September 21, 2025 • 48 mins
Today host Dr. Maryal Concepcion, MD FAAFP interviews Dr. Teresa Lovins, MD FAAFP and a nationally recognized family physician and owner of Lovin My Health Direct Primary Care (DPC) in Columbus, Indiana. Dr. Lovins shares her journey from traditional fee-for-service medicine to the DPC model, highlighting how DPC restores physician joy, prevents burnout, and strengthens doctor-patient relationships. She dispels common DPC myths, discusses the model’s affordability and accessibility, and explains how DPC empowers doctors to provide comprehensive, personalized care—including to patients without insurance. Dr. Lovins also offers insights on running a micro DPC practice, fostering community among independent physicians, and recent legislative wins that allow HSA funds for DPC memberships. With her candid perspective, Dr. Lovins demonstrates why DPC is a viable, rewarding option for family medicine physicians and patients alike. Tune in for first-hand advice, community-building tips, and a hopeful outlook on the future of primary care. THE ONLY AAFP PRESIDENT-ELECT CANDIDATE THIS YEAR who actively sees patients and has seen both insurance and non-insurance driven models IS DR. TERESA LOVINS. CONTACT YOUR AAFP DELEGATE, TELL THEM WHY YOU NEED THEM TO VOTE FOR DR. LOVINS AND HELP ENSURE THE FUTURE OF FAMILY MEDICINE HAS DR. LOVINS AT THE HELM ADVOCATING FOR THE FUTURE OF FAMILY MEDICINE WHERE ALL MODELS OF FAMILY MEDICINE ARE CELEBRATED.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (00:04):
Direct Primary care is an innovative
alternative path toinsurance-driven healthcare.
Typically, a patient pays theirdoctor a low monthly membership
and in return builds a lastingrelationship with their doctor
and has their doctor availableat their fingertips.
Welcome to the my DPC storypodcast, where each week.
(00:26):
You will hear the ever sorelatable stories shared by
physicians who have chosen topractice medicine in their
individual communities throughthe direct primary care model.
I'm your host, Marielleconception family physician,
DPC, owner, and former fee forService.
Doctor, I hope you enjoy today'sepisode and come away feeling
inspired about the future ofpatient care direct Primary
(00:49):
care.
Dr. Teresa Lovins (00:53):
I want you to know that direct primary care is
the best way for a familyphysician to create a
relationship.
It is the relationships that wehave with our patients that
gives us joy.
That joy in medicine is veryimportant.
It keeps us from burnout.
It keeps us happy, it keeps uspracticing longer.
(01:14):
So DPC is the way to do that.
To have that relationship tocreate that that power to the
two of you together.
I am Dr.
Theresa Levins of love in myhealth, DPC, and this is my DPC
story
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (01:35):
Dr.
Theresa Lovins, MD, FAAFP is anationally recognized family
physician and current member ofthe American Academy of Family
Physicians Board of Directors,and today is a physician owner
of Lovin My Health DirectPrimary Care in her hometown of
Columbus, Indiana, Dr.
Lovins has been a lifelongadvocate for patients and family
physicians serving as pastpresident of the Indiana Academy
(01:55):
of Family Physicians.
Trustee for the Indiana StateMedical Association and delegate
to the AAFP Congress ofDelegates for the past eight
years.
She has dedicated her career toadvancing family medicine and
improving healthcare access.
And now she's running for AAFPPresident-elect, bringing her
passion for innovation,leadership, and advocacy to the
national stage.
(02:17):
We are almost two Octoberpeople, and October is the big
month where the Congress ofDelegates is going to be
congregating doing their thingand voting the next American
Academy of Family PracticePresident and I have.
The fantastic Dr.
Theresa Levins.
I even like, even in preparationfor this interview, I was like,
she already has her entirecampaign written out for her
(02:39):
with a jingle and everything.
And I kept on singing to my kidslike, da da da, I'm loving it.
And so, I am so excited to haveyou on the podcast running for
the American Academy of FamilyPractice.
Presidential slot to elevatewhat you are doing as a
physician to elevate what we areall doing as DPC physicians and
what we are doing as familymedicine physicians.
(03:01):
So welcome, welcome, welcome tothe podcast, Dr.
Levins.
Dr. Teresa Lovins (03:04):
Thank you.
I appreciate it very much.
So,
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (03:06):
when we think about.
You being in the place that youare at the spot of running for
the National Organization ofFamily Practice Physicians that
most of us know about, most ofus.
How have, at some point in ourcareer, been a part of, if not,
we're still a part of sincemedical school?
I'm wondering if you can justbring us back to the start of
your family medicine journey.
Dr. Teresa Lovins (03:27):
I, only ever knew a family doctor growing up.
Ironically this space that I'min for my DPC practice was his
first space in town, so I'm backin my hometown.
Wow.
And so I really got to know whatfamily medicine was all about.
And when I went off to college,I really thought I wanted to be
a high school science teacherand some interesting person in
(03:51):
the class sitting next to mesaid, Hey, you know all the
classes you're taking for thatyou could get into medical
school.
And I went.
Hadn't thought about it.
But then I actually startedlooking into it a little bit
more.
Got involved with the medical,actually was an interest group
of college students looking atmedi medicine and started doing
(04:11):
some research in the medicalschool lab and then decided to
go to medical school.
It was really interesting inmedical school.
Every single rotation that Iwent through, it was like, I
wanna do this, I wanna do this,I wanna do this.
And I finally realized, duh,that's family medicine.
And so, from that standpoint, Igot involved with the family
(04:34):
medicine interest group here inIndiana.
Got very active in the IndianaAcademy as a student, and then
again as a resident, and havebeen active since that time.
In, in.
Organized medicine
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (04:46):
That's great.
And I'm, I'm wondering.
Fast forwarding a little bitbecause you are running for the
president of the A A FP, what doyou see right now when it comes
to people who were, who are inthe shoes that you were once in
as a student, as a medicalstudent resident attending who
are actively making waves in theissues with accessibility that
(05:10):
we have in primary care.
Dr. Teresa Lovins (05:12):
I, I think that a lot of the interest in
students and residents is tryingto figure out where they're
gonna fit into being a part ofthe family medicine movement.
And so it's very important thatwe make sure that they're aware
of how variety the careeroptions are in family medicine
from anything to everything.
(05:34):
When I.
Initially started my practice.
I worked with a great big group.
There were 10 of us in the groupand we did full spectrum family
medicine with ob and I reallyhad never thought about anything
else than that.
And so, making sure that thosestudents and residents know that
they have.
The ability to do what theywanna do when they leave
(05:57):
residency is very important tome.
And I think if we can keep theminterested in family medicine,
then we're gonna keep them asphysicians and we're gonna keep
them being able to see patientsin the communities where
they're, where they're serving.
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (06:12):
I will say keeping people interested
is, is like the understatementof the the need thing that we
need right now at this time inthis country's healthcare
journey because we know that thebaby boomers are needing primary
care.
