For Immediate Release
November 9, 2009
Statement of Dr. Garrison Bliss on behalf of the Direct Primary Care Coalition on passage by the U.S. House of Representatives of H.R. 3962, the Affordable Healthcare for America Act
Passage of the H.R. 3962, the Affordable Healthcare for America Act by the U.S. House of Representatives this weekend means that the approximately 45,000 Americans who have elected to receive their medical care through a direct primary care medical home will continue to have that option – for now.
Direct primary care medical homes were pioneered in Washington State more than a decade ago by physicians like me who decided they preferred to work for their patients versus insurance companies. This model has proven to be so popular that direct primary care medical homes now exist in at least 20 other states and that number is growing.
Direct primary care medical homes offer low-monthly fees starting at $49 per month for all primary, preventive and chronic care and include 24/7 phone and email access to a primary care physician. There are no exclusions for pre-existing conditions and insurance coverage for catastrophic health care events is covered by a lower-premium plan specifically designed to cover those unpredictable events outside the scope of primary care. Not only do these practices save 40 percent of the cost of traditional care by cutting out the administrative costs of health insurance but patients and businesses can realize savings of 20 to 50 percent on their total health care costs.
As of now this innovative health care delivery model has been left out of the health care reform bills working their way through the U.S. Senate. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Patty Murray (D-WA) have pledged to work together to offer an amendment to include direct primary care medical homes in the insurance exchange. We are hopeful that their amendment will not only pass in the Senate but will also garner bipartisan support.
On behalf of the members of the Direct Primary Care Coalition, I would like to thank the U.S. House of Representatives for ensuring that direct primary care medical homes were included in the health care reform bill. We hope the Senate follows your lead to move beyond the status quo and allow this innovative and growing model a chance to compete and flourish while providing Americans more options at lower cost.
More information about direct primary care medical homes can be found at www.dpcare.org.
Dr. Garrison Bliss has been a primary care doctor for more than 30 years and has been operating direct primary care practices in Seattle since 1997. He is a founder of the Direct Primary Care Coalition and currently Chief Medical Officer of Qliance Medical Management Inc. in Seattle. He is also past president of The Society for Innovative Medical Practice Design.