What About OB?

Multiple DPC Summit attendees have asked about whether continuing OB is possible within the DPC arena.  

Including OB can be tricky.  I do not know a lot about Cottontree Family Practice (in Utah), but according to their website their medical services include "complete obstetrical care including delivery."

When it comes to negotiating cash prices for obstetrical care, keep in mind that most hospitals are capable of doing this, but it would probably require persistence on your part.  Every once in a while you run across refreshing examples like Good Sheppard Health System where you know up front that the cost of a delivery will be $2,750.  

Missouri is Lucky #13, Florida Less Fortunate

I'm happy to report that Governor Nixon (of Missouri) finally decided to sign DPC legislation on July 2 (after sitting on it for over a month)!  See the Missouri page for my general thoughts about the legislation.  

Florida's House passed DPC legislation in a special June 2015 session, but the Senate decided not to hear any additional legislation when debates about other Medicaid legislation stalled.

I am not aware of any other states with pending legislation at this time, but I am aware that discussions have been started in Wyoming, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York and likely many others.  Please send me a message if you have any legislative updates to report.

Hopefully each of you are planning to attend the DPC Summit in Kansas City (see the events page) later this week - if so I will see you there!

Texas is #12, Florida and Missouri Still Possible

Texas became the 12 state to enact DPC legislation on May 28, 2015.  The law is effective immediately and offers helpful protections to Texas DPC docs.  The "scope" provision (section 5) of the legislation was well written and the critical "not insurance" protections were present, but their definitions of "direct care" and "direct primary care" were ambiguous and unhelpful when compared to other state and federal legislation.

The Missouri governor continues to ponder whether he should sign DPC legislation that was passed by both the House and Senate on May 6, 2015.  I have no idea what he is waiting on.

A Florida special house session has been convened and we might have good news about proposed DPC legislation later this month.  The bill appears to have broad support, so whether it passes will likely depend on the level of attention it receives on the busy House calendar.