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What are some advantages of Direct Primary Care?

By Melanie J. Bonnes

Melanie Bonnes is a graduate of West Virginia University and a native of the Mountain State. Due to a debilitating illness, she became one of Dr. Joseph Starman’s patients in late 2016. After several months, her health began to improve. Melanie took a job in our office as a part-time receptionist in June of 2017. Able to experience the traditional practice model and the Direct Primary Care model from both the patient and the employee perspectives, Melanie is a dedicated advocate of DPC as well as Osteopathy and Integrative Medicine, which, through Dr. Starkman, she credits for her drastic health improvements.

Direct Primary Care was introduced as an alternative to fee-for-service payment methods involving a passive third party unconcerned about a patient’s welfare. The Direct Primary Care (DPC) model leaves financial negotiating to the two parties actively involved: the patient and the physician. This model has gained popularity over the years, with about 1,855 DPCs operating in 48 states of the U.S. and Washington, DC. Looking below at just a few advantages of Direct Primary Care, it’s no wonder it is increasing in popularity.

Individual Approach to Patients

A good Primary Care Provider (PCP) will develop a tailored plan to bring about the best recovery for each patient. Within a DPC, this plan can more easily be put into place because insurance companies are not involved in dictating which treatments and services a patient “needs”.

Such plans can only be formulated because DPC physicians can spend time getting to know each patient’s health history in detail, providing better one-on-one consultations, relaxed patient-provider meetings and phone conversations.

DPC opens the door for a more customized approach to patient care. PCPs can ensure an in-depth session with each new patient. If there is a need to take the discussion further, the patient can come again the following week, or continue the discussion via telephone or video chat.

No Co-payments or Hidden Costs When Visiting the Doctor

Some membership plans may include an initial enrollment fee and/or an initial three-month commitment subscription, which can be canceled after giving a month’s notice. At Osteopathic Healing Arts, there is no minimum commitment time unless a patient comes to us specifically for the HCG weight-loss program. Otherwise, our patients remain with us on a month-to-month basis and we request the courtesy of 30-days written notice for cancellation.

All office visits and telemedicine visits are covered by most membership plans, whether monthly or quarterly. Patients still need to pay for things like prescriptions, labs, imaging and house calls, but these are able to be offered at a fraction of the cost patients would pay for these services under the traditional medical model. Pricing can be given to members upfront so they can decide when it is best for them, financially, to purchase a recommended service/treatment. And, since there is no insurance company in this mix, there is no need for pre-certification or co-payments.

No Age Restriction

The Direct Primary Care model caters to everyone. Age is not a determinant of whether a person can get a membership. Most DPC’s are family practices which treat everyone from infants to senior citizens. If both parties accept the contract terms, all family members can be added to the membership plan at an agreed cost per person.

Occasionally, there are reasons for rejecting a person as a member. This is most often associated with the severity of an ailment if, in the physician’s opinion, the individual requires a specialist to handle certain complicated health challenges. Failure to make regular membership payments may cause a patient to be dismissed and/or to be unable to enroll again if he or she has canceled a past membership.

Opportunity to Contact Your Provider at Any Time

Direct Primary Care boils down to a transaction between two individuals: the doctor and the patient. So in this model, accessibility is one of the services included in a paid membership. Calling, texting, emailing, and video chatting are among the ways to communicate with your healthcare provider when necessary. DPC physicians are available 24/7 in case you have an urgent need after hours.

Some DPC doctors and nurse practitioners even provide home visitation if you are compromised and unable to physically make it to the clinic. Depending on the membership agreement, some PCPs even show up on the weekends.

Osteopathic Healing Arts Direct Primary Care

At Osteopathic Healing Arts, our goal is to render affordable, efficient, quality healthcare. This is why our founder, Dr. Joseph Starkman, D.O. transitioned from a traditional family medicine practice model to a Direct Primary Care model at the end of 2017. You can expect quick answers to your questions, longer appointment times, friendly front office staff, easier scheduling as well as wholesale pricing on labs and medications. We also give members a 15% discount on high-quality supplements. In addition, our providers will offer you natural options, whenever possible, to help you improve your health.

We’re proud of what we’ve created here in Libertyville, IL and are privileged to be able to serve families from the Northwestern Suburbs of Chicago, IL as well as families from Southeastern Wisconsin. Learn more about the Direct Primary Care Movement.

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October 6 2022

Lab Testing: Another Reason to Choose Direct Primary Care

Lab Testing: Another Reason to Choose Direct Primary Care

By Therese E. Adams, FNP-C

Therese E. Adams, NP is a graduate of Chamberlain College of Nursing in Addison, IL. Mrs. Adams joined Dr. Joseph Starkman, D.O. in his Libertyville, IL Direct Primary Care clinic in December of 2020. Here, she practices her love of Holistic Medicine and enjoys having the time to develop close relationships with her patients.

Recently, a friend of mine showed me the bill for her yearly screening labs. Although I was shocked, I wasn’t surprised.

