How direct primary care actually works.
Direct primary care (DPC) is a payment model in which patients pay their family doctor directly through a flat monthly membership — rather than routing every visit through health insurance. The practice doesn't bill insurance for visits, which lets the doctor see far fewer patients per year, spend longer per visit, and offer expedited access — often same or next day for emergencies.
DPC is not health insurance and does not replace it. It covers everyday primary care — wellness visits, sick visits, chronic disease, mental health, pediatrics, women's health. For hospitalizations, surgeries, specialists, and emergencies you should still carry insurance, Medicare, or a health-sharing plan.
At Mark Family Health in Las Vegas, membership covers all of the services listed on the services page. Plan tiers and rates will be published before the August 2026 opening.
The math is simple.
A smaller panel
A typical primary care doctor has 2,000–3,000 patients on their panel. A direct primary care doctor has a few hundred. Same hours in the day; far more time per patient.
No insurance overhead
About a quarter of every dollar in conventional primary care goes to billing, coding, prior auth, and denials. DPC removes that work entirely — and that time goes back into your visit.
Aligned incentives
When the doctor is paid by the patient, not the insurer, the doctor's incentive is to keep you healthy and accessible — not to push more visits through the calendar.
Direct primary care vs. conventional primary care.
| What | Direct primary care | Conventional |
|---|---|---|
| How you pay | Flat monthly fee directly to the practice | Co-pays, deductibles, surprise billing |
| Visit length | 45 minutes (standard) | 8–15 minutes (national average) |
| Panel size | A few hundred patients per doctor | 2,000–3,000 patients per doctor |
| Expedited access | Often same or next day for emergencies | Often unavailable; redirects to urgent care |
| Direct messaging | Yes — text or video, your doctor | Portal tickets routed to staff |
| Insurance billing | Never — DPC and insurance are separate | Every visit billed and reconciled |
| Annual physical | Included; 60+ minutes | Limited by what insurance pays |
Common questions.
Still curious? Reserve a welcome visit and ask in person — there's no obligation, and Dr. Mark answers every question that comes up.
Direct primary care (DPC) is a payment model in which patients pay their primary care physician a flat monthly membership fee directly, instead of paying through insurance. The practice doesn't bill insurance for visits, which lets the doctor see fewer patients, spend more time per visit, and offer expedited access — often same or next day for emergencies. DPC is not insurance — it's the relationship with your family doctor, paid for directly.