Today’s health care environment places primary care doctors in an uncomfortable position to act as more of a referral source and less of a caregiving source. According to a white paper published by Paladina Health, specialist referrals have increased by 90 percent over the past ten years. What’s even more striking is that 40 percent of specialist referrals can be treated in a primary care setting.

Screen Shot 2016-03-15 at 3.31.12 PMWhy? Experts point out that fee-for-service, or payment based on volume, contributes to the problem. And then there’s the growing administrative complexities which ultimately takes time away from patient care.

 

The good news is that it doesn’t have to be this way. Under direct primary care, family practitioners can spend more time caring for their patients as a result of severing ties with time consuming insurance contracts and health care claims.

Read more here on how direct care restores value in the delivery of health care, and how it’s an affordable option for the masses.