We know that.
People who are young and aregoing to be losing access to
(06:32):
Medi-Cal Medicaid benefits orgoing to be needing to prove
that they're working to accesscertain benefits.
Primary care where we deal with80 to 90% of everyday issues for
everyday Americans is so neededand it is so rewarding of a
career.
I, before we started recording,I mentioned that this has been
the most DPC days of DPC daysfor me.
(06:54):
And, I, I will.
Say that in another in anotherrecording.
Deep dive into my, not even 4:00PM Pacific time right now, but
for you, I'd love if you cantell us about your practice
because I do think that there'sgoing to be people listening who
are sort of aware of what DPCis, but they're also people who
are saying, but I thought it'sconcierge medicine.
(07:16):
But I thought it's for richpeople, but I thought that
people who have Medi-Cal orMedicaid can't access it.
So tell us a day in the life ofDr.
Theresa Levins at Love in myHealth.
DPC.
Dr. Teresa Lovins (07:28):
So I come into the office significantly
before my first patient isscheduled just to make sure
everything is ready because I ama micropractice.
I don't even have any staffhere, and so I try to make sure
everything is ready to go when Iget here.
Today I've done a well childvisit with vaccinations.
I did a physical on a patientwho hadn't had one since her
(07:50):
child who's 12 years old, hadher last.
Physical done.
I have taken care of wartstoday.
I've taken care of some skincancers.
I think let's see, what elsehave I done?
I mean, it's just been a veryday.
I mean, just anything that walksthrough the door is just
something different.
This particular practice of mineis now five years.
(08:10):
I made the lucky honor of havingdecided to do this during COVID
and got it started and it'sgrown just like I've wanted it
to, which is kind of slow, whichis okay for me.
That has allowed me to be activein the A A FP and do the
advocacy that the they needed,as well as what they needed at
(08:31):
the.
State level.
I have a colleague who's here intown you, you've interviewed her
Dr.
Dorn Feld.
And she assured me that anythingthat I needed, we could share.
And so we do we share vaccines,we share equipment, we share
supplies.
So it makes it very convenientto have somebody kind of right
here in town who can be here forme and then.
(08:52):
Just moving through thepractice.
I, it's not concierge.
I, yes, I have patients who havequite a bit of money, who have
good insurance, but they'vechosen to come see me because
they like the access, they likethe ability to just talk to me
and to.
Spend a little bit longer timewith me.
Or when they bring in theirchild with a rash, they wanna
(09:14):
talk to me about theirmenopausal symptoms.
It just makes it easier.
I also have patients in mypractice who don't have
insurance who either have aMedi-Share kind of coverage or
actually don't have any coverageat all.
And so I work with them to tryand help them find medicines and
just.
Any way that I can to help themsave money.
(09:34):
And then there's that wholegroup of patients that have
those high deductible plans.
Seems like there's a lot ofthose in Indiana.
There's a lot of employersponsored insurance that's all
self-funded.
And so that's how they come upwith their pricing.
And so the ability to try andhelp navigate the healthcare
system, keep them in my officeas long as I can before they
have to go.
(09:55):
See the specialist or get thediagnostic tests done it all
gets done and it all gets doneby me and I love it.
It's a part of I think justbeing involved in that part of
medicine that when I was doingcorporate medicine, it wasn't.
It wasn't things that I wasasked to do, but things that I
was interested in.
(10:16):
And I think there was a timewhen I had an office manager who
was a little scared because itseemed like I was asking the
wrong questions to her.
And and it became a littleanimosity to it.
But I love what I'm doing now.
This.
Was probably the best thing forme.
Been married for over 35 yearsand my husband said I'm a much
happier person now, he's not inmedicine.
(10:37):
He, he laughed.
He told me he's an accountantand accountants by nature are
risk adverse, and he said, yougotta do this because this is
just what I had when I grew uphere in town with my family doc.
And you've gotta do that ifthat's what you wanna do.
Part of my campaign, my campaignfor the A A FP is looking at joy
(11:01):
in medicine.
And I think I just got so burnedout with corporate medicine and
being employed that I waslooking for something and I had
heard about the DPC movementbefore.
But it really was just more of aoff.
Hand comment out there.
And when I started looking at itmore, it became so much more
intriguing to me and it just, itcame at the right time for me.
(11:24):
And I am so ecstatic that I'vedone it.
When patients ask me, well, whyisn't this concierge medicine?
And I'm like, well, I don't.
I, I deal with insurance to helppatients get their prior
approvals to get their X-rays,but I don't bill insurance.
And so, that is the big deal forme about the difference between
DPC and concierge care.
(11:44):
One of the first concierge caresor at least they call themselves
concierge.
I was here in Indiana.
It was a big one in, inIndianapolis, and that's what
was known through the area.
So introducing DPC.
I actually was the firstphysician, DPC practice in
southern Indiana, which is a, adecent size area.
(12:05):
There's an interstate that goesacross the middle, which is U
which is Interstate 70, and.
Basically anything south of 70down to the state border is
considered southern Indiana.
I'm actually at the very centerof that southern part of
Indiana, and there was no DPCpractices.
There's many more of us now, andI, I, I'm glad to be a part of
(12:27):
it, we have our own DPC Facebookfor Indiana.
And so it's fun to be able toshare things and to talk to
people who are setting up and,and knowing the laws and knowing
how to do things in Indiana hasbeen helpful.
So that made it easier and I, Ilove being able to share that
knowledge with them.
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (12:44):
That's fantastic.
And I, I think so many thingswhen you're sharing about your
clinic, when you're sharingabout your journey
transitioning.
State of joy that you have nowcompared to what, you described
as burnout prior.
And one of the things I thinkabout when people do hear about
DPC a, a very common thing Ihear from people who are
learning about the movement is,but Dr.
(13:06):
Lovens, aren't you always oncall then?
Like, don't you, do you ever getto sleep?
So what would you say to thosepeople who are, concerned about
burnout because DPC is another.
Is another way to be a, a familydoctor in this, this time in our
country's history that ismoldable, but that doesn't
demand that it's going to comewith burnout if you choose to
(13:27):
not have it come with burnout.
Dr. Teresa Lovins (13:29):
Well, I think very much so.
Setting boundaries with thepatients is helpful, but
honestly, because it's arelationship between me and the
patient, they get to know metoo.
And so they're not calling me onthe weekend.
They're not calling me in themiddle of the night.
I had a patient who texted me atat 5 0 5 and she realized it was
(13:49):
5 0 5 and she said, I don'texpect you to answer me till
tomorrow.
I'm like, it's 5 0 5, I cananswer you.
So I really think there's apiece of it that because the
patients have that relationshipwith me.
They're less likely to interferewith those boundaries.
When I was in that big practice,you didn't know who was gonna
call you, you didn't know whowas gonna be on call.
(14:09):
And so I feel like those callswere significantly worse than
anything I've ever had in thissetting.
