Vitable is an eDPC. What is that? A New Species of DINOs.

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I saw this announcement this morning and started to realize that Dennis Nedry has now deactivated the security fences at Jurassic DPC Park and the DINOs are loose:

Vitable Health, an innovative pioneer in enhanced Direct Primary Care (eDPC), announced a partnership with Decent, a trailblazer in disruptive level-funded health plans. The two companies are shaking up the health insurance scene with their superior health plans that maximize effectiveness while minimizing confusion and cost.

About Vitable: Vitable is an enhanced Direct Primary Care health benefit for employers of hourly workers. Delivering easy access to high-quality primary care and mental health coverage to under- and uninsured American workforce. Vitable membership includes in-home and virtual primary care visits, free prescriptions, labs, and mental health programs with no out-of-pocket cost for the members. For more information visit vitablehealth.com.

I get it. Everyone is trying to make their billions.

They have seen the playbook. When you take a look at other telemedicine start-ups you can see what Vitable is all about:

  • Cerebral – ADD meds (failed/sued)
  • Hims/Hers – ED and now GLP-1 drugs
  • Roman – ED drugs
  • And tons more

The core principle is the provider (I use that term on purpose) has no real relationship with the patient and there are NO real doctors working at these companies seeing the patients. Here are Vitable’s job listings:

Everything I have said about DINOs is coming true. They are hijacking the name of DPC. They are bastardizing it. And they are confusing the public as to what a real Direct Primary Care practice really is.

And the fact that Viable calls itself enhanced Direct Primary Care (eDPC) makes me want to vomit.

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.