Direct Primary Care represents a powerful step toward healthcare professional independence and patient-centered care. But the standard DPC model comes with significant limitations that unnecessarily restrict your practice potential. Our approach preserves everything you value about direct care while eliminating the constraints that limit your growth and patient accessibility.
The DPC movement has made remarkable strides in returning healthcare to a direct healthcare professional-patient relationship, but several critical limitations hold back many DPC practices
Traditional DPC models typically require opting out of Medicare completely, which removes plan revenue you may still want and does not resolve compliance questions. This not only limits your potential patient base but creates significant barriers for Medicare patients who want your care, which is particularly problematic as the population ages.
It also ends locum work, which requires staying in Medicare.
Since 2026, patients can pay DPC fees from an HSA, but only up to $150 per month for an individual, or $300 for a family, and only for primary care. Above the caps, DPC fees do not qualify for HSA payment.
A DPC membership priced above the federal caps still counts as a health plan, which can make patients ineligible to contribute to their HSA.
The standard DPC pricing model ($50-150/month) creates both price ceiling expectations and revenue limitations while still requiring high patient volumes to achieve profitability. Many DPC healthcare professionals find themselves working just as hard for less compensation.
Program patient fees are designed to be qualified medical expenses to enable
employer/self-employed/HSA/HRA/FSA/MSA funding.
Set fees that reflect the true value of your comprehensive care without being constrained by DPC market expectations. Creating sustainable economics with fewer patients and better work-life balance.
Unlike concierge, lifestyle, and integrative enterprise models that may restrict your practice autonomy and take a large percentage of your revenue indefinitely, you keep 100% ownership and control of your practice. Our formation fee is one-time, and the communications fee is capped at one year.
| Feature | Traditional DPC | Routine Exam Model |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare Status | Requires opt-out | No opt-out required |
| HSA/FSA Eligibility | HSA-eligible only up to $150 per month (individual) or $300 (family) | Fully eligible when properly structured |
| Patient HSA Impact | May invalidate patient HSA above those caps | No negative HSA impact |
| Panel Size | 600-800 patients | 250-400 patients |
| Employer Funding | Generally not eligible | Eligible for employer funding |
| Insurance Integration | Typically abandoned entirely | Flexible – bill as desired |
| Legal Foundation | Limited regulatory framework | Based on federal statutes (1965, 1996, 2006) |
Engaged patients readily make the move.
No. You can maintain your core DPC identity and values while implementing the routine exam model’s structural advantages. Many healthcare professionals describe their practice as “Direct Primary Care with enhanced funding options” or similar messaging.
Direct Primary Care represented a critical first step away from the constraints of fee-for-service medicine. Now, the routine exam model offers the next evolution, maintaining the direct care philosophy while eliminating unnecessary limitations.
Discover how to transform your DPC practice into a more profitable, compliant, and accessible model that truly fulfills your vision for patient-centered care without compromise.
Contact Information:
Jim Eischen
Eischen DPSC LLC
2323 Locust Street
San Diego, CA 92106
619-919-5395
jim@eischendpsc.com
