Previewing Medical Economics Insider: A deep dive into direct primary care

The latest edition of Medical Economics Insider will be published May 12, 2026, with a new digital edition dedicated to direct primary care (DPC).

Direct primary care? What’s that?

It’s a practice model that has helped independent physicians continue guiding patient health care with autonomy and without the requirements — some might say constraints — of a hospital, insurance or corporate setting.

That’s not to say there aren’t good doctors in hospitals and health systems, or that patients don’t experience successful outcomes in those settings. It’s just that some physicians want to be their own boss and remain in charge of clinical aspects of patient treatment and the business side of practice management. For some physicians, direct primary care is the best way to do that.

One of the best ways to learn more is to hear from doctors who work in that practice model. The new edition will feature insights from four physicians who succesfully made the switch to direct primary care. Earlier this year, Medical Economics and Physicians Practice hosted an online event to let them talk with each other about their careers before and after making the switch.

• Rebekah Bernard, M.D., was the moderator. She is the founder of Gulf Coast Direct Primary Care in Fort Myers, Florida, and creator of the Physicians Taking Back Medicine articles and podcast.
• Richard Berry, M.D., is the founder of Maple Health Direct Primary Care outside Cleveland, Ohio.
• Maryal Concepcion, M.D., FAAFP, is the creator of the @MyDPCStory podcast and founder of Big Trees MD in Arnold, California.
• Kelsey Smith, M.D., is founder of Pioneer Health Direct Primary Care in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and president of DPC Alliance.

When considering direct primary care, physicians rightly ask about how to find patients and what income levels to expect. The panelists explain that DPC is not necessarily easy, but it can be satisfying and give you a steady income. There’s also a surprising amount of flexibility: DPC is not one-size-fits-all, or even one-size-fits-most. Physicians who develop awareness of local market conditions can tailor their direct primary care practices to their communities. Flexibility with panel size means there’s time for life outside the office.

And if you haven’t seen Medical Economics Insider, get ready for an online publication with exclusive reporting and embedded multimedia such as video interviews. There are lists of questions physicians should ask themselves about their professional satisfaction, including contact information to learn more.

As always, Medical Economics remains dedicated to delivering top-tier content that helps you adapt and excel. Join us on May 12 for the latest edition of Medical Economics Insider!

Past editions: Medical Economics Insider: A Decade of Value-Based Care

Medical Economics Insider: Save Your Practice