The Direct Primary Care Podcast Show

In Episode 30, Dr Roussel discusses his own clinic’s response to Medicare’s Request for Information regarding DPC and Medicare. In particular, he discusses why his reservations to working with the government as a payor while at the same time expressing hope in giving many ill and bed-bound in his community the opportunity to receive high-quality primary care through legal/institutional means readily available.

In Episode 29, Dr Roussel interviews Mr Jay Keese of the Direct Primary Care Coalition about the Coalition’s response to Medicare’s Request for Information (RFI) regarding DPC and Medicare. In the interview they discuss the context of the RFI, the potential impact of a DPC pilot for Medicare and how the Coalition believes that Medicare should attempt to incorporate DPC while avoiding some of the pitfalls of fee-for-service care that are forcing many doctors to opt out.

In Episode 28, Dr Roussel interviews Drs Julie Gunther and Ryan Neuhofel about the Direct Primary Care Alliance’s (DPCA) response to Medicare’s Request for Information (RFI). In the interview they discuss the need to keep direct primary care as free from third parties as possible while at the same time expressing some openness to a potential path for Medicare recipients to be able receive primary care from a DPC practice as part of their covered services.

In Episode 27, Dr Roussel reviews Medicare’s Request for Information about Direct Primary Care. In particular, he talks about what particular questions the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) have asked about DPC, what future directions CMS could take with regards to DPC and what impact it could have within the DPC community.

En episodio 26, Dr Landon Roussel, que es doctor de atención primaria en Louisiana, entrevista a las doctoras Kissi Rosabel Blackwell y Dalian Caraballo sobre un nuevo modelo de cuidado médico que se llama atención directa primaria. En este modelo, el paciente paga directo al doctor un precio razonable (generalmente approx $50) para membrecía con la clínica. En su charla, hablan de cómo estas dos doctoras han podido formar nuevas relaciones con la comunidad hispana por ir directo al paciente.

In Episode 25, Dr Roussel interviews Drs Kissi Blackwell and Dalian Caraballo about direct primary care and the hispanic community. In the discussion, they talk about how their DPC practices provided access to healthcare to many who have not formerly had access by charging fair, affordable cash prices for medical services. As well, they discuss how breaking the linguistic barrier has added an even further depth to the doctor patient relationship and formed new bonds with the local hispanic community.

Episode 24 is the first part of a series called “Q&A Fridays,” started in response to questions submitted by listeners. This episode answers the question: What are the best books, blogs and other resources for potential (and current) DPC doctors? Dr Roussel gives his answer of what he’s found helpful as a DPC doctor in starting his practice and what he’s found helpful that has come out since his practice has started.

In Episode 23 Dr Roussel interviews Dr Vance Lassey of Holton Direct Care about DPC and maternity care. In the interview they discuss Dr Vance’s experience offering maternity and obstetrical care as part of DPC patient services, including how he structured pricing, handled call and interacted with the hospital. Their discussion shows how going direct can improve coordination and reduced cost associated with childbirth and delivery.

In Episode 22, Dr Roussel interviews Dr Kortney West of West Pediatrics about doing house calls under a direct primary care arrangement. In the interview she discusses the convenience house calls provides to pediatrics patients and their families, how they differ from house calls in adult medicine, the added level of relationship that comes with house calls, the time and attention allowed by going direct and importantly how this has been made possible only via a direct primary care arrangement.

In Episode 21, Dr Roussel interviews Dr Marguerite Duane and Dr Matthew Haden of Modern Mobile Medicine about their House Call focused DPC practice. In the interview they discuss their motivation to pursue a House call focused DPC practice, some key differences between a House call practice and a clinic practice, and how the practice was made possible only by going direct.

In Episode 20, Dr Roussel interviews Dr Pamela Wible on stemming the tide of physician suicide and burnout via Direct Primary Care. In the episode they discuss factors that lead to burnout and suicide in the profession, important steps that can be taken to halt & reverse these unfortunate trends, and most importantly how DPC has the potential to alleviate the situation.

In Episode, 19, Dr Roussel interviews Jim Eischen of McGlinchey Stafford, a nationally recognized attorney with expertise in Direct Primary Care. In the interview they discuss if/how doctors who take Medicare assignment can charge a periodic fee, what is required of physicians to opt out of Medicare and what decisions to consider when deciding whether to accept Medicare or not.

In Episode 18, Dr Roussel interviews Luanne Leeds of Leeds Law in Topeka, KS. Luanne is an experienced Direct Primary Care attorney who has helped dozens if not hundreds of doctors draft their patient agreement. In the interview they discuss key points to include in a direct care patient agreement and pitfalls to help avoid misunderstanding. They also discuss how a doctor who practices under a direct healthcare arrangement can find an attorney to draft a contract and what to expect to pay for it.

In Episode, 17, Dr Roussel interviews Dr Joseph Sheppard of the Free Market Physician about financial planning for a DPC practice. Given the novelty of DPC, concrete financial predictions can be a challenge, though necessary. In the interview, Dr Sheppard outlines how, with appropriate foresight, a new/future DPC doc or early-on DPC doctor can begin to predict costs and revenues. He further details what costs he believes are essential and how to increase revenues early on to make ends meet.

In Episode 16, Dr Roussel interviews Kurt Wagner of National General Insurance and Mandy Jacobson of NY Life Insurance about short term medical plans. Short term medical plans can provide coverage of major medical expenses for a period of 3 months or more (even up to a year) at a fraction of the cost of major medical plans. In the interview Kurt and Mandy discuss how short term medical plans work, how much they cost, and how they can be paired with a DPC practice membership.