Case Study in Direct Pay Practice - workshop of Association of American Physicians and Surgeons

Josh Umbehr, MD of Atlas.MD presents at an Association of American Physicians and Surgeons workshop. He discusses working directly with his patients, and cutting out the insurance and government bureaucrats, lowers costs for the patients and increases the quality of care they receive.
Presentation from January 30, 2014, AAPS Thrive, Not Just Survive XIX, Louisville, KY

[@johnnyjames5948]

It's hilarious because 60 years ago you had a completely direct pay system in U.S. Healthcare and it delivered high quality healthcare to every American regardless of payment. It wasn't until Government and Insurance got into the picture that it fucked that all up. Imagine that. In the U.S. of A of all places a direct Pay model would be considered something new in 2017. Be prepared though you brave physicians. The Government and Insurance Lobbies will find a way to make what you're doing now illegal somehow. Thats where donors like me from the Healthcare Provider Administration level will come in. We're ready and have been ready for this fight for 21 years.

[@mitchellanderson2011]

This needs to be national headline news.

[@root1657]

"I was young and dumb." the beginning of every awesome story!

[@Big_Friendly]

I have shared this video at least a dozen times over the last year... How does it only have 21k views?

[@truwholeness434]

Can you please share the name of the medication supplier mentioned? Also the other supplies

[@QualityInfinite]

Love this. Time to spend with the patient, little to no paperwork, affordable and simple care for patients. I hope to open/join a practice with this model once I finish residency.

[@ablestmage]

This guy is from the Wichita Kansas area? This would make it worth it to pick up and MOVE to Kansas to get this kind of value for health care...

[@pluto4847]

LOL, and yoir gonna need it with all the Tornados in Wichita? Who would want to move out there because you could lose everything in an instant. Direct Primary Care is good, but the State of Kansas is a danger zone.

[@ablestmage]

Tornadoes are actually extremely rare, if ever, even in the most common places.. you may never even see one in your entire lifetime, unless you intentionally seek them out, unlike flooding in Louisiana or earthquakes in CA.. They make a big deal about them being in the 'alley' (which I am in), but they're merely slightly common as opposed to the places that they basically never happen =P I lived thru one in '79 and we didn't lose much, and haven't seen one since..

[@T4nku0ut]

my past few medical bills would've been WAY cheaper if I had flown out to these guys lol, would've saved me a few thousand dollars.

[@areu4realzzz]

I am part of a practice with this model, we just opened up in North Carolina

[@pluto4847]

Danielle, I am beginning to like this model. I'm from Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. Will you be opening one in my area?

[@rjfink]

Whereabouts?

[@stopmotiontacos]

@@pluto4847 I know this comment is from 4 years ago but we now have at least 3 Direct Care practices in the greater Pittsburgh area. One in the city in Highland Park called Gentile Family Direct Primary Care. Best wishes.

[@pluto4847]

@@stopmotiontacos And what four years can do? Wow? Yes I know about Gentile Family Practice. I go to Family Matters Direct Primary Care in Hampton and have been going for the last four years. Isn't Direct Primary Care wonderful?

[@PatrickKniesler]

Is there video of the panel discussion?

[@yohardys1]

Brilliant!

[@Blastfence1]

A great American patriot speaking.

[@cyndyduncan3366]

Josh, How can we get a direct pay md in Appleton/Green Bay, WI!!!! We do have a direct pay Nurse practictioner!!!! YEA!!!! But we do need a doctor!!! Thx. Does the membership count for the ACA excemption???

[@cyndyduncan3366]

its now 2020 and Appleton wi FINALLY gets a direct pay clinic. I have had a nurse practitioner who has been my direct provider for the last 4 years.

[@doctim111]

How can you provide technology visits for free? Machines are expensive.

[@Jekyll_Island_Creatures]

Skype is free.

[@root1657]

It averages into the cost of the subscriptions. You think the infrastructure to run Netflix isn't super expensive too? and I can watch anything included in my $10.

[@regelemihai]

He said he "lowered the premiums" of his patients. How does this make sense? He just said that they do NOT deal with insurance companies, and they provide medical care without insurance coverage.

[@trentonschmale9745]

+regelemihai Dr. Umbehr does not take health insurance, but he recommends his patients still have catastrophic health insurance in case something happens to the patient he cannot treat. The premiums for catastrophic insurance are much less (although it is a higher deductible normally), but factor in the access to care Dr. Umbehr provides and normally insurance companies can lower their prices even more because things like procedures, medications, labs, ect. are covered in the membership so insurance companies don't have as much risk to pay those as well.

[@regelemihai]

Trenton Schmale That makes sense. Thanks for clearing it up, Trenton :)

[@pluto4847]

And don't forget if you do get a High Deductible Employer Based Bronze plan to fill in the gaps of care, a Health Savings Account would be wise as well.

[@regelemihai]

Max Maxium I've heard HSAs help drive premiums down, and are generally beneficial to the consumer. I still don't get how they work, though.

[@pluto4847]

regelemihai I have a Health Savings Account with my High Deductible Silver Plan. HSA's are tax exempt as long as you use them on qualified medical expenses. HSA's have gotten my family out of medical debt on more than one occasion. I'm not a member of a Direct Primary Care center because we don't have one in our area, but if we did have one I would become a member immediately. I'm robbed at least $2,500 year for an Insurance Plan that in my experience does very little. We never reach our deductible so its like having Insurance for nothing. I do have supplemental accident insurance for pennies on the dollar that can be used to help pay medical expenses due to an accident, but all in all Health Insurance is a scam.

[@SevenRiderAirForce]

Paging Dr. Freedom!

[@laughinoutloud2006]

My question is: how is this model of medical delivery overseen? Any state/federal agencies involved? Malpractice a problem? Other than that, I love this! I will be presenting this to my own PCP.