Latest news with #primarycare
Medscape
an hour ago
- Health
- Medscape
Direct Primary Care Providers Get a Major Policy Win
Clinicians who provide 'direct primary care' (DPC) and their patients are gaining a major windfall from the recently passed federal budget reconciliation legislation. Thanks to the 'Big Beautiful Budget Bill,' patients will be able to dip into their health savings accounts (HSAs) to pay for DPC services, which are designed to offer relief from assembly-line medicine. DPC providers are enthusiastic about the change, which will go into effect on January 1. But a critic warns that DPC, which emphasizes smaller patient loads and longer appointments, squeezes other forms of primary care and hurts the poor. Here's a closer look at what the new policy means. What Is DPC? DPC is a healthcare delivery model that allows physicians to contract directly with patients or employers for a fixed monthly membership fee. The DPC membership fees typically cover unlimited routine primary care services and lab work plus preventive care, basic procedures, and vaccinations — but not prescription drugs or specialty services. There are no copays. This is in contrast to traditional employer health plans that involve multiple stakeholders who 'take a piece of the pie,' such as third-party administrators, pharmacy benefit managers, and insurance brokers, said healthcare attorney Barbara Zabawa, JD, of Kansas City, Kansas, in an interview. Why Do People Like It? DPC providers say the model allows them to escape the bureaucratic constraints of traditional healthcare systems. The providers also tout patient perks such as same- or next-day appointments, shorter wait times, and more personalized care. 'Generally, DPC physicians have a panel of between 600 and 800 patients. In typical FFS [fee for service] settings, the patient panels tend to range from between 2000 and 2500 per family physician,' the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) says. Critics, however, say DPC hurts primary care access overall. In a 2018 JAMA commentary, two physicians wrote that 'DPC presents physicians with an incentive structure built on accepting healthier patients with limited healthcare needs and a willingness to pay a retainer fee. Practices directly benefit when targeting healthier patients and declining coverage to the ill.' In addition, they wrote, 'DPC practices once held accountable through value-based payment systems have no obligation to report or measure quality metrics.' Is DPC the Same as Concierge Care? The terms are often used interchangeably, said healthcare attorney Joanna Eimer of Glenview, Illinois, in an interview although she thinks of them as distinct. DPC is a kind of concierge care, she said, 'but there are a lot of concierge services that have grown and become bigger, different kinds of models that include other services as well besides direct primary care.' There are other differences. 'Concierge care' is also often used as shorthand for highly expensive, luxury health services that are marketed to ultra-wealthy people and may cost tens of thousands a year. And as the 2018 JAMA commentary noted, in contrast to concierge care, 'the DPC model traditionally does not 'double dip' by billing insurers.' What About Patients on Medicare? According to AAFP, 'primary care practices can continue to see Medicare beneficiaries, as long as the practice's retainer fee does not cover services already covered under Medicare.' What Does the New Legislation Do? It allows people with high-deductible health plans to use HSA funds to pay for qualifying DPC membership fees up to a limit of $150 a month for one person or $300 for a couple or family. The fees will no longer be considered ineligible health insurance payments. DPC arrangements may not cover prescription drugs (other than vaccinations), laboratory services 'not typically administered in an ambulatory primary care setting,' and procedures requiring general anesthesia are excluded. According to KFF , the change is expected to cost the federal government about $2.8 billion through 2034. 'This is a big, big win, a big boon for people trying to use their HSAs and be a part of these DDC arrangements who weren't allowed to take advantage of these savings before,' Eimer said. 