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How fast is direct primary care growing?

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It has long been known that the number of direct primary care (DPC) practices is increasing throughout the US. A concept that began in its current form only around the turn of the 21st century, the DPC practice is growing in popularity among independent physicians who no longer want to deal with insurance companies and with patients who appreciate the more personalized service they receive from their physicians.

The exact number of DPCs has only recently been mapped, however, and those numbers are showing significant increases in numbers of practices, numbers of patients, and average numbers of patients per practice. The DPC Trends Report uses the data from the mapping project to cull specific numbers and trends among DPC practices.

Data from the mapper shows that the number of DPC practices has increased to 620 in 2017, from 125 in 2014 when the data was first tracked. The total number of DPC patients in 2017 was 173,042, an increase from 5,988 in 2014. Average number of patients per practice increased to 279.1 in 2017, from 47.9 in 2014. Data for each year shows a steady and significant increase:

Number of DPC practices Estimated number of DPC patients Average number of patients per practice
2014 125 5,988 47.9
2015 290 37,758 130.2
2016 445 85,129 191.3
2017 620 173,042 279.1

There are still no reported DPC practices in North Dakota or South Dakota, but the mapper has tracked practices in all other 48 states as well as Washington, DC.

The numbers as tracked over the past four years are probably conservative, as no precise census exists yet to determine the exact number of DPC practices across the country. However, the mapper definitely shows a fast-growing movement toward the DPC practice for both patients and independent physicians across the US.

About the Author

Leona Rajaee is Elation’s Content Marketing Manager, bringing a unique blend of expertise in health policy and communication. She holds a BS in Journalism and Science, Technology, and Society from California Polytechnic State University and an MS in Health Policy and Law from the University of California, San Francisco. Since joining Elation, Leona has passionately contributed to the company’s blog, utilizing her knowledge to illuminate the complexities of health policy.

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