Annual lab testing is an important part of monitoring your general health as an adult. Most people know we check for issues like anemia and high cholesterol. We can also see if you are low in B vitamins, determine immune health, check inflammation levels, and see how well your liver and kidneys are working. There’s a lot that can be learned from a simple blood draw, it’s really quick for most people, and not very invasive – compared to a colonoscopy!

As a DPC clinic, our members pay a monthly membership fee. We do not accept insurance. This allows us to offer lab testing at a fraction of the cost compared to other facilities. Check this out:

Osteopathic Healing Arts yearly labs = $75

Hospital system yearly labs = $828.05

My friend falls within our $70-per-month pricing tier. One year of membership for her equals $840: An amount she would have to pay out-of-pocket for annual labs anyway in the traditional medical system (assuming she has a deductible to meet through her insurance plan).

Americans are struggling with skyrocketing insurance premiums and tend to choose low-premium/high-deductible plans. These folks end up paying out-of-pocket – twice! First for their premiums, and second, for their services until these high deductibles are met, which may not even happen within the year! Direct Primary Care is the answer. You receive quality care and are able to get good value for your dollar!

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August 19 2022

The Different Types of Primary Care

The Different Types of Primary Care

By Melanie J. Bonnes

Reviewed by Joseph J. Starkman, D.O.

Dr. Starkman is a graduate of Midwestern University-Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Starkman utilizes Family Medicine, Osteopathic Manipulation Therapy (OMT), Nutrition and Functional Medicine to help patients recover from illness and optimize their health. Dr. Joseph Starkman is proud to have been part of the Direct Primary Care Movement since November 2017.

In November of 2017, our office transitioned to Direct Primary Care from a Traditional Practice Model. The different types of primary care offered throughout Chicagoland and the United States can be somewhat confusing. To help simplify, here is a quick explanation of the main types of primary care models.

The Traditional Model

Most Americans are accustomed to this type of medical practice. A traditional practice may see thousands of patients over the course of a year. These physicians are paid through patient co-pays and by billing insurance companies. The administrative responsibilities in the traditional model can be very time consuming and even overwhelming to staff at times, especially given the fact that insurance plans vary in both consistency and expectations.

Since insurance payments are based on the number of patients seen, doctors and nurse practitioners often see 20-30 patients per day to make financial ends meet. This means rushed appointments which results in a lower quality of care for patients and a stressful work environment for practitioners and office staff. The government or insurance companies often interfere with the care a physician wants to provide, which can result in less-than-ideal outcomes for patients. Individuals who do not have insurance are reluctant to visit the doctor since these types of practices do not usually publish their fees due to third-party involvement.

As a result of tight schedules, it can be difficult to get an appointment for an urgent need at a traditional family practice. Patients must choose: Wait 2-4 weeks for an appointment, see a different provider within the practice, or go to an immediate care center/emergency department. The busyness and over-crowdedness of a traditional clinic allows little time for preventative care and patient counseling. This rat race is discouraging to the physician, who is earning a modest salary, while patients remain sick and insurance companies make huge profits.

Direct Primary Care Model

Direct Primary Care (DPC) is a rapidly growing medical practice model in which providers only see a few hundred patients per year. These practices operate based on a monthly membership fee, paid by the patients directly to their medical provider – no third parties involved. DPC clinics generally have one or two practitioners and one to three administrative staff members. Membership costs and other service fees are available to the patients (members) up front and are generally very reasonable. Since these clinics can negotiate directly with labs, imaging centers, supplement companies and pharmaceutical vendors, pricing for these services can be offered at drastically reduced rates.

Because doctors and nurses are not paid per visit, they have time to spend with patients during appointments without either the provider or the member feeling rushed or stressed. The typical appointment in a DPC practice is a minimum of 30 minutes, with longer appointments available by request. Since these practitioners have a smaller patient load, they see fewer patients per day and have availability for same-day and next-day appointments for urgent issues.

DPC clinics encourage preventative care since a comprehensive annual physical is almost always included in the membership plan. In addition, most patients are willing to schedule visits because their membership fee is already paid. It’s convenient to seek medical advice in this type of model since patients can text, email or video chat with their doctor or nurse practitioner, and can expect an answer within hours or, sometimes, within minutes. Medical care is typically provided by one practitioner. If there is more than one practitioner, the nature of this model affords time for these professionals to discuss patient cases, further enhancing the care that is provided to members.

The Concierge or Boutique Model

As part of a Concierge or Boutique practice, patients also pay a membership fee to the practice in exchange for specific benefits. These member fees cost significantly more per month than is typical of a Direct Primary Care practice. Some Concierge practices also bill insurance companies for certain treatments.

Probably the most common benefit received through a Concierge model is greater access to one’s primary doctor. This is due to managing an even smaller patient panel than that of a Direct Primary Care clinic. However, Concierge practices tend to focus on high-end services such as extended office visits, accompaniment to specialist appointments, fitness classes or massage and other spa services. Some even offer perks like in-office carotid dopplers, bone density scans and laser hair removal.

