What is Direct Primary Care?

Direct Primary Care(DPC) involves cutting out the middle man–insurance companies. As health insurance becomes increasingly confusing, expensive, and frustrating, Direct Primary Care removes it from the equation.

At Direct Medical Care, you have the option of obtaining a membership, which includes the cost of provider visits along with other perks. However, a membership is not required, and you can pay for waht you need as you go.

With this type of healthcare in place you should expect:

• To spend more time with your healthcare provider as they are spending less time filling and billing for insurance
• Affordable wholesale medications, labs, imaging, and procedures
• Transparent pricing
• Accessibility and convenience such as same day appointments, virtual visits, and so much more
• Flexibility! You still have the option to submit to insurance. We will provide you the necessary information at the end of your visit to do so.

Melanie Shockley, DNP

Patient-Driven Affordable Healthcare

My Epiphany as a Doctor: Navigating Today’s Healthcare for My Own Family–Part 2(VIDEO)

When the Doctor’s Family Needs Medical Care

Cori Then and Now…Transformation Tuesday

Cori is an avid football fan and is loyal to our Kansas City Chiefs.  Last spring she set out on a transformation that has changed her life.

Not only does she look fantastic but she feels healthier and happier with her progress. She is a mother of three active children and is excited to be setting a good example for them by being healthier and taking care of herself.

Cori’s encouragement for others is to be prepared for hard work.  The results will not be instant and expect setbacks.  It really is about making small steps towards a bigger goal.

How did she do it?  Hard work.  Nothing compensates for hard work.  She began running and really watching her diet.  Her diet focus was not only about healthier choices but also portion control.   Cori has completed two half-marathons and has plans for more.

Go Cori and Go Chiefs!

 

Ann Riggs, DO

Patient-Driven Affordable Healthcare

The Calorie Creep

But Doctor I am not eating that much…

While there are always exceptions rarely does one become overweight by not eating.

The balancing act of  creating a calorie deficit is key for weight loss.  Please see my prior blog post regarding the fundamentals of weight loss:

Calories Consumed < Calories Expended= Weight Loss

It can be one misstep in your day that will sabotage all your good efforts.  Stealing the term introduced to me by an inspiring patient, I would like to bring “the calorie creep” to life in the pictures below:

Keep in mind it does not have to be junk food that can be your calorie creep–avoid the creep in whatever form!

Ann Riggs, DO

Patient-Driven Affordable Healthcare

 

Richer in More Ways than One…

Smoking Cessation

No better time to discuss smoking cessation than when we are at the new year and resolutions are starting to fade while the freezing temperatures outside continue. I tell my patients that are contemplating smoking cessation that if successful they will be richer in more ways than one.   The health benefits of smoking cessation are clear.  The often overlooked benefits of smoking cessation are the return of significant time and money.

 

Health Benefits

• decrease in bronchitis, COPD
• decrease in blood pressure
• decrease in heart rate
• decrease in ALL cancers
• decrease in diabetes
• decrease in osteoporosis
• decrease in rheumatoid arthritis
• decrease in erectile dysfunction for men
• decrease in ectopic pregnancies, miscarriages, small birth weight in pregnancy
• decrease in second hand smoke decreases sudden infant death syndrome, ear infections, respiratory illnesses, and asthma

 

Non-Health Benefits

We never seem to have enough of either time or money and smoking cessation recaptures both.

• Money
• Time
• Time=Money

 

 

The actual cost savings can be calculated here.  The following depicts the savings realized when smoking 1 pack per day with a cost of $5.70 per pack:The amount of time spent smoking is estimated at 6 minutes and 20 seconds per cigarette. Calculations for smoking 1 pack per day equates to over 2 hours per day.  

If you extrapolate the value of your time then your costs rise exponentially.

Smoking Cessation Aids

So you are ready but want some help.  There are over-the-counter, prescription, and alternative options to help you be more successful.

Over-the-counter options:

• Nicotine patches
  
• Nicotine gum
• Nicotine lozenges

 

 

Prescription options:

• Nicotine inhalers
• Nicotine nasal sprays
• Bupropion is a common anti-depressant medication that was once marketed as Zyban. This medication can diminish the cravings and withdrawal symptoms from the nicotine.
• Chantix is for smoking cessation only and can diminish the cravings and withdrawal while also blocking nicotine effects from smoking.

Alternative options:

• E-cigarettes–long term safety has been unclear but recent studies identify significant concerns on safety and effectiveness
• Hypnosis
• Acupuncture
• Support groups

No better time than the present to kick the habit as you will be richer in more ways than one!

Ann Riggs, DO

Patient-Driven Affordable Healthcare

Alternative Affordable Healthcare “Insurance” Option

 

The Alternative

My patients often prove to be my best resource in providing patient-driven affordable healthcare.  A viable health coverage plan eludes many of us and often those with a plan quickly discover its shortcomings.  One of our earliest members at Direct Medical Care introduced me to a great alternative to healthcare “insurance”–health cost sharing plans that are truly affordable.  These plans have been around for over 20 years and I anticipate they will become more and more favorable with the current direction of healthcare.