'It gives them more flexibility.' How Big Is DPC? According to the DPC Coalition, more than 2300 DPC practices in 48 states and Washington, DC, serve more than 300,000 patients. The organization says that 'as of 2025, 34 states have enacted laws and regulations generally defining DPC as a medical service outside of state insurance regulations as well as offering varying levels of consumer protection.' Who's Behind All This? A bipartisan group of House representatives have pushed for changes in the HSA policy regarding DPC, including physician Kim Schrier, MD (D-WA). AAFP is a prominent supporter of DPC. Will This Change Encourage More DPC Use? It's unclear what the change in policy will mean for DPC, whose growth has skyrocketed in recent years and is expected to continue expanding at a rapid clip. However, plenty of Americans — one estimate puts the number at nearly half of private-sector workers — are enrolled in high-deductible health plans. For now, at least, the new regulations should reduce confusion among patients and clinicians. Amy Mechley, MD, a DPC provider in Cincinnati, said the existing law regarding DPC and HSAs could be interpreted in different ways, and she couldn't give her patients firm guidance about what to do. Some got frustrated. 'This is absolute move in the right direction so that they're more in charge of how they're going to finance their healthcare,' she said in an interview. Are There Direct Care Practices in Specialty Medicine? Yes. The legislation regarding HSAs doesn't affect them. Is Everyone Pleased? No. Stephanie Woolhandler, MD, MPH, a primary care physician and researcher with Hunter College in New York City, worried about the broader implications for healthcare equity. On one hand, she said, 'it's pretty easy to understand why patients who have the money would choose to buy their way out of the dysfunctional system. It's also easy to understand why doctors who are so frustrated with collecting insurance payments would want to walk away.' However, DPC 'actually worsens the situation for patients who don't have the money to pay extra since it tends to take doctors out of the primary care pool and has them taking care of a smaller number of patients.' She added that HSAs 'don't work very well for poor people because they often don't have any money to put in, or their employer doesn't put much in,' she said. But they're great for 'wealthy people in higher-tax brackets who are in very good health.' In the big picture, she said, 'by abandoning people who can't pay that extra fee for direct primary care, you're actually making the whole financing system worse, not better. We need to change the system, but this is going in the wrong direction.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
GP honoured for 35 years of helping the homeless
A GP from Leicester who has worked to improve the health of homeless people since 1990 has been given an honorary doctorate. Dr Nigel Hewett accepted an honorary Doctorate of Science award from the University of Leicester at a ceremony at De Montfort Hall on Thursday. In 2000, he set up the Leicester Homeless Primary Healthcare Service - which became Inclusion Healthcare - to provide services for homeless and other marginalised people. He was awarded an OBE in 2006 for services to homeless people and in 2009 he launched University College London Hospital's Pathway homelessness team. A lifelong Leicester resident, Dr Hewett said he was "delighted and humbled" by the honour. "Leicester has an outstanding primary health care service for people experiencing homelessness and asylum seekers," he said. "We should be proud to be national leaders in this field and this humbling award is a recognition of multidisciplinary team work over the decades." In 2010, he was a founder member of the Faculty for Homeless and Inclusion Health and became medical director of Pathway – a charity formed to support the faculty and improve the healthcare of homeless people and other excluded groups. Dr Hewett told the BBC: "I've always felt drawn to people on the margins of society and people who have had the most to gain from health care. "There's a thing called the inverse care law which suggests that the more you need medical care the harder it is to get it and homeless people are at the extreme end of that spectrum of deprivation." Homeless 'feel invisible' Dr Hewett said he saw one of his former patients while visiting the University of Sheffield. The patient had problems with heroin, but with the help of methadone went on a long-term detox and is now signing on for a PhD after completing a degree in criminology. "There's always a way back," Dr Hewett said. "You have to hang on to the wins in this work, because for most people they have age of death in the early 40s and it's often a very sad story." He added that homeless people often "talk of feeling invisible" and said "the rest of us can help, I think, by just making eye contact and saying hello". Follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. More on this story Kasabian frontman receives honorary degree Council to keep new flats for homeless families Council to buy student flats to house homeless Related internet links University of Leicester Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
GP honoured for 35 years of helping the homeless
