Employers may offer these DPC plans with zero cost sharing and no out of pocket costs for primary care.
  • Employers, led by the Purchaser Business Group on Health (PBGH), The ERISA Industry Committee Boeing Amazon and other businesses who have paved the way will now be able to offer a DPC benefit to ALL their employees.
  • The federal government, for the purposes of both the tax code and the U.S. health code has acknowledged that DPC is an advanced primary care payment and delivery model, and that DPC IS NOT INSURANCE OR A HEALTH PLAN.

*per Jay Keese on LinkedIn (thanks Kenneth Qiu for sharing).

Keep your fingers crossed on this one.

Get our awesome newsletter by signing up here. It’s FREE!!! And we don’t share your email with anyone.

8

About Douglas Farrago, MD

Dr. Farrago is a retired family physician based in Forest, Virginia. Since 2021, he has run DPCnews.com, a leading resource for the Direct Primary Care (DPC) movement. He is the author of three best-selling books on Direct Primary Care: The Official Guide to Starting Your Own Direct Primary Care Practice The Direct Primary Care Doctor’s Daily Motivational Journal Slowing the Churn in Direct Primary Care (While Also Keeping Your Sanity) In 2016, Dr. Farrago conceived the idea for the Direct Primary Care Alliance and co-founded the organization alongside other pioneering DPC physicians. He is widely recognized as a leading expert in the DPC model and frequently lectures to medical students, residents, and practicing physicians on how to successfully start and run their own DPC practices.Dr. Farrago sold his Direct Primary Care practice in October 2020 but continues to receive care there as a patient.