Frequently asked questions!
An interview with Dr. McGann where he addresses common questions about Direct Primary Care from his patients, Physician colleagues, healthcare administrators, small and large business owners, insurance professionals, and curious friends. A very informative session where he shows how a growing number of Physicians are joining a movement to be the change that we need to see in medicine today!
1. Dr. McGann! After 20 years of practicing medicine you decide to cancel all insurance contracts! Are you crazy! Why would you do that?
"A simple matter of principle: Put the patients first. Ultimately, it boils down to this: from the physician perspective dealing with "the system" is to expensive, time consuming, interfering, and not necessary for Primary Care purposes. Our patients are being taken advantage of and doctors are being disrespected and abused. I am not going to sit around and be idle. Someone has to be an adult in the healthcare conversation. Our healthcare system will not improve without Doctors stepping in and making it better. I'm going to do Direct Primary Care and put my patients back in charge of their healthcare. I'm going to advocate for them, negotiate for them, and be a part of the solution."
2. What exactly is Direct Primary Care?
"It's membership based medicine. A direct relationship between you and your doctor. No third party interference. Patients pay a monthly fee directly to their doctor in exchange for their Primary Care medical needs."
3. Is this a type of concierge medicine?
"No. But is has several things in common. Usually concierge medicine is expensive and the physicians still participate with insurance plans. DPC is inexpensive and has no middle man between doctor and patient. The easy access to the physician is one common feature of both however."
4. What are the advantages of Direct Primary Care?
"Lots. The first is better access to the doctor. You can reach me by phone, text, email, video conference, and office visits. When you need to be seen in the office we make that happen within a day or two. You don't have to wait weeks for an appointment. In the office you also get seen on time, no waiting several hours to see the Doctor. We offer longer face to face time with the doctor so we can be thorough and meet your needs. We have the time to help and time to answer questions. You don't experience a Doctor in a hurry, you won't feel like you're on an assembly line. You also have after hours access to your Doctor. It's a much more personal relationship with the doctor. The doctor has more time with patients so knows them better. It also has the doctor personally negotiating for better prices in healthcare for their patients."
5. Is Direct Primary Care a type of health insurance?
"No. It is not. Direct Primary Care is not health insurance. You really should have some form of coverage that is right for you and you're making a mistake if you don't. You need something that covers what you may need that is beyond Primary Care. I recommend Healthcare Sharing Ministries like CMF Curo or Samaritan. Of course, you can get health insurance as well but as we all know the costs have become beyond ridiculous and it's not even remotely close to something that you could call value for money, at least I don't think so. If you have that option through an employer maybe it's affordable. Most people, if they actually do the math, would find that combining that insurance with DPC is still cheaper! I recommend that you find some form of catastrophic coverage that best complements a DPC membership. That's the most cost effective way to cover your medical needs right now."
6. What if I don't have health insurance, can I do Direct Primary Care?
"Yes. Everyone is welcome in Direct Primary Care. Throughout our life span about 80-90% of our total healthcare needs can be considered Primary Care. But you have to understand that DPC is for primary care purposes only. I strongly recommend you have something to help you in the event that more serious medical or surgical problems arise. DPC does not help you if you need to be in the hospital or emergency room or need to see any other specialist Doctor."
7. I do have health insurance, can I do Direct Primary Care? Should I? Why would I?
Do I have to change my insurance or cancel it to do DPC? Aren't I paying twice?
"Yes, everyone can do DPC. Great question! Why pay for this if I already pay for health insurance, right! With the high deductibles that most people have many find that a DPC membership, along with it's access to discounts on labs and medicines, is actually cheaper than using their health insurance for Primary Care purposes. This is a proven model to save money. Others have to decide if they value the time, access, and more personal care that they receive from their Direct Primary Care Physician. I feel very strongly that personalized care and time with your doctor is exceptional value for money and an invaluable part of quality healthcare. You don't have to change or cancel your insurance to do DPC. Direct Primary Care is open to everyone."
8. What about Direct Primary Care and Healthcare sharing ministries?
"I like this a lot. Healthcare sharing ministries are growing more and more. Especially as we see insurance prices out of control. I think it's wonderful that people of faith come together and help each other. Direct Primary Care in an excellent complement to Healthcare sharing ministries. I recommend CMF Curo and Samaritian. I think everyone who finds their health insurance to be cost prohibitive should look into this."
