Subscription-based health visits offer patients alternative to stay in Anthem’s network

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

MU Health Care and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield could not agree on a contract, leaving thousands of patients to look for other health care options to stay in Anthem's network.

Direct primary care -- a subscription-based form of health care -- began in the 2000's and doctors say it is growing in popularity.

"You can come in as much as you want, you get all of your acute care, all your chronic disease management, all your generic meds," Dr. Adam Wheeler, with Big Tree Medical, in Columbia said.

Membership fees for direct primary care can range between $50-$150 a month, depending on the clinic and the services included. At Big Tree Medical, their services range from $40-$150 a month.

Some clinics also offer group plans for families and businesses. Wheeler said he says roughly 15-20 patients a day.

"I love it because i really feel like it aligns my incentives with my patients incentives and the traditional health care system has those things at odds," Wheeler said.

Wheeler says the service helps improve the patient-doctor relationship and gives patients quicker access to care compared to a traditional health care setting.

"From what we are hearing at other clinics it's about six months for a new patient appointment and we have appointments available today," Wheeler said.

The monthly service also allows patients to save on other medical services ranging from prescriptions to X-rays.

"We have our own pharmacy, so all generic medications are included for free with a membership," Wheeler said. "We offer free X-rays and do labs at about 90% off what insurance companies pay,"

While direct primary care covers routine medical needs, patients may still need traditional insurance for hospital stays, emergencies, and specialized care, according to Wheeler.

Daryl Coward is a patient at Big Tree Medical in Columbia. He has been using the service for about six months and pays an $80 monthly fee. He said the subscription makes going to the doctor more enjoyable.

"I go to the doctor now and before i didn't really go that much because it was always difficult, and the other places are more like corporate they have certain constraints they have ten minutes and they are like a business and this is like a family," Coward said.

Wheeler says Big Tree Medial accepts Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield.

For patients who live in rural areas, Wheeler said those patients would benefit from Direct Primary Care as it uses technology like tech messages and video visits to provide care.

Other direct primary care clinics available in Mid-Missouri include Health-1 and Liberty Family Medicine in Columbia and Innovative Medical Clinic in Jefferson City.

Big Tree Medical's flagship location is in Columbia, where it also operates a dedicated pediatric clinic. Additional locations can be found in Jefferson City, Boonville, and Sedalia.

Concierge care is another form of subscription-based health care.

"Concierge care tends to come with a higher price tag, targeting those in a certain income bracket. Our goal is to keep our monthly membership fee as affordable as possible so we can serve as many families and individuals in mid-Missouri as possible without the burden of skyrocketing healthcare costs,' Big Tree spokeswoman Isabella Janney.