November 26, 2024

Direct primary care practices (DPCs) – health care providers that charge patients a regular membership fee, instead of billing private insurance, the government or another third party, to cover most or all medical care – are steadily becoming more common. In fact, 9% of respondents to a 2023 American Academy of Family Physicians survey reported operating a direct primary care practice, up from only 2% the year prior. An additional 2% in 2023 said they were transitioning to the direct model.

The growth of this model raises questions about the state of health care access in the United States. With physician shortages creating health care “deserts,” could direct primary care help fill the gap? Or could it exacerbate primary care physician shortages, particularly in rural areas where they tend to be most severe? Could it expand access or will it simply fuel existing inequities for low-income patients?

The findings of a Dornsife School of Public Health study published this week in Annals of Family Medicine tackle these key questions and provide some reason for optimism.

The Drexel News Blog asked lead author Neal D. Goldstein, PhD, an associate research professor in the Dornsife School of Public Health, about this health care model, which patients are typically served by it, according to the study; and what its growth might suggest for the future of health care.

Read the full Q&A with Dr. Goldstein on the Drexel News Blog: Is the Growth of Direct Primary Care Expanding Health Care Access Where It’s Needed Most?

A summary of this research was also published on Medscape: Are Direct Primary Care Practices Meeting the Needs of Underserved Medical Areas?