The Most Important Elements in Concierge Primary Healthcare
During the past decade, our healthcare system has become more like a giant corporation than the family doctor who made home visits. We are all experiencing less face-to-face time with our primary care physicians. MBody Healthcare owners, Mike and Melissa Major, are here to put the “care” back in healthcare by offering membership-based Direct Primary Care.
Everything Knoxville sat down in their new, expanded office to discuss how they differ from insurance-based medical providers and how this could benefit you.
EK: Let’s start with the basics. What is Direct Primary Care (DPC)?
Mike: Direct Primary Care is a medical model where the patient pays a flat monthly fee directly to their doctor in exchange for unlimited access to care without extra co-pays or hidden fees. The insurance “middle-man” is removed and access between patient and provider is restored to the way it used to be. Decision making is back in the hands of the doctor and the patient, and the healthcare system frustrations many are suffering with today are greatly reduced.
DPC is a personalized approach tailored to the patient’s individual healthcare needs. The attention and time provided allow us to get to know our patients and help them become the healthiest, best possible versions of themselves. We do not wait for diseases to develop and then treat them; we focus on prevention and early detection to mitigate the chronic disease burden. Think of it as concierge level care at an affordable price.
EK: Can you explain how the DPC model works in terms of insurance vs. membership?
Melissa: Membership includes unlimited visits, direct provider access, and all primary care needs, including basic labs and wellness care. Beyond this, we also provide in-office procedures and urgent care. We do our best to assist in navigating patients’ insurance in the most cost-saving manner possible for anything outside our services. This may include diagnostics, pharmaceutical options, and non-covered labs.
Mike: Insurance should act as a safety net, not be a possible hindrance within the doctor-patient relationship. DPC is a subscription-based healthcare model that operates outside commercial medical insurance that is, unfortunately, incentivized to reject claims. We are not incentivized by anything other than getting you healthy and keeping you that way!
EK: You have now been in business for more than three years, and your 100 5-star Google reviews speak loudly for your patient satisfaction. What have you found patients value most about your clinic?
Melissa: Of all the benefits we offer, I would have to say it’s our texting service that stands out. Upon signing up, every patient is given a subscription to Spruce, a HIPAA secure app used for communicating. The app is a fan favorite due to its convenience and is commonly used for med refills, appointment requests, medical questions, and even random curiosities. With all the misinformation out there (talking to you, internet!), we find access to reliable medical information is truly priceless and an antidote for anxiety.
Mike: By the time they find us, many patients have lost faith in the healthcare system. They have been referred to multiple specialists and are on medications with names they cannot pronounce, much less report why they are taking them. They have been at the mercy of the healthcare system, attempting to navigate their insurance coverage and getting more pills added with every visit, yet never actually getting better. The most common request I receive is a plea to “please help reduce my medicines.” The sad fact is, patients are rarely “de-prescribed” medications in the traditional system, resulting in an epidemic called polypharmacy. The main reason? It takes time and close follow up to alter medication regimens, two privileges not typically afforded by insurance reimbursement. This keeps doctors stuck refilling meds indefinitely, with very few exceptions. At MBody, we can carefully and safely discontinue any medications found to no longer be providing a benefit, as well as invest the time to educate patients. This is a cornerstone of our practice.
EK: So how is MBody Healthcare different from a “traditional” primary care model?
Mike: The most striking difference between us and traditional primary care is the access and time our patients receive. We offer same/next-day and virtual visits with extended visit times to ensure you never feel rushed. For after-hours and weekends, we provide direct calls and texting access. A simple text encounter can save hundreds of dollars on unnecessary ER/urgent care visits. Often, we can remotely treat the majority of needs the ER can or, if needed, in our clinic. We understand that life is busy, so we strive to make the healthcare experience easy and convenient – keeping in mind early access to treatment leads to quicker resolution of symptoms, and less down time.
Melissa: Longer appointment times (up to 90 min) allow us to treat many things traditional PCPs must refer out. This is not due to lack of knowledge, rather it is a lack of time. Specialists typically have steep co-pays and lengthy waiting times that delay treatment. Additionally, every referral splinters your care and increases the risk for service duplication and pharmaceutical mismanagement. Having a healthcare home able to meet 90% of our patients’ needs eliminates many of the frustrations and costs currently wreaking havoc in our healthcare system.
EK: Is there more information you would like our readers to know?
Melissa: Our goal is to encourage everyone to choose “wellness.” We welcome the opportunity to become your primary healthcare option. Dr. Mike and I have a heart for those struggling with insurance-based healthcare and believe you deserve more. More access, more time, more attention provided with a personalized approach built on the foundation of connection.
Mike: Whether you have been struggling with medication issues, undiagnosed ailments, a chronic illness, or would simply like to keep yourself as healthy as possible, MBody is willing and able to give you the time and attention you need. We offer free, no obligation consultations, and memberships are month to month with no commitments. There is no good reason for you to continue not getting the treatment you deserve. Reach out today and give MBody Healthcare the opportunity to restore your faith in healthcare.
MBody Healthcare
1378 Papermill Pointe Way
Knoxville, TN 37909
865.399.6026 office
865.685.9351 text