I get maybe one or two texts onthe weekend and answer it very
quickly.
Have told patients that if I'mavailable, I'm willing to see
them if they need to be, but.
That's happened twice in fiveyears.
So, and they were babies.
I mean, you just, you, you can'tnot see a baby if they're sick.
(14:33):
So yeah, I, I don't think that.
I don't think that I've becomeoverwhelmed by the patient
interactions.
And definitely burnout has notbeen an issue for me in, in this
setting.
I, I get that myth of, of peoplewho are like, oh, how can you do
that?
How can you do that?
Well, the difference is 500patients versus 2,500 patients.
(14:56):
And I know these 500 patientsand it's really interesting.
I, my.
My phone tells me who it isthat's calling, but most of the
time I know their voice.
And because we've just had thatkind of relationship I had a
patient come in today.
She goes, you just have such alaid back kind of office and,
and I just really like it andI'm like.
That's me, so that's okay.
(15:17):
I, I put out some pillows todaythat are Halloween pillows, and
a little girl came in and shewas just hugging them and having
fun with it.
It, it's just, I, I feel likeit's a home for them and, and I
want it to feel verycomfortable.
That's, that's my goal in DPC isto make people feel comfortable
approaching medicine and gettingthe care they need.
So.
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (15:37):
I love it and I love, the, the description
of relationship-based medicine.
This is what I think, especiallyfamily medicine doctors, primary
care doctors really go intoprimary care for, and I love
that you are delivering that.
one thing that you mentioned ismyths that you hear.
And so I would love to hear whatother common myths do you hear
about direct primary?
Direct primary care?
(15:57):
Because I have my list that Icommonly hear, but I'd love to
hear yours.
Dr. Teresa Lovins (16:02):
Well, I think the biggest one that I hear is
people are worried about thefuture of family medicine and
the ability for us to seepatients.
But so much through what I'veseen, and even in my own case,
if I had not have found this, Iprobably wouldn't be in clinical
medicine.
And so.
(16:23):
I'm seeing 500 patients that ifI had not done this, I would not
be seeing them.
So there's this myth that we'renot gonna have enough doctors,
but if we're all getting burnedout and we're all quitting the
profession, we're not gonna haveenough doctors.
I think that's probably thebiggest one that I see from my
advocacy.
(16:43):
C with the A A FP is people areworried about that.
But when I reassure them thatthere are so many DPC docs who
have been through that burnoutand have made that conscious
decision to do DPC versusquitting medicine that's a
significant number of physiciansthat are staying in medicine,
and I think that's important.
(17:04):
I think the other one is thatwhole myth about, well, it's
only for rich people.
I guarantee you.
I, I live in a town that has adecent per capita if you want.
But the people that are comingto me are the people who can't
afford insurance or who work ata small factory who need help
and care and those people whodon't have insurance.
(17:25):
So it's, it's not for thewealthy.
It is definitely not for thewealthy, and I love that my
patients come to me, even ifthey have insurance and they're
like, Dr.
Levins, you can provide me withmedicines cheaper than I'm gonna
get at the pharmacy.
Do you mind writing my, do youmind filling my prescriptions?
I'm like, no.
That's what I'm here for, is tomake things cheaper for you.
Or drawing blood on patients andmaking sure that we can, save
(17:48):
them money from that standpointis very important to the whole
philosophy of DPC and I, and Ilove the fact that I can do that
for my patients.
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (17:57):
Amen.
And I, I cannot echo that enoughbecause literally when you get
the freedom to practice in theway that you need to for your
patients, and every patient isgoing to be different, and
you're able to be creativebecause that's what you get paid
to do, you're literally workingfor them.
It is, it is a completelydifferent.
Game.
And I will say absolutely thosemyths are very, very common.
(18:18):
And I'm glad that you address'embecause I do think that this is
where more and more people arebecoming aware that these are
myths.
More and more people arechoosing DPC, like we saw, I I
wanna say two years ago.
I, I wanna say that the.
The data that we got at the DPCNational Summit that the A A FP
co-sponsors was that in one yearwe had gone from like 4.5 to
(18:39):
percent to over 9% of A A FPmembers identifying as DPC and
I, I'm like.
Also, I wonder what's under thehood of the people who are
planning on DPC who are aren'tidentifying as DPC yet.
And so I'm so excited to see youand see Dr.
Tom White at in Anaheim.
So definitely, if you are a DPCfan, come find one of us and
(19:01):
talk more about DPC.
We love talking about it when itcomes to practice scope.
This is another myth that Ihear, and I mean, even today
you're like, skin cancer andwarts and all the, all the
things.
I, I would love to hear yourperspective on does DPC limit
your scope of practice, or howdoes it work for you in terms of
(19:22):
enabling you to be the doctoryou need to be for your
patients, which could requiredifferent skills on different
days?
Dr. Teresa Lovins (19:31):
Many years ago the A A FP brought forth
this package of this basket ofservices that family medicine
should be able to do.
And when that came out, it wasway in the two thousands.
But when that came out, I neverunderstood.
What that basket meant, becausebeing employed, I was kind of
dictated to what I could do, howlong I had with patients.
(19:52):
And so I made lots of referralsfor patients and, and because I
couldn't do the things I wantedto do for them in the practice.
So then they got referred out tothe specialist and the
specialist took care of all ofthat.
Well, I really feel like my DPCpractices allowed me to open
back up my specialty and theservices I can provide.
(20:12):
Because I have the time to do itand I can spend the time to do
the workup.
I don't have to send them rightto the cardiologist for blood
pressure that's not undercontrol or troubles with their
cholesterol.
I can work with them because Ihave a much more close
relationship with them, and it'snot time to, to a five minute
visit or a seven minute visit.
(20:32):
And so I, I, my favorite is whenI get a new patient.
They are scheduled on myschedule for an hour and a half.
They don't know that.
They just know they have a newpatient visit and the clock for
them is behind them in myoffice.
And I love it when I get toabout that 25, 30 minute point
and I'm still asking questionsand trying to get to know them
(20:55):
and they're looking around for aclock.
'cause they know they gotta getdone.
They gotta get done'causethey're just, I'm like, I, and
about that time I say, it'sokay.
You've got more time.
If you've got the time.
I've got the time.
And so it's just really such adifferent atmosphere, even
interacting with the patientsand giving them that time that
they really do need has been a,a, a, a wonderful thing.
(21:18):
I think the other piece for mehas been, the whole process of
learning how to run a business.
Mm-hmm.
That was my favorite line thatI've told people is You went to
medical school.
You graduated, you finishedresidency, you can run the
business.
Don't worry about that.
And if you don't wanna run thebusiness,'cause there are people
(21:39):
that don't find a practicethat's looking for a partner
because there's lots of thoseset settings where you can do
it.
But I love that part of it.
I love it Sounds really silly.
I I don't mind taking out thetrash.
I don't mind cleaning thetoilets.
I don't mind doing theinventory.