A GP from Leicester who has worked to improve the health of homeless people since 1990 has been given an honorary doctorate. Dr Nigel Hewett accepted an honorary Doctorate of Science award from the University of Leicester at a ceremony at De Montfort Hall on Thursday. In 2000, he set up the Leicester Homeless Primary Healthcare Service - which became Inclusion Healthcare - to provide services for homeless and other marginalised people. He was awarded an OBE in 2006 for services to homeless people and in 2009 he launched University College London Hospital's Pathway homelessness team. A lifelong Leicester resident, Dr Hewett said he was "delighted and humbled" by the honour. "Leicester has an outstanding primary health care service for people experiencing homelessness and asylum seekers," he said. "We should be proud to be national leaders in this field and this humbling award is a recognition of multidisciplinary team work over the decades." In 2010, he was a founder member of the Faculty for Homeless and Inclusion Health and became medical director of Pathway – a charity formed to support the faculty and improve the healthcare of homeless people and other excluded groups. Dr Hewett told the BBC: "I've always felt drawn to people on the margins of society and people who have had the most to gain from health care. "There's a thing called the inverse care law which suggests that the more you need medical care the harder it is to get it and homeless people are at the extreme end of that spectrum of deprivation." Homeless 'feel invisible' Dr Hewett said he saw one of his former patients while visiting the University of Sheffield. The patient had problems with heroin, but with the help of methadone went on a long-term detox and is now signing on for a PhD after completing a degree in criminology. "There's always a way back," Dr Hewett said. "You have to hang on to the wins in this work, because for most people they have age of death in the early 40s and it's often a very sad story." He added that homeless people often "talk of feeling invisible" and said "the rest of us can help, I think, by just making eye contact and saying hello". Follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. More on this story Kasabian frontman receives honorary degree Council to keep new flats for homeless families Council to buy student flats to house homeless Related internet links University of Leicester
CBC
3 days ago
- Health
- CBC
Toronto-based researchers want to hear from you about your experiences in health care
The OurCare survey last asked over 9,000 Canadians in 2022 about the state of primary care in the country, but didn't get much input from Newfoundland and Labrador. This year, the team wants to change that. Primary care researcher Dr. Tara Kiran spoke about the survey and its impacts with the CBC's Carolyn Stokes.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Helpful and Delicious! These 10 Protein Sources Will Help You Lose Body Fat
Helpful and Delicious! These 10 Protein Sources Will Help You Lose Body Fat originally appeared on Parade. There's a misconception that trimming inches from your waistline requires skipping meals or subsisting only on crudités. Here's what will hopefully be welcome news to anyone trying to lose weight: Deprivation is not the key to weight loss. (Not healthy weight loss, anyway.)Whether you're trying to lose weight or not, it's still important to make sure you're hitting the recommended daily requirements for all necessary nutrients, including fiber, protein and micronutrients. In fact, registered dietitians say that nutrients including protein, fiber and healthy fats are all key for healthy weight loss because they help you feel full—making someone less likely to overeat nutrient-poor food later. But when you're trying to lose weight, knowing what protein sources are best is tricky, as many protein sources are high in calories and fat. Here, registered dietitians explain how to strike the right balance of getting enough protein while trying to lose weight—plus a list of 10 foods that will help you do How Much Protein Do You Need Each Day? Registered dietitian, says that protein needs depend on someone's individual health goals, age, height, how active they are and if they have any underlying health issues that need to be taken into consideration. It can be helpful to work with a dietitian, nutritionist or primary care doctor to help you determine exactly how much protein a day is best for you. But in general, she says that protein should consist of 30 to 40 percent of someone's daily calorie intake, or one gram per pound of body weight. What Is the Healthiest Type of Protein To Eat? Registered dietitian and certified personal trainer Kim Juul, RD, CPT, says that when it comes to choosing protein sources when you're trying to lose weight, think lean. "I