I think the author, Pamela Zinkosky, had good intentions in this article entitled ‘Concierge medicine’ promises constant (and personalized) physician access for seniors but she really couldn’t figure out what DPC does. She was close:

Concierge practices typically offer advanced health screenings usually not covered by insurance in exchange for pricy subscription fees. They also accept insurance for other services. Concierge doctors’ specialties vary, although Concierge Medicine Today reports family medicine (32%) among the top five.

Conversely, direct primary care practices focus solely on primary care, including office visits, lab work and some additional services—and do not accept insurance. Instead, they charge a subscription fee that’s typically more affordable than concierge fees in exchange for personalized, comprehensive primary care.

It’s not bad but she was unable to dig deeper and show the prices for DPC. She did for Concierge Medicine, which she put as follows:

Just how expensive is concierge health care? Prices start at $1,500 to $2,400 annually, or $125 to $200 monthly but can go up to $20,000 annually for more specialized services. That’s a wide range because it often depends on the included services. 

MDVIP, for example, charges $1,650 to $2,200 annually, depending on location. Gassner said that, in addition to shorter wait times, longer visits and more personalized care, MDVIP patients receive a comprehensive annual exam that includes, “advanced screenings and diagnostic tests to provide a clearer view of their health and risk for conditions like diabetes and heart disease.” These tests, he said, are typically not covered by insurance. 

Now for my opinion: how much of a joke are these advanced screening and diagnostic tests? C’mon. This is fluff. DPC can do the same diagnostic tests (if by labs) for a fraction of the cost and get any other tests cheaper as well. It’s time for the world to know this.

I wish the author and other future writers stop using these outdated and useless resources to get their information. The Scientific American article they cite was a hit piece that got a ton wrong about DPC. That article used the same Ivory Tower morons to claim DPC is exacerbating the doctor shortage. Also, the folks at Concierge Medicine Today know little to nothing about DPC. They were the sole reason I wrote my first book on DPC because their stuff was so bad.

Pamela Zinkosky, we appreciate your interest. Next time talk to us at DPC News or the folks over at the DPC Alliance.