That's a piece of it that I am.
So happy to be able to do, andit's been a really fun
(22:00):
experience learning all of thosethings too as part of this.
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (22:04):
I love that.
And that's, that's perfectly.
Dovetailing into what I wantedto ask, because as you are a
micropractice clinic, you arethe, the, the, you are the
physician and the, the hat wear,as you just described, of many
different hats.
Tell us about how youadministratively manage your
day.
Because we heard about how, likethe patients that you saw today,
(22:26):
but how do you mix in theadministrative back office, so
to speak, part of your clinic sothat you are able to, not use a
waiting room for waiting.
That's a very classic thing inDPC that we joke about.
Dr. Teresa Lovins (22:36):
Yeah, absolutely.
So I figured out very early thatif I set aside time in the
schedule, so.
I have it to do that paperworkor to do that inventory, it gets
done.
And so I literally I, my, myschedule is Monday through
Friday.
(22:57):
It is scheduled nine to four 30.
I see patients before that.
I see patients after that,depending on what they need.
But I set out a two hour timeblock for meetings, for time to
do the administrative things.
And it just really made iteasier for me because I know
that.
Every Thursday I'm gonna be ableto, to set up a meeting if I
(23:17):
need to do that with somebody,or talk to a drug rep if I need
to, or just do the inventory.
VaxCare wants a inventory everyweek, and so it's very easy to
do that with that.
That, that timeframe.
So, that's how I did it.
I think, in the first couple ofmonths it, because my patients
were very far between, I wasable to do it between time, but
(23:39):
as I got a little bit busier,some days are a little bit more
full.
And so I just wanted to makesure I had a set time to do it
and, and that's how I chose todo it.
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (23:47):
And I think it's so important here to
mention that this addressesanother myth in DPC that you
know it, it's not for everybodybecause.
You're gonna get lonely.
You're, if you open and you'reby yourself, like where's the,
the, the bunch of residents whoshare the same computer room or
whatever.
So tell us about how you, tellus more about how you remain
(24:09):
part of a community of activephysician entrepreneurs.
Dr. Teresa Lovins (24:13):
I, I, I appreciate all of the different
social media outlets to be ableto interact attending the summit
getting to know people from theregion which is the Midwest
region and just being able toreach out literally reach out to
anyone I've never had.
A single other DPC doc say, Idon't have time for you right
(24:33):
now.
And so that's been very, veryhelpful.
I think, again, we have a nicesocial group on, on social media
for Indiana.
And so being able to share thatinformation where'd you find
this, where'd you find that?
How are you doing this?
And it's been, it's been a nicepiece to be able to use those
resources for me to set up thepractice.
(24:55):
Yeah.
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (24:56):
I love that.
And it's, it's ironic that youand I are recording this on
Physician Suicide Awareness Day.
I I, I actually dropped anarticle on so many docs this
morning about.
Going out to our colleagues indirect primary care and the
direct care space.
But I'm wondering if you cantalk to us in the lens of the
people who might be consideringtaking their own lives leaving
(25:18):
medicine how do you think DPCcan contribute to a person's
psyche when it comes to, themental health that we too often
put aside when we're, especiallyin primary care.
Yeah,
Dr. Teresa Lovins (25:31):
it I, I think it's very important to know that
in one of my situations, in myprevious life, I had panic
attacks going into work.
I had anxiety.
I had that whole scenario of allof the mental health issues that
were just overwhelming me.
And so I see that this hascalmed all those things down and
(25:52):
has just been such an asset tome personally.
But I also think there's anotherpiece about DPC that, that we
sometimes forget because I'm notassociated with a hospital
system.
I have lots of patients who cometo see me because I'm not
associated with a hospitalsystem.
And so that's even better from aphysician standpoint to be able
(26:13):
to.
Say, Hey, listen, I'm, no one'sgonna see your chart.
It's just me.
And there's especially for thephysicians in town.
And so, that piece I think isimportant.
We had in our littler community,it's, it's a decent sized
community, but we've had threeor four physician suicides in
the 20 some plus years I've beenhere in Columbus.
(26:36):
And so it's a, it's.
It's a very personal thing forme because I'm very open about
my mental health issues.
I've had depression postpartumstarted.
My oldest is 30, so that tellsyou how long I've, I've had a, a
diagnosis.
But when I got into that.
Career.
That job that was justoverwhelming me.
I knew I had to change.
(26:57):
I tried a couple other things inthe meantime, but this is what's
worked the best for me.
One of the things that I postedabout today about physician
suicide was the Lorna greenfoundation.
She is an emergency roomphysician who.
Got COVID and then had mentalhealth issues from her COVID.
She was having mental healthslowing.
(27:19):
She got depressed and shecommitted suicide.
During COVID and her family puttogether this wonderful
foundation that is supportingphysicians and their wellbeing,
all healthcare workers and theirwellbeing.
It started with physicians andthey actually are the underlying
force behind many stateschanging.
(27:39):
Their licensing requirements toask you about your mental
health.
And so I, I find that a verywor, worthwhile foundation to
continue to follow.
I think suicide is, is importantand I think physicians I, I.
I think physicians need to knowthat it's okay to ask for help
(28:00):
and that it's not a fault ofyours, it's a fault of the
system, that it can't take careof us to keep us healthy.
Yeah, there's things we can do.
We can be better way, do moreexercise, eat healthy, sleep
well, but I think the systemsets us up for failure and not
our failure.
And so I think it's importantthat we talk openly about
(28:22):
suicide and suicide prevention.
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (28:25):
And I will say, if you haven't heard
from someone in a while andthey're very dear to you, check
on them.
I definitely would will say thatit is so common in primary care,
especially because, it's ourfaces on the billboards.
It's our faces on the, the, thecorporate whatever advertisement
marketing campaign, and.
It's our souls that choose to gointo family medicine, primary
(28:46):
care of any sort and specialtycare.
It does feel very personalbecause most of us are going
into this because we want tohelp others.
And then, when we.
Conveniently are groomed to notremember to take care of
ourselves.
I will say that if you know of aperson who is, is in that realm,
check on them because you cancall that out because especially
(29:08):
from colleague to colleague.
We've been in the trenches,we've all been in different
residencies, different, nightcalls.
The pages have been going offand we know what it's like.
And so who best to check onsomeone, but your colleague who
has been there and done that.
So yeah, so important.
Thank you so much for mentioningthat resource and I'll make sure
it's in the show notes.
(29:29):
So my next question here is howdo we.
How do we change the landscapeof access to amazing healthcare
like you're delivering at yourDPC?
Because I think about, as I siton the strategic committee and
the education committee at theCalifornia Academy of Family
Practice chapter that I, I feelsometimes like.
I'm banging my head against awall when I talk about anything
(29:50):
other than a 9 9 2 1 3.
Let's put that 25 modifier onguys.
Like we can't forget that.
Yeah.
80 to 90% of the family medicineresidents in California go into
employed medicine, but it's alsomore and more that the.