advise my clients to limit high-fat meat sources. Foods like ribeye and bacon should be [enjoyed] in moderation," she says. "If you are trying to lose weight, it is best to choose lean protein sources. These will be lower in calories than high-fat protein sources."Dahan agrees. "Leaner proteins are a better choice because they have less of the pro-inflammatory fats, namely trans and saturated fats," she says, adding that these types of fats are associated with excess body fat as well as medical issues like heart disease, fatty, liver and type two diabetes. While you may have to cut back on bacon and ribeye, you certainly won't be going hungry; there is no shortage of lean protein sources to choose from. Below are 10 protein sources for weight loss, all registered 10 Protein Sources To Help You Lose Body Fat 1. Skinless Chicken or Turkey If you love chicken or turkey but are trying to lose weight, Juul says to just go skinless. How you prepare your chicken matters, too. Baking, air-frying or stir-frying are all healthier ways to cook chicken than frying. 2. Lean Cuts of Beef or Pork You don't have to completely cut ties with beef or pork if you want to lose weight. Juul says to just go for lean cuts. Lean beef and pork are lower in saturated fat than red meat. 3. Fish "Fish is high in protein and low in calories, which makes it great for those trying to lose weight," Juul says. "You can eat a large portion of fish, which will make you feel full, but will not add a bunch of extra calories to your diet." She adds that the omega-3 fatty acids in fish are an important nutrient, supporting both brain and heart 4. Eggs Can you still eat eggs and trim body fat? Juul says absolutely; just be mindful about your intake. "A whole egg is very healthy, but higher in calories than an egg white, due to the fat in the yolk. For weight loss, I recommend a combination of one to two whole eggs plus egg whites," she says. This combination will ensure you get adequate protein without too much fat. Dahan says that whole eggs are also more filling than just eating egg whites alone, another reason why it's a good idea to have both. 5. Beans and Lentils "Beans and lentils are a great protein for weight loss because they're full of fiber, which helps with satiety," Dahan says. Scientific studies show a direct link between fiber intake and weight loss, yet another reason to incorporate beans and lentils into your meals if you're trying to lose body fat. 6. Chickpeas Similar to beans, chickpeas are high in both protein and fiber, making them another great food to add to your shopping list. Besides incorporating chickpeas in their whole form into your meals, experiment with hummus, too, such as using it as a sandwich spread or in grain bowls. 7. Tofu Another great protein source for weight loss that Juul recommends is tofu. Like beans, lentils and chickpeas, tofu is full of fiber and very low in saturated fat. Other soy protein sources, like tempeh and edamame, have these beneficial traits, 8. Low-Fat Dairy Juul says that low-fat yogurt, cottage cheese and other dairy products all contain protein as well as other beneficial nutrients, like calcium and vitamin D, while being low-fat (as the name indicates). Greek yogurt is a particularly good source of protein. 9. Protein Powders Want your morning or post-workout smoothie to actually fill you up? Both dietitians say adding protein powder will make it more satiating. Juul likes pea protein in particular, an easy-to-digest plant-based protein. 10. Nuts and Seeds Dahan says that nuts and seeds have great protein, but it's easy to eat several serving sizes without even realizing it, so it's a protein source to be mindful of. "Studies show that people who snack mindfully on nuts are able to lose weight," she says. To avoid overeating them, she recommends choosing nuts and seeds that need a little more effort to eat, like pistachios or peanuts in the shell. Dahan says that almonds are another great option because they're higher in fiber and lower in fat than most other nuts. As you can see, there is no shortage of protein-filled foods to enjoy while focusing on the health goal of losing belly fat. Besides, it's way more enjoyable than going hungry! Up Next:Sources Frontiers in Nutrition, "Increased Dietary Fiber Is Associated With Weight Loss Among Full Plate Living Program Participants." Nina Dahan, RD, registered dietitian. Kim Juul, RD, CPT, registered dietitian and certified personal trainer. MedlinePlus, "Omega-3 Fats—Good for Your Heart." Nutrients, "Nuts, Energy Balance and Body Weight." Will Sansom, "Study Links Omega-3s to Improved Brain Structure, Cognition at Midlife." Helpful and Delicious! These 10 Protein Sources Will Help You Lose Body Fat first appeared on Parade on Jul 18, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