Health Cost Sharing Plans

• Health Cost Sharing Plans(HCSP) do qualify as approved health insurance coverage by the Affordable Care Act.  
• The general philosophy is in line with Direct Medical Care’s as HCSPs “seek to return health care to a private, patient-centered model” and “(are) designed to restore and protect the doctor-patient relationship.”
• Our patients using these plans attest that their experiences have exceeded their expectations.

Check out the following cost sharing plans:

 

SAMARITAN MINISTRIES

Samaritan Ministries was established in 1994.  Their focus is Christians helping Christians.  Not only are they focused on the financial burdens taken on by the community of Christians but the physical, emotional, and spiritual burdens as well.

 

 

MEDI-SHARE

Christian Care Ministries was established in 1993.  Their focus is on carrying each other’s burdens while utilizing not only financial resources but individual talents, networks, and their faith.

 

 

LIBERTY DIRECT

Liberty Direct was also established over 20 years ago and interestingly has the same share amounts today that they did when they began.   They focus on helping like-minded individuals who are committed to their individual health and well being of their community.

 

Ann Riggs, DO

Patient-Driven Affordable Healthcare

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Much Needed ICD-10 Codes

ICD-10 codes: Making the practice of medicine “better”

 

V97.33XD: Sucked into jet engine, subsequent encounter

How does one survive to even have a subsequent encounter?  I guess it has been done before: Jet engine survivor.

 

 

Z63.1: Problems in relationship with in-laws

We see the applicability here…this will be used often.

 

 

 

W61.62XD: Struck by duck, subsequent encounter

Watch out for ducks–especially during migration…

 

W22.02XD: V95.43XS Spacecraft collision injuring occupant, sequela

Just saw this last week…

 

 

W16.221 Fall in (into) bucket of water causing drowning and submersion

…why? just why??

 

 

R46.1: Bizarre personal appearance.

All a matter of opinion…

 

V00.01XD: Pedestrian on foot injured in collision with roller-skater, subsequent encounter

Beware of the roller skater this summer!

 

 

 

Y93.D: V91.07XD:  Burn due to water-skis on fire, subsequent encounter

One of my greatest fears!

 

 

 

X38.XXXA Flood, initial encounter
X38.XXXD Flood, subsequent encounter
X38.XXXS Flood, sequela

Using all three codes this year!  

 

 

Ann Riggs, DO

Patient-Driven Affordable Healthcare

Direct Medical Care’s Top Ten List

Direct Medical Care’s Top Ten Patient Experiences

1—“Dr. Riggs your glow is back.  You seem so happy!”

2—A patient gets access to care for $400.00 vs $2400.00 that literally saved his life

3—A patient is reimbursed $300.00 of his $500.00 annual membership with his first claim submission.  “I feel like I hit the jackpot!”

4—Access to CT scan for cash at $350.00 vs hospital quote of $3382.00

5—The proof is in the pudding:  a patient puts families expenses into a spreadsheet with previous year’s expenses and finds marrying his plan with our services would have resulted in over $7500.00 in savings in one year

6—Our Medicare patient not only gets it but loves our model–he knows how doctoring used to be and the true costs of using your health insurance

7—Wholesale drugs that offer convenience and lower cost of short and long term medications.  $140.00 for one month of blood pressure medication dropped to $28.00 for the same medication.   Annual savings of $1344.00.

8—“The nose doctor(AKA Dr. Riggs) is right next to sonic—that is genius!”

9—“I really feel like I should pay you more.”

10—Every time a patient says, “It just makes sense.”

Ann Riggs, DO

Patient-Driven Affordable Healthcare

Tour of Direct Medical Care

Welcome to Direct Medical Care

 

Entrance

 

We are excited to share our clinic with you virtually. We have maximized our space for functionality and have tried to maintain a warm and friendly atmosphere.  Come on in and see for yourself…

 

 

 

                                               Direct Medical Care opened October 1, 2013

Established Sign

Our decor has taken off the past few months and everything has been done by our own staff member Kim Moppin.  She has amazing talent and has taken the old and made it new for us all to enjoy!

 

Waiting Area

 

 

A special thanks to sweet patients who donated the old windows that adorn the wall in our waiting room.  Note the cute lamp Kim recently refurbished to add to the ambiance as well.

 

 

Reception Desk

 

The reception desk area highlights a repurposed pallet displaying a hand-drawn and hand-painted silhouette of the great state of Missouri.

 

 

Platte County Map

 

The hall boasts a map of Plattte County. Special thanks to Kim’s husband Chris for hanging and installing all of our new decor.

 

 

 

Our exam rooms:

Room 1

Shout out to our local Platte County Pirates

 

Procedure Room

Our procedure room is an important room to highlight.   We offer many services to keep patients out of local ERs, urgent cares, specialists offices, etc.  We are able to care for lacerations, skin lesions, IV hydration, simple fractures, electrocardiograms, and stat blood work to name a few.

 

 

 

Additional decor:

 

Hope to see you soon!

Ann Riggs, DO

Patient-Driven Affordable Healthcare