[expat2]

yes, good, but how does it work in an obamacare world?

[hometoroost]

Direct primary care is the new name for concierge medicine. Concierge medicine conjures up visions of thousands of dollars in fees. Direct primary care providers and concierge providers eliminate third-party payments. That's what makes it more effective and in the DPC model it's what drives affordability.

There are some practices that mix the insurance model with the concierge model but this is tough to do. It's hard to treat one set of patients differently and you still have the overhead of dealing with insurance companies/the government.

This model and medical tourism (which can include domestic travel to centers of excellence and efficiency) could go a long way to cutting costs and improving service and outcomes.

[kaila]

The only problem with primary care is that is all they offer- primary care. Medicine has been so sub specialized because of the vast increases of knowledge and technology, that a primary care physician cannot know it all.
Therefore, payment to a concierge type of service is only good for the patient if they do not need specialists.
Right now, specialty care has not gone the concierge route.