People in first year and secondyear residency are planning on
(30:11):
going into direct primary care.
So I'm wondering if you couldtell us your thoughts and what
you're seeing from where you areat the A FP as to how we can
change the landscape to getpeople to know what family
medicine can be and to lovefamily medicine and to choose it
for their career.
Dr. Teresa Lovins (30:28):
I think part of our issue as physicians in
training as a resident, so manyof our residencies are tied to
hospital systems, and so thosehospital systems want to keep
the primary care doctors.
They're a great referralservice, right?
They know what kind of moneythey, that.
Primary care brings into theirfacilities, and so they don't
(30:48):
offer the opportunity to learnabout other options.
So I think as, as DPC doctors,we need to get out there to the
residencies and really let themsee and know about DPC and what
independent practice looks like.
Because that's, that's anotherpiece of it.
I mean, even if you don't wantto do this model, if you want to
be out and be in charge.
(31:10):
Then independent practice iswhat is a way to do that too.
So I do think that there's beena lot more social media.
I think there's been a lot moreinteractions with residencies in
Indiana there's, there's severalon our state board who are DPC
doctors, and so we've been goingto the residencies and kind of
(31:31):
teaching.
I, I have a message from aresidency wants me to come and
talk sometime.
Soon they said, and I'm like,Hmm, I have a little bit to do
in October.
But but I think it's veryimportant that we show them that
there are other options.
That being employed is not theonly option.
It was very convenient even whenI was in training, because that
(31:52):
was the point in time where youknow, knowing how to code,
knowing how to get money,knowing how to do the billing
and, and collections was.
Was very much not taught to thephysician.
And so they couldn't be thedirector, the director of their
practice if they didn't knowthose things.
And so now that it's much moreopen and there's so much more
(32:13):
ability to learn thatinformation, we really have to
be able to support them in that.
And I think that's a big partof.
How we get those residents tocontinue to want to do DPC or
how we get those physicians torealize we're not the enemy in
DPC, we're just taking care ofpatients a different way.
(32:35):
It's no different than somebodywho's doing sports medicine or
somebody who's doing, addictionmedicine.
This is just a different styleof family medicine.
But it's still medicine and it'sstill taking care of the patient
and in a way that I feel muchmore comfortable taking care of
a patient.
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (32:50):
Amen.
And I love that.
And I do think that, especiallyfor the listeners out there, if
you're like, oh my goodness, Iwould love to have a DPC doctor
come talk to my community,whether you're a resident, a
medical student, and attending,whatever the heck it is.
I definitely echo Dr.
Levinson saying just literallyGoogle your town, DPC, whatever
you got, and you'll find one ofus out there DPCs in all 50
(33:12):
states California, we have ourcali dpc.com.
So if you're in California,reach out to us.
The Indiana crew has alreadycreated their Facebook, it's
like there's community.
Where you don't know that it'sthere.
So I definitely will say it's,it's as literally as easy as
dialing one of our numbers.
I joked, I called Dr.
Lauren Hetty one day before herrecording on the podcast because
(33:35):
I knew that she was going toanswer the, the voice message
and not some assistant becauseshe's like, you a micropractice.
So I love that.
So, let me ask you here in termsof, you.
Not only being a DPC doctor, Ialso wanna talk about, how like,
like we, we were talking aboutseeing and learning about DPC is
(33:56):
so important because it canchange your trajectory as to
what you think family medicinecan be.
And so I'm wondering if you cantalk to us, because I have my
biases about this very clearly,but it's like.
What is the importance ofsomebody who is living the life
of a physician who is seeingpatients running their, their,
their practice as a physicianentrepreneur, why is it so
(34:17):
important that somebody like yoube in the presidency of the
American Academy of FamilyPractice?
Dr. Teresa Lovins (34:23):
Well, I think twofold.
There are three candidates whoare running and I think it's
very important that we keep onthat board.
Physicians who are doingclinical care and taking care of
patients and being in anindependent setting.
DPC is a form of independentfamily medicine, and I think
it's very important that wecontinue to keep that.
(34:44):
Yes, I know, I know thestatistics.
I've seen'em, it's 11% now.
But I, I, I, I think it's veryimportant that that board, that
executive team, those officersincludes.
Someone who is a minority in thestyle of medicine that they do.
And so that's what I want topresent as an, as a
(35:06):
president-elect, is the abilityto speak for those that are in
that minority and, and toreally.
Amplify the signal that it'sokay to do this.
You can survive.
You, you are not gonna beoverburdened, you are not gonna
be overwhelmed.
And so moving into that positionI think is very important for
(35:27):
allowing other family docs tosee that.
Private practice, independentpractice, clinical medicine is
still important.
And this is one style that worksvery well.
It may not work well for ahundred percent of them.
I don't expect that, but I wouldhope that we would see that that
11% keeps going up.
Especially as we're seeing the,the, the residents.
(35:48):
Being much more involved andmuch more interested.
I had a great time at the DPCsummit.
It was the biggest one I've beento and I've been to for and I
was ecstatic about just thenumber of people and the way
they had to change the, the thelecture hall because there
wasn't enough seats.
And I'm, I'm excited about that.
(36:08):
How do I wanna describe it?
I would describe it about theenthusiasm.
The enthusiasm of our membershipand doing DPC.
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (36:17):
There's so many ways that we describe
it, like drinking the DPCKool-Aid, taking the red pill,
all of the things.
It absolutely represents theenthusiasm that we have as
physician entrepreneurs becausewe are doing so much change in
our communities that we'vealways probably wanted to to be
a part of it least.
And we couldn't necessarily dothat when we were, back to back
(36:38):
Medicare physicals asking peopleif they wear their seat belts.
Right, right, exactly.
Dr. Teresa Lovins (36:43):
So, or, or asking'em a hearing screen and
then not being able to affordhearing aids.
So why, why do we screen forthat if they're, if Medicare
doesn't pay for the hearing,hearing hearing aids.
So, yeah,
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (36:53):
makes complete sense to me for sure.
So I would love here if you cangive us some examples of like
your most DPC days of DPC days,because already you've described
your day today, but I'mwondering if you can.
Leave us with some otherexamples of only in DPC could I
have achieved this.
Dr. Teresa Lovins (37:14):
I one of my days involved actually I was
heading out of my practice for ameeting and a mom called and she
said, my kid, he fell, his handhurts.
I don't know what's going on.
He won't move it.
And I actually.
Stopped by their house on my wayto my meeting and spent time
with mom, walked'em through it,gave the little child, it, it
(37:36):
was just a contusion.
It wasn't anything big, but itwas the event that I could go
and tell the mom, this is what.
You need to do and how to do itand take care of him at the same
time that I'm heading to doadvocacy at the state.
And so that, that I think wasthe epitome of the two sides of
my practice.
My busiest day up until about ayear ago was.
(37:58):
I wanna say it was ninepatients.
