The Rise of Direct Primary Care in West Michigan
West Michigan is witnessing a significant shift in healthcare with the growing popularity of direct primary care practices. These practices operate on a membership model, where patients pay a monthly fee for primary care services, rather than relying on traditional health insurance.
Dr. Fred Reyelts, a 35-year family physician and founder of MI Partner Health, believes the current healthcare system is broken. “I refuse to enable a broken system. We have a great sick care system; we don’t have a great health care system,” Reyelts said. His practice, based in Grand Rapids, allows patients to pay a monthly membership fee for comprehensive primary care, enabling physicians to spend more time with patients, especially those with chronic conditions.
The membership model is gaining traction among doctors in West Michigan who see it as a better way to practice medicine. Other practices, such as Exponential Health and Concierge Medicine of West Michigan, are also expanding their operations. Exponential Health, for instance, has opened a second location in Holland and plans to add more locations this year.
Mark Blocher, founder and CEO of Christian Healthcare Centers, attributes the growth of the direct primary care model to the shortcomings of “big box medicine.” “They seem to be driven more by payments than they are caring for the patients, so a lot of people are falling through the cracks,” Blocher said. Christian Healthcare Centers has attracted about 1,000 patients to its Grand Rapids practice and plans to expand to Holland.
The direct primary care model mirrors how healthcare operated in the past, with patients paying directly for doctor visits and maintaining catastrophic health insurance for severe cases. This approach is particularly appealing in an era where many consumers have high-deductible health plans.
These practices are also targeting companies that self-fund their employee health coverage. MI Partner Health currently covers about 5,000 lives and works with six employers, with plans to expand to more companies. Exponential Health works with nearly 250 companies and focuses on regenerative medicine, including genetic profiling of new patients.
The growth of direct primary care is driven by consumers’ and employers’ frustration with the increasingly expensive healthcare system and the growing demands on physicians. By spending more time with patients, direct primary care practices aim to provide more personalized care and better management of chronic conditions.
Industry experts believe that direct primary care practices are on the cusp of significant growth. A PitchBook report estimated the current direct primary care market in the U.S. at $24 billion, with potential for further expansion. As employers seek alternative mechanisms to reduce healthcare spending while supporting employee well-being, direct primary care is poised to become a more mainstream option.
“I think we’ll see that in the next couple of years we’ll hit the tipping point. We get to be more than norm, and then you’re going to see this flood through,” Dr. Reyelts predicted.
