Phoenix Rising: How Direct Primary Care Is Redefining Patient-Centered Healthcare

Phoenix Rising – symbolizing the rebirth of medicine through the DPC Alliance

I recently attended the DPC Summit in New Orleans, an inspiring conference for Direct Primary Care physicians. I came away with a renewed vision for building a sustainable, deeply healing primary care practice, one that transforms medicine by giving physicians the time and freedom to care for the whole patient.

In this model, I can address the full spectrum of health needs, from preventive care to chronic condition management, while integrating breathwork and movement into care plans.

Why Traditional Healthcare is Failing You

The current health system is broken. In the insurance-driven model, doctors are paid per visit, with reimbursements based on a 7.5-minute appointment. That’s barely enough time to address a single symptom, let alone explore root causes or prevention.

This fee-for-service structure rewards volume, not quality. It pushes quick prescriptions over comprehensive care, leaving patients and doctors equally frustrated.

What is Direct Primary Care (DPC)?

Direct Primary Care removes the insurance middleman and replaces it with a simple monthly membership fee. This subscription-based approach gives patients:

• Unlimited direct access to their physician

• Same-day or next-day appointments

• Transparent, predictable pricing

• Extended visits that allow all concerns to be addressed in one appointment

Without insurance dictating visit length or billing codes, I can focus entirely on personalized, patient-centered care.

How the DPC Model Works

Instead of billing insurance for each visit, Direct Primary Care practices contract directly with patients. The monthly membership fee provides peace of mind. You know you can reach your doctor when you need them.

Physicians are incentivized to:

• Address all patient needs in one visit

• Take the necessary time for comprehensive care

• Offer clear, upfront pricing with no surprise bills

Cost Savings with Direct Primary Care

Even though patients still need commercial insurance or a health share plan for specialists, surgeries, and hospitalizations, DPC can lower day-to-day healthcare costs:

• Medications: Often cheaper when purchased wholesale through the clinic than with insurance co-pays

• Lab tests: Many cost less with DPC pricing than through insurance

• Imaging: Direct-pay rates can be lower than insurance co-pays—without inflated billing

Building a Chicago Network of Trusted Physicians

After decades of referring patients based solely on who accepted their insurance, I am now curating a referral network of the best physicians in Chicago—those who offer direct, transparent pricing for specialty care.

This will be a living document, shaped by patient feedback and input from fellow physicians, ensuring every patient gets the highest quality care at the best possible value.

Why DPC is the Future of Healthcare

Direct Primary Care allows physicians to return to what we were trained to do: care deeply for patients.

By moving to a membership-based healthcare model and removing the insurance middleman, we can:

• Restore control over healthcare pricing

• Provide faster, more direct access to care

• Support the wellbeing of both patients and providers

Direct Primary Care is not just a model—it’s a movement. And here in Chicago, it’s rising like a phoenix, ready to transform the future of medicine.