And I, and people are like, oh,DPC nine patients, what are you
talking about?
And I go, well, seven of'em werefrom one family, so it wasn't so
bad.
But that I think is a littleoverwhelming when you're trying
to get'em all into one space.
But yeah, I.
There's just so much that I cando in here.
I have an EKG machine.
I draw blood, I have medicines Ido dermatologic procedures.
(38:23):
Ironically, I am next door to adermatologist.
So, and, and it's just liketoday, the patient that I
treated today for the skincancer, she'd actually gone to
see the aesthetician at thedermatologist office, and she
missed some lesions.
She's like, can, can you just.
Take care of'em while I'm here.
I'm like, sure, why not?
She'd come in to talk to meabout weight loss and we got
(38:44):
into freezing some, some scalylesions on her hands.
So, yeah, it's, it's been aninteresting experience.
Love my kids.
I love my kids.
But you know, sometimes even theelderly patients that I'm
bringing in the back door,because that's where the
handicap ha handicap.
Ramp is, and my, my exam room isright inside that door.
(39:05):
I love that too.
I have a patient who brings herdog.
He's been here probably morethan my dog has been here, but I
do sometimes bring my dog to thepractice.
And so yeah, he, he comes rightin, comes right down the hall,
comes right into my office andlays down at my feet.
So that I think is the epitomeof A DPC practice is the ability
to say, Hey, you know what?
(39:26):
Bring your dog in.
It's okay.
And, and just to be that it's,it's her companion and she needs
it.
And so to me, it's a wonderfulway that I can make my practice
accessible to her.
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (39:38):
I
Dr. Teresa Lovins (39:38):
love it.
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (39:39):
So my last question is regarding the
new legislation that has becomelaw in terms of the Primary Care
Enhancement Act passed as HR oras part of HR one and the big
beautiful bill where DPCmemberships can now be paid for
by.
People who are funding theirHSAs.
And so I will say, especially ifyou are, already on the DPC
train if you want to be, butyou're not there yet.
(40:01):
If you have patients who arelooking for ways to solve their
healthcare access problems,issues fill in the blank after
the beginning of the year.
I'm wondering if you can speakto us, to the, the people who
are wanting to talk about peoplewanting to talk to people in
their community about how tomaximize HSA benefits and
(40:23):
getting a DPC membership at thesame time.
Dr. Teresa Lovins (40:26):
I think I, I have a small company that I work
with and they offer just basicinsurance.
Really it's catastrophicinsurance, but not by that
label.
And so they are able to putmoney into their HSA.
But up until now it was iffy on.
It depended on.
Across the city.
(40:46):
It depends on who'sadministering the HSA, because
some of the HSAs they wentthrough just fine.
But now to have the actual lawthat says that you can use your
HSA to see a DPC doctor I havealready seen patients that are
excited about this and hey, I'mgonna increase the amount of
money I'm putting in my HSAbecause I know I can use it for
this.
And so to me that's.
(41:07):
That's a huge asset.
I know the Academy has beenworking along with the the
coalition to try and get tothis.
And yeah, they had to put aprice limit on it.
I understand that piece.
But I think a lot of, patients,especially those in the
marketplace who are gonna beprobably dropped off the
marketplace'cause they can'tafford it.
(41:28):
This is a way for them to beable to get catastrophic
insurance and still have a DPCdoc because now they can still
put money in their HSA and, and.
Pretax dollars for anybody arepretax dollars.
Right.
And so the ability to, to usethat for their healthcare, I
think is very important.
And then the fact that I can do80 to 85, 90% of their care
(41:49):
right here, they, they knowexactly what their cost is gonna
be.
And, and that is I think alsovery helpful for them.
Yeah.
So yeah, I think it was a greatthing.
I'm glad it went through.
I, I think and, and it'sindexed, I think that's the
other piece that it to talkabout for inflation.
Yes.
Like$150 a for a person and$300for a family.
But they actually wrote into thelaw that it's indexed for
(42:10):
inflation.
Correct.
So we're gonna see that numbergo up every year too.
Yeah.
Which I think is important.
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (42:16):
I will say just calling out your own
membership fees on your websitezero to five years old is$30 per
month with a paying adult, andit just is increasing by age
group.
So$50 per month for ages six to17,$60 per month to eight from
for ages 18 to 40,$75 per month,ages 41 to 64 and a hundred
(42:37):
dollars per month, ages 65 plus.
So I wanna make sure that we'realso mentioning those prices
because for those people who arereally learning about DPC and
trying to make that distinctionbetween concierge.
$40,000 a year plus billinginsurance like they do in the
Bay Area in California.
That is not the thing that ishappening at your DPC so when
you index for inflation, itdefinitely it, it's, you, your,
(42:59):
your lens is different than aconcierge doctor.
Dr. Teresa Lovins (43:02):
Yeah.
So, and then I have, I have a, amaximum fee for families too,
and it works out to right about,depending on their age, but
about four people is where that,that comes in and it's still
below that$300 for the family,for HSA.
So.
Yeah.
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (43:15):
Amazing.
So where can people find you toconnect with you after this
interview, but also in Anaheimwhen we get to see each other in
person?
Dr. Teresa Lovins (43:24):
Yeah, yeah.
Well I will be aroundeverywhere.
But you can connect with me.
I have a website.
It's love my health dpc.com.
There's an email on my, mywebsite that you can email me,
that'll go straight to the emailthat I'm the only one answering.
So, obviously you're gonna getme I have an office number.
My office number is 8 1 2 9 0 02 8 8 3.
(43:49):
And that humorously rings to mycell phone that you sent
messages to me.
And so I have two lines on myphone.
So I get text and, and phonecalls on the same phone.
And the.
Anyway when we get to Anaheim ifyou want to meet up with me,
text me and I'll try to figureout where we can meet.
Another place that you can getto know me, to meet me is
(44:13):
there's a hospitality room forall the candidates for A A FP
officers and I will be in thereand I will be proud as a DPC
doc.
Because I do wanna talk topeople family docs about being
the president-elect.
And I, I do wanna talk to peopleabout DPC, so I think it's very
important that we continue tonurture those that are
(44:35):
interested.
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (44:36):
Amen.
And I will say if you are thereand you're a DPC doctor, I've
already had a few people reachout and say they're gonna be
there.
We are going to be doing a myDPC story, live event with Dr.
Tom White and doing a liveinterview, but also I'll be
going around with my roving micsand you can't miss me.
So I'm so excited to see you.
I'm.
So excited that you are runningand you definitely have my vote.
(44:58):
I am not a congress of Delegatedelegate, but I am still voting
for you with all that I canmuster.
So thank you so much Dr.
Levins, for sharing your DPCstory today.
Thank you for listening toanother episode of my DBC story.
If you enjoyed it, please leavea five star review on your
favorite podcast platform.
It helps others find the show,have a question about direct
(45:19):
primary care.
Leave me a voicemail.
You might hear it answered in afuture episode.