In short, Concierge/Boutique practices lean toward offering premium care while DPC practices offer affordable care. Direct Primary Care members pay for quality care, while Concierge members pay for quantity of care.

Services

July 26 2022

Integrative Medicine and Direct Primary Care

Integrative Medicine and Direct Primary Care

By Joseph J. Starkman, D.O.

October 18, 2022

Integrative medicine is a healing-oriented medicine that takes account of the whole person (body, mind & spirit), including all aspects of lifestyle. It emphasizes the therapeutic relationship and makes use of all appropriate therapies, both conventional and alternative.

At Osteopathic Healing Arts in Libertyville, IL, we offer both conventional and alternative integrative medicine. Through our Direct Primary Care (DPC) model, you receive comprehensive primary health care and pay for this care through a monthly membership fee. This fee covers the primary integrative medicine services you see below and may also cover others not currently listed. We do not participate in any insurance or plans, thus being able to avoid the ever-increasing demands and costs associated with accepting insurance. This saves you money and gives you a greater level of service, as your medical provider has more time to spend listening to and treating you. We recommend appointments, but we also try to accommodate persons needing to be seen the same day. We ask that you call early in the day to ensure we can see you that day.

Types of Integrative Medicine

A partnership between patient and practitioner in the healing process
Appropriate use of conventional and alternative methods to facilitate the body’s innate healing response
Consideration of all factors that influence health, wellness and disease, including mind and spirit
A philosophy that neither rejects conventional medicine nor accepts alternative therapies uncritically
Recognition that good medicine should be based in good science, be inquiry driven, and be open
Use of natural, effective, less-invasive interventions whenever possible
Use of the broader concepts of promotion of health and the prevention of illness as well as treatment
Practitioners are to be models of health and healing, committed to self-exploration and self-development

Types of Complementary and Alternative Therapies Used in Our Office

Acupuncture
Aromatherapy
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)
HCG Weight Loss Diet
Herbal Medicine
IV Vitamin Therapy
Microcurrent Therapy
Nutritional Counseling
Osteopathic Manipulation
Sublingual Immunotherapy

Services

July 26 2022

DO’s & MD’s – What’s The Difference?

DO’s & MD’s – What’s The Difference?

By Joseph J. Starkman, D.O.

You may not be aware that there are two types of complete physicians in the United States—DOs (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) and MDs. That means a Primary Care Physician or Internist may be either a DO or an MD.

Both DOs and MDs are fully qualified physicians licensed to prescribe and administer prescription (and more natural) medications, admit patients to hospitals and perform surgeries.

Both DOs and MDs complete four years of rigorous medical education. After medical school, both DOs and MDs gain graduate medical experience through internships, residencies and fellowships.

Both DOs and MDs can choose to practice in any medical specialty such as pediatrics, family medicine, psychiatry, surgery or ophthalmology.

DOs and MDs must pass comparable examinations to obtain state licenses. DOs and MDs both practice in accredited and licensed health care facilities.

Most DO’s and MD’s today use similar protocols, but some DO’s practice more holistically and may seek out more natural, non-pharmaceutical means of healing first.

The History Of Osteopathy

Andrew Taylor Still was a conventionally trained MD who developed an alternative medical philosophy out of his frustration with the medical system of his day. By studying the human form and function, he determined fundamental principles, including the idea that the human body has the ability to heal itself and that this healing system is guided by an innate intelligence. Based on these observations and principles he created the hands-on healing art of Osteopathy in 1874.

William Garner Sutherland D.O. further developed the ideas of Dr. Still into what is now known as the Cranial Model of Osteopathy. Through hands-on practice and study of anatomy, he discovered the natural patterns and motions present in the cranium and the central nervous system. Later he determined these motions could be found throughout all tissues of the body.

Over many years he concluded that these motions were the healing system in action; they were the means by which the innate intelligence of the body was expressing itself in a therapeutic process. He called these vital rhythms originating in the central nervous system and permeating throughout the body the Primary Respiratory Mechanism. Dr. Sutherland began teaching his Cranial model in the 1940’s and his work has been carried on by his students and their students to this day.

How Does Osteopathy Heal?

Many Osteopathic physicians also use Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy (OMT) in their practice as an initial therapy. These Osteopaths use their hands to treat diseases of the musculoskeletal system and the entire body as well. Some Osteopaths using OMT practice a very traditional form of OMT called Traditional Osteopathic Medicine or Cranial Osteopathy.

Traditional (Cranial) Osteopaths bring the underlying causes of dis-ease back into balance instead of just providing temporary fixes. When Primary Respiration is obstructed or impaired by trauma or injury, symptoms of dis-ease can appear. An Osteopath specializing in Cranial therapy has spent many years and hundreds of hours developing their palpation skills to the point that they can help the body’s healing system unblock restrictions in the flow of vital energy using very subtle techniques and through working directly with the Primary Respiratory Mechanism. Removing these blockages helps bring you to a healthy and vigorous state.

We are committed to helping you change your health and life for the better in a therapeutic collaboration. We promise to give the highest quality of care to help you reach your health and life goals. Here are some of the conditions we address & services we provide.

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