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

Fuel with Fiber!

All of us have been told to add fiber in our diet. This is because there are so many health benefits and most Americans only get about half of the recommended fiber per day. Lets breakdown the details of fiber and why it is an essential part of our diet.

What is Fiber?

· It is a type of carbohydrate. Don’t panic! Most carbs are broken down into sugars, which we associate with diabetes and being bad for our health. Fiber cannot be broken down into sugar and instead has a positive effect on our body!

Some Benefits of Fiber:

· Reduces the risk of heart disease and diabetes.

· Lowers cholesterol.

· Helps prevent constipation.

· Aids with weight loss.

How much do we need?

· Approximately 25-35 grams/day.

A nutrition label explaining Fiber.

What are good sources of fiber?

• Whole grains, fruits and vegetables, beans, legumes, nuts, and seeds.

Tips to increase Fiber in your diet:

• Skip fruit juices and eat whole fruits instead!
• Substitute white rice, bread, flour, and pasta for whole grain alternatives.
• Add fiber slowly into your diet and it’s very important to increase water intake as you increase fiber.
• Still need help getting fiber in your diet? There are over the counter fiber supplements that come in variety of forms.

Fiber can be an easy addition to your diet to help meet your healthcare goals this 2021!

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

My Epiphany as a Doctor: Navigating Today’s Healthcare for My Own Family–Part 1(VIDEO)

Giving Up Traditional Insurance

My Epiphany as a Doctor: Navigating Today’s Healthcare for My Own Family–Part 3

Mind-Blowing Healthcare Savings–$$$$

My traditional high deductible healthcare insurance plan I carried in 2016 was increasing from $820.00 per month to $2100.00 per month with an even higher deductible.

I was looking at an annual premium cost of $25,200.00

Year One(2017)

When we made the transition to the cost sharing program with Liberty HealthShare in 2017 it made sense as long as we were healthy.  The cost savings were profound.  We opted for their top coverage:  Liberty Complete

With the Liberty HealthShare option we chose we have an annual registration fee of $75.00 and pay $449.00/month for our family of four.

I was now looking at an annual “premium” of $5,463.00

Now we had a few medical bills in 2017:

• an MRI for my husband’s shoulder $240.00
• a screening mammogram for me $200.00
• remember I am a family practitioner so some minor coughs/colds etc. would be handled by me that we will account for $500.00

Our general out-of-pocket expenses for the year were around $940.00.  Let’s round that number up for a few other incidentals and we are at $1000.00 for the year.

So our first year savings came out to almost $19,000.00

Year Two(2018)

So year two brings on a different twist as we have a medical need arise.  Craig’s MRI and poor response to conservative therapy leads to major surgery.  We researched our options and chose the Surgery Center of Oklahoma.

Our annual “premium” is still $5,463.00

Craig’s Surgery and Rehabilitation Costs:

• Surgical Consultation:  $200.00
• Surgery Center of Oklahoma:  $5,749.00*
• Continuous Passive Motion(CPM) Chair:  $775.00
• Physical Therapy: $540.00

*includes surgeon fee, facility fee, and anesthesia fee

Liberty HealthShare Shared Amounts(reimbursements):

• Surgical Consultation:  $200
• Surgery Center of Oklahoma:  $4,249.00
• CPM Chair:  $0
• Physical Therapy:  $0

Our final unshared(out-of-pocket) amount we were responsible for was only $2,815.00

So in two years after leaving traditional health insurance we will have saved about $35,000 with a major event occurring

If I still haven’t convinced you…

Now let’s go back to the traditional insurance world…the national average projected cost for arthroscopic shoulder surgery with one of the major insurance carriers in the United States is:

• Facility and Anesthesia Fee:  $16,150.00*
• Surgeon fee:  $8,985.00
• Total:  $25,135.00

*based on outpatient surgery, national average for inpatient surgery increases that fee by $11,000

In contrast the fair pricing found with the Healthcare Bluebook

Why didn’t I leave traditional insurance sooner?!?!?!?!?!

This is true healthcare reform with patient-driven affordable healthcare.

 

Ann Riggs, DO

Patient-Driven Affordable Healthcare

 

 

Setting the Stage for my Next Blog Series…

My Epiphany as a Doctor: Navigating Today’s Healthcare for My Own Family…coming soon!

 

 

 

Ann Riggs, DO

Patient-Driven Affordable Healthcare

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

More Frazzled Than Dazzled?

Whether you are traveling or hosting the holidays, this time of year brings with it an abundance of stress. Finding the perfect gifts and dealing with difficult family members can, for some, overshadow the reason for the season. Oh, and everyday life keeps on ticking as well.

What can we do to slow down, relax, remain healthy and enjoy??

Try this simple breathing exercise. It’s called the 4-7-8 breath and can actually alter our nervous system. It is calming and relaxing, it is free and it is easy!

First, exhale completely, blow all that stress and frustration OUT.

Second, inhale through your nose to the mental count of 4.

Third, hold your breath for a mental count of 7.

Next, exhale through your mouth to a mental count of 8.

Lastly, repeat this sequence for a total of 4 breath cycles.

I recommend starting and ending your day with this breathing exercise and adding it in any time you feel stressed throughout your day.

This is quick, anyone can do it and it has research proven health/relaxation benefits.

This simple breathing technique can help us erase some of the stress in our busy lives.

The power of the breath! Is it really that easy? Try it and find out. Prepare to be Dazzled!!

—Beckie Moore, Integrative Family Nurse Practitioner

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