Follow us on socials at thehandle at my D DPC story and
join DPC didactics our monthlydeep dive into your questions
and challenges.
Links are@mydpcstory.com forexclusive content you won't hear
anywhere else.
Join our Patreon.
Find the link in the show notesor search for my DPC story on
(45:40):
patreon.com for DPC news on thedaily.
Check out DPC news.com.
Until next week, this isMarielle conception.
Direct Primary care is an innovative
alternative path toinsurance-driven healthcare.
Typically, a patient pays theirdoctor a low monthly membership
and in return builds a lastingrelationship with their doctor
and has their doctor availableat their fingertips.
Welcome to the my DPC storypodcast, where each week.
(00:26):
You will hear the ever sorelatable stories shared by
physicians who have chosen topractice medicine in their
individual communities throughthe direct primary care model.
I'm your host, Marielleconception family physician,
DPC, owner, and former fee forService.
Doctor, I hope you enjoy today'sepisode and come away feeling
inspired about the future ofpatient care direct Primary
(00:49):
care.
Dr. Teresa Lovins (00:53):
I want you to know that direct primary care is
the best way for a familyphysician to create a
relationship.
It is the relationships that wehave with our patients that
gives us joy.
That joy in medicine is veryimportant.
It keeps us from burnout.
It keeps us happy, it keeps uspracticing longer.
(01:14):
So DPC is the way to do that.
To have that relationship tocreate that that power to the
two of you together.
I am Dr.
Theresa Levins of love in myhealth, DPC, and this is my DPC
story
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (01:35):
Dr.
Theresa Lovins, MD, FAAFP is anationally recognized family
physician and current member ofthe American Academy of Family
Physicians Board of Directors,and today is a physician owner
of Lovin My Health DirectPrimary Care in her hometown of
Columbus, Indiana, Dr.
Lovins has been a lifelongadvocate for patients and family
physicians serving as pastpresident of the Indiana Academy
(01:55):
of Family Physicians.
Trustee for the Indiana StateMedical Association and delegate
to the AAFP Congress ofDelegates for the past eight
years.
She has dedicated her career toadvancing family medicine and
improving healthcare access.
And now she's running for AAFPPresident-elect, bringing her
passion for innovation,leadership, and advocacy to the
national stage.
(02:17):
We are almost two Octoberpeople, and October is the big
month where the Congress ofDelegates is going to be
congregating doing their thingand voting the next American
Academy of Family PracticePresident and I have.
The fantastic Dr.
Theresa Levins.
I even like, even in preparationfor this interview, I was like,
she already has her entirecampaign written out for her
(02:39):
with a jingle and everything.
And I kept on singing to my kidslike, da da da, I'm loving it.
And so, I am so excited to haveyou on the podcast running for
the American Academy of FamilyPractice.
Presidential slot to elevatewhat you are doing as a
physician to elevate what we areall doing as DPC physicians and
what we are doing as familymedicine physicians.
(03:01):
So welcome, welcome, welcome tothe podcast, Dr.
Levins.
Dr. Teresa Lovins (03:04):
Thank you.
I appreciate it very much.
So,
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (03:06):
when we think about.
You being in the place that youare at the spot of running for
the National Organization ofFamily Practice Physicians that
most of us know about, most ofus.
How have, at some point in ourcareer, been a part of, if not,
we're still a part of sincemedical school?
I'm wondering if you can justbring us back to the start of
your family medicine journey.
Dr. Teresa Lovins (03:27):
I, only ever knew a family doctor growing up.
Ironically this space that I'min for my DPC practice was his
first space in town, so I'm backin my hometown.
Wow.
And so I really got to know whatfamily medicine was all about.
And when I went off to college,I really thought I wanted to be
a high school science teacherand some interesting person in
(03:51):
the class sitting next to mesaid, Hey, you know all the
classes you're taking for thatyou could get into medical
school.
And I went.
Hadn't thought about it.
But then I actually startedlooking into it a little bit
more.
Got involved with the medical,actually was an interest group
of college students looking atmedi medicine and started doing
(04:11):
some research in the medicalschool lab and then decided to
go to medical school.
It was really interesting inmedical school.
Every single rotation that Iwent through, it was like, I
wanna do this, I wanna do this,I wanna do this.
And I finally realized, duh,that's family medicine.
And so, from that standpoint, Igot involved with the family
(04:34):
medicine interest group here inIndiana.
Got very active in the IndianaAcademy as a student, and then
again as a resident, and havebeen active since that time.
In, in.
Organized medicine
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (04:46):
That's great.
And I'm, I'm wondering.
Fast forwarding a little bitbecause you are running for the
president of the A A FP, what doyou see right now when it comes
to people who were, who are inthe shoes that you were once in
as a student, as a medicalstudent resident attending who
are actively making waves in theissues with accessibility that
(05:10):
we have in primary care.
Dr. Teresa Lovins (05:12):
I, I think that a lot of the interest in
students and residents is tryingto figure out where they're
gonna fit into being a part ofthe family medicine movement.
And so it's very important thatwe make sure that they're aware
of how variety the careeroptions are in family medicine
from anything to everything.
(05:34):
When I.
Initially started my practice.
I worked with a great big group.
There were 10 of us in the groupand we did full spectrum family
medicine with ob and I reallyhad never thought about anything
else than that.
And so, making sure that thosestudents and residents know that
they have.
The ability to do what theywanna do when they leave
(05:57):
residency is very important tome.
And I think if we can keep theminterested in family medicine,
then we're gonna keep them asphysicians and we're gonna keep
them being able to see patientsin the communities where
they're, where they're serving.
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (06:12):
I will say keeping people interested
is, is like the understatementof the the need thing that we
need right now at this time inthis country's healthcare
journey because we know that thebaby boomers are needing primary
care.
We know that.
People who are young and aregoing to be losing access to
(06:32):
Medi-Cal Medicaid benefits orgoing to be needing to prove
that they're working to accesscertain benefits.
Primary care where we deal with80 to 90% of everyday issues for
everyday Americans is so neededand it is so rewarding of a
career.
I, before we started recording,I mentioned that this has been
the most DPC days of DPC daysfor me.
(06:54):
And, I, I will.
Say that in another in anotherrecording.
Deep dive into my, not even 4:00PM Pacific time right now, but
for you, I'd love if you cantell us about your practice
because I do think that there'sgoing to be people listening who
are sort of aware of what DPCis, but they're also people who
are saying, but I thought it'sconcierge medicine.
(07:16):
But I thought it's for richpeople, but I thought that
people who have Medi-Cal orMedicaid can't access it.
So tell us a day in the life ofDr.
Theresa Levins at Love in myHealth.
DPC.
Dr. Teresa Lovins (07:28):
So I come into the office significantly
before my first patient isscheduled just to make sure
everything is ready because I ama micropractice.
I don't even have any staffhere, and so I try to make sure
everything is ready to go when Iget here.