9. Do you work with small businesses? How can Direct Primary Care help my business?
"Yes. Small business owners who try and buy benefits for their employees find that health insurance can be an enormous challenge. Finding an insurance plan that complements a DPC membership can bring significant savings to small businesses. I can help with that."
10. Can't I just come to the doctor when I want and just pay for that visit only?
"No. Direct Primary Care involves a membership. With very few case by case exceptions."
11. Can I just come for one visit and get my medicine to last me a year?
"No."
12. What happens if I need a specialist or need to go into the hospital?
"Usually there are no delays. I send consultations to the specialist or to the hospital and the appointment is made. In those instances you are likely to need insurance for those services. Insurance companies will consider Direct Primary Care Physicians as out of network, so in some instances your insurance company may cause delays in your care. We will try to work with you on this, but it may need your plan administrator or your employer to help stop the delay in your care."
13. Can I use my FSA or HSA to pay for my membership?
"Maybe. You have to clarify this with your tax accountant or plan administrator. We are awaiting some new legislation from the Federal Government to clarify this to allow everyone to use these savings accounts for their Direct Primary Care memberships. For now it depends on the details of your plan. In most cases you can not use it to pay for memberships but you can use it for other services like medications and lab work."
14. Do you see walk-ins? Can I just show up at the office and be seen?
"No."
"I want my patients to be seen on time every time so they know that I respect their time! To make that happen you have to be seen by appointment only. Unlike insurance offices, I recommend you show up for your appointment on time also as you are likely to have zero waiting time to see the doctor, or very very little wait. So, no walk-ins. I do always have call in same day appointments available, so you can get seen today most of the time, you just have to call the office first."
15. Can I really text message, call, email, or video conference with the doctor whenever I want?
"Yes! With just 2 rules. Protect your privacy and don't abuse your doctor. With that in mind I promise you I do my best to be there for you! Welcome to Direct Primary Care!"
An interview with Dr. McGann where he addresses common questions about Direct Primary Care from his patients, Physician colleagues, healthcare administrators, small and large business owners, insurance professionals, and curious friends. A very informative session where he shows how a growing number of Physicians are joining a movement to be the change that we need to see in medicine today!
1. Dr. McGann! After 20 years of practicing medicine you decide to cancel all insurance contracts! Are you crazy! Why would you do that?
"A simple matter of principle: Put the patients first. Ultimately, it boils down to this: from the physician perspective dealing with "the system" is to expensive, time consuming, interfering, and not necessary for Primary Care purposes. Our patients are being taken advantage of and doctors are being disrespected and abused. I am not going to sit around and be idle. Someone has to be an adult in the healthcare conversation. Our healthcare system will not improve without Doctors stepping in and making it better. I'm going to do Direct Primary Care and put my patients back in charge of their healthcare. I'm going to advocate for them, negotiate for them, and be a part of the solution."
2. What exactly is Direct Primary Care?
"It's membership based medicine. A direct relationship between you and your doctor. No third party interference. Patients pay a monthly fee directly to their doctor in exchange for their Primary Care medical needs."
3. Is this a type of concierge medicine?
"No. But is has several things in common. Usually concierge medicine is expensive and the physicians still participate with insurance plans. DPC is inexpensive and has no middle man between doctor and patient. The easy access to the physician is one common feature of both however."
4. What are the advantages of Direct Primary Care?
"Lots. The first is better access to the doctor. You can reach me by phone, text, email, video conference, and office visits. When you need to be seen in the office we make that happen within a day or two. You don't have to wait weeks for an appointment. In the office you also get seen on time, no waiting several hours to see the Doctor. We offer longer face to face time with the doctor so we can be thorough and meet your needs. We have the time to help and time to answer questions. You don't experience a Doctor in a hurry, you won't feel like you're on an assembly line. You also have after hours access to your Doctor. It's a much more personal relationship with the doctor. The doctor has more time with patients so knows them better. It also has the doctor personally negotiating for better prices in healthcare for their patients."
