Direct Care For Providers

Why Primary Partners?

Primary Partners is an integrated group of high performing, independent, primary care physicians participating in various value based contracts. We are dedicated to providing quality, coordinated care, creating a positive patient experience and improved health outcomes, while reducing growth in healthcare expenditures. We support physicians in maintaining independent practices.

What is Direct Care?

Direct Care is a membership model where a practice offers patients a full range of primary care services, including routine care, regular checkups, preventive care and care coordination for a flat monthly recurring fee. The services are provided under a membership contract.

Why Direct Care?

The Direct Care model enables a provider to:

• Increase patient engagement because patient is invested
• Improve outcomes due to patient engagement
• Reduce cost with real care coordination
• Build trusting relationship by providing 24/7 access
• Reduce overheads by reducing insurance claims submission and rejections
• Less administrative burden due to reduced insurance compliance for claims approval
• Increase cash flow with monthly recurring membership fees
• Receive appropriate compensation for all primary care services provided by you and not just for care provided during office visit

We can Help!

• Complete program roll out and management
• Membership management that includes:
  • New Member enrollment
  • Management of membership roster
  • Collection of monthly membership dues
  • Minimal management fee

• What will the monthly membership typically cover?
  • Annual wellness evaluation
  • Unlimited office visits, phone, email, text, etc.
  • Most services typically offered in office by a primary care provider
• What are some other benefits of the Direct Care model?

  One of the best aspects of the Direct Care model is that the monthly membership fee model can greatly simplify the business of operating a medical practice and reduce operating cost due to reduced need for staff to review, file and manage payment claims. Practices that choose to continue participating in insurance carrier contracts have greater freedom to participate in insurance contracts that are economically beneficial for the practice and its patients. Further, the simplification of practice administration and billing processes has resulted in an improved work-life balance for Direct Care providers.

• How does Direct Care differ from traditional primary care?

  The regular and recurring revenue generated by the monthly membership fees allows Direct Care providers to overcome some of the pressures associated with the traditional FFS payment system, such as the number of patients they need to see per day. Many Direct Care physicians provide a larger array of non-face-to face services, such as tele-visits or e-visits, for their patients, to ensure primary care services can be accessed in a manner most convenient for patients and their families.

  • Ability to remain independent and have greater practice autonomy
  • Enduring and trusting patient relationships
  • No insurance coding or claims for Direct Care patients
  • More time for personal life and less time coding or charting after hours
  • Reduced practice overhead that makes financial viability much better for even solo physicians

• How is Direct Care different from Concierge Care?

  Concierge practices typically charge a high retainer and would also bill insurance for visits that are delivered. Direct Care model typically has a lower monthly fee for unlimited visits, does not require a retainer and will not bill insurance for visits.

• How will the Direct Care model affect my current insurance contracts?

  Direct Care practices can choose whether to continue to participate in insurance carrier contracts. Some Direct Care practices, do choose to continue participating in a smaller number of insurance plan contracts. In which case the practice can now choose the insurance plan contracts that are most favorable for them based on payment rates, timeliness of processing claims and number of patients under each insurance carrier.

  This program is NOT to be offered to patients covered under Medicare, Medicaid or other government healthcare programs.

• How will the Direct Care model affect my patients?

  Patients do not deal with co-pays and deductibles. They pay a recurring monthly membership fee for comprehensive primary care including unlimited visits.

  Direct Care leads to a better relationship with their provider and a higher rate of patient satisfaction. The model empowers patients to access care in a manner that fits their needs. Most providers give patients a means to contact their provider 24/7.