5. Is Direct Primary Care a type of health insurance?
"No. It is not. Direct Primary Care is not health insurance. You really should have some form of coverage that is right for you and you're making a mistake if you don't. You need something that covers what you may need that is beyond Primary Care. I recommend Healthcare Sharing Ministries like CMF Curo or Samaritan. Of course, you can get health insurance as well but as we all know the costs have become beyond ridiculous and it's not even remotely close to something that you could call value for money, at least I don't think so. If you have that option through an employer maybe it's affordable. Most people, if they actually do the math, would find that combining that insurance with DPC is still cheaper! I recommend that you find some form of catastrophic coverage that best complements a DPC membership. That's the most cost effective way to cover your medical needs right now."
6. What if I don't have health insurance, can I do Direct Primary Care?
"Yes. Everyone is welcome in Direct Primary Care. Throughout our life span about 80-90% of our total healthcare needs can be considered Primary Care. But you have to understand that DPC is for primary care purposes only. I strongly recommend you have something to help you in the event that more serious medical or surgical problems arise. DPC does not help you if you need to be in the hospital or emergency room or need to see any other specialist Doctor."
7. I do have health insurance, can I do Direct Primary Care? Should I? Why would I?
Do I have to change my insurance or cancel it to do DPC? Aren't I paying twice?
"Yes, everyone can do DPC. Great question! Why pay for this if I already pay for health insurance, right! With the high deductibles that most people have many find that a DPC membership, along with it's access to discounts on labs and medicines, is actually cheaper than using their health insurance for Primary Care purposes. This is a proven model to save money. Others have to decide if they value the time, access, and more personal care that they receive from their Direct Primary Care Physician. I feel very strongly that personalized care and time with your doctor is exceptional value for money and an invaluable part of quality healthcare. You don't have to change or cancel your insurance to do DPC. Direct Primary Care is open to everyone."
8. What about Direct Primary Care and Healthcare sharing ministries?
"I like this a lot. Healthcare sharing ministries are growing more and more. Especially as we see insurance prices out of control. I think it's wonderful that people of faith come together and help each other. Direct Primary Care in an excellent complement to Healthcare sharing ministries. I recommend CMF Curo and Samaritian. I think everyone who finds their health insurance to be cost prohibitive should look into this."
9. Do you work with small businesses? How can Direct Primary Care help my business?
"Yes. Small business owners who try and buy benefits for their employees find that health insurance can be an enormous challenge. Finding an insurance plan that complements a DPC membership can bring significant savings to small businesses. I can help with that."
10. Can't I just come to the doctor when I want and just pay for that visit only?
"No. Direct Primary Care involves a membership. With very few case by case exceptions."
11. Can I just come for one visit and get my medicine to last me a year?
"No."
12. What happens if I need a specialist or need to go into the hospital?
"Usually there are no delays. I send consultations to the specialist or to the hospital and the appointment is made. In those instances you are likely to need insurance for those services. Insurance companies will consider Direct Primary Care Physicians as out of network, so in some instances your insurance company may cause delays in your care. We will try to work with you on this, but it may need your plan administrator or your employer to help stop the delay in your care."
13. Can I use my FSA or HSA to pay for my membership?
"Maybe. You have to clarify this with your tax accountant or plan administrator. We are awaiting some new legislation from the Federal Government to clarify this to allow everyone to use these savings accounts for their Direct Primary Care memberships. For now it depends on the details of your plan. In most cases you can not use it to pay for memberships but you can use it for other services like medications and lab work."
14. Do you see walk-ins? Can I just show up at the office and be seen?
"No."
"I want my patients to be seen on time every time so they know that I respect their time! To make that happen you have to be seen by appointment only. Unlike insurance offices, I recommend you show up for your appointment on time also as you are likely to have zero waiting time to see the doctor, or very very little wait. So, no walk-ins. I do always have call in same day appointments available, so you can get seen today most of the time, you just have to call the office first."
15. Can I really text message, call, email, or video conference with the doctor whenever I want?
"Yes! With just 2 rules. Protect your privacy and don't abuse your doctor. With that in mind I promise you I do my best to be there for you! Welcome to Direct Primary Care!"