Today I've done a well childvisit with vaccinations.
I did a physical on a patientwho hadn't had one since her
(07:50):
child who's 12 years old, hadher last.
Physical done.
I have taken care of wartstoday.
I've taken care of some skincancers.
I think let's see, what elsehave I done?
I mean, it's just been a veryday.
I mean, just anything that walksthrough the door is just
something different.
This particular practice of mineis now five years.
(08:10):
I made the lucky honor of havingdecided to do this during COVID
and got it started and it'sgrown just like I've wanted it
to, which is kind of slow, whichis okay for me.
That has allowed me to be activein the A A FP and do the
advocacy that the they needed,as well as what they needed at
(08:31):
the.
State level.
I have a colleague who's here intown you, you've interviewed her
Dr.
Dorn Feld.
And she assured me that anythingthat I needed, we could share.
And so we do we share vaccines,we share equipment, we share
supplies.
So it makes it very convenientto have somebody kind of right
here in town who can be here forme and then.
(08:52):
Just moving through thepractice.
I, it's not concierge.
I, yes, I have patients who havequite a bit of money, who have
good insurance, but they'vechosen to come see me because
they like the access, they likethe ability to just talk to me
and to.
Spend a little bit longer timewith me.
Or when they bring in theirchild with a rash, they wanna
(09:14):
talk to me about theirmenopausal symptoms.
It just makes it easier.
I also have patients in mypractice who don't have
insurance who either have aMedi-Share kind of coverage or
actually don't have any coverageat all.
And so I work with them to tryand help them find medicines and
just.
Any way that I can to help themsave money.
(09:34):
And then there's that wholegroup of patients that have
those high deductible plans.
Seems like there's a lot ofthose in Indiana.
There's a lot of employersponsored insurance that's all
self-funded.
And so that's how they come upwith their pricing.
And so the ability to try andhelp navigate the healthcare
system, keep them in my officeas long as I can before they
have to go.
(09:55):
See the specialist or get thediagnostic tests done it all
gets done and it all gets doneby me and I love it.
It's a part of I think justbeing involved in that part of
medicine that when I was doingcorporate medicine, it wasn't.
It wasn't things that I wasasked to do, but things that I
was interested in.
(10:16):
And I think there was a timewhen I had an office manager who
was a little scared because itseemed like I was asking the
wrong questions to her.
And and it became a littleanimosity to it.
But I love what I'm doing now.
This.
Was probably the best thing forme.
Been married for over 35 yearsand my husband said I'm a much
happier person now, he's not inmedicine.
(10:37):
He, he laughed.
He told me he's an accountantand accountants by nature are
risk adverse, and he said, yougotta do this because this is
just what I had when I grew uphere in town with my family doc.
And you've gotta do that ifthat's what you wanna do.
Part of my campaign, my campaignfor the A A FP is looking at joy
(11:01):
in medicine.
And I think I just got so burnedout with corporate medicine and
being employed that I waslooking for something and I had
heard about the DPC movementbefore.
But it really was just more of aoff.
Hand comment out there.
And when I started looking at itmore, it became so much more
intriguing to me and it just, itcame at the right time for me.
(11:24):
And I am so ecstatic that I'vedone it.
When patients ask me, well, whyisn't this concierge medicine?
And I'm like, well, I don't.
I, I deal with insurance to helppatients get their prior
approvals to get their X-rays,but I don't bill insurance.
And so, that is the big deal forme about the difference between
DPC and concierge care.
(11:44):
One of the first concierge caresor at least they call themselves
concierge.
I was here in Indiana.
It was a big one in, inIndianapolis, and that's what
was known through the area.
So introducing DPC.
I actually was the firstphysician, DPC practice in
southern Indiana, which is a, adecent size area.
(12:05):
There's an interstate that goesacross the middle, which is U
which is Interstate 70, and.
Basically anything south of 70down to the state border is
considered southern Indiana.
I'm actually at the very centerof that southern part of
Indiana, and there was no DPCpractices.
There's many more of us now, andI, I, I'm glad to be a part of
(12:27):
it, we have our own DPC Facebookfor Indiana.
And so it's fun to be able toshare things and to talk to
people who are setting up and,and knowing the laws and knowing
how to do things in Indiana hasbeen helpful.
So that made it easier and I, Ilove being able to share that
knowledge with them.
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (12:44):
That's fantastic.
And I, I think so many thingswhen you're sharing about your
clinic, when you're sharingabout your journey
transitioning.
State of joy that you have nowcompared to what, you described
as burnout prior.
And one of the things I thinkabout when people do hear about
DPC a, a very common thing Ihear from people who are
learning about the movement is,but Dr.
(13:06):
Lovens, aren't you always oncall then?
Like, don't you, do you ever getto sleep?
So what would you say to thosepeople who are, concerned about
burnout because DPC is another.
Is another way to be a, a familydoctor in this, this time in our
country's history that ismoldable, but that doesn't
demand that it's going to comewith burnout if you choose to
(13:27):
not have it come with burnout.
Dr. Teresa Lovins (13:29):
Well, I think very much so.
Setting boundaries with thepatients is helpful, but
honestly, because it's arelationship between me and the
patient, they get to know metoo.
And so they're not calling me onthe weekend.
They're not calling me in themiddle of the night.
I had a patient who texted me atat 5 0 5 and she realized it was
(13:49):
5 0 5 and she said, I don'texpect you to answer me till
tomorrow.
I'm like, it's 5 0 5, I cananswer you.
So I really think there's apiece of it that because the
patients have that relationshipwith me.
They're less likely to interferewith those boundaries.
When I was in that big practice,you didn't know who was gonna
call you, you didn't know whowas gonna be on call.
(14:09):
And so I feel like those callswere significantly worse than
anything I've ever had in thissetting.
I get maybe one or two texts onthe weekend and answer it very
quickly.
Have told patients that if I'mavailable, I'm willing to see
them if they need to be, but.
That's happened twice in fiveyears.
So, and they were babies.
I mean, you just, you, you can'tnot see a baby if they're sick.
(14:33):
So yeah, I, I don't think that.
I don't think that I've becomeoverwhelmed by the patient
interactions.
And definitely burnout has notbeen an issue for me in, in this
setting.
I, I get that myth of, of peoplewho are like, oh, how can you do
that?
How can you do that?
Well, the difference is 500patients versus 2,500 patients.
(14:56):
And I know these 500 patientsand it's really interesting.
I, my.
My phone tells me who it isthat's calling, but most of the
time I know their voice.
And because we've just had thatkind of relationship I had a
patient come in today.
She goes, you just have such alaid back kind of office and,
and I just really like it andI'm like.
That's me, so that's okay.
(15:17):
I, I put out some pillows todaythat are Halloween pillows, and
a little girl came in and shewas just hugging them and having
fun with it.
It, it's just, I, I feel likeit's a home for them and, and I
want it to feel verycomfortable.
That's, that's my goal in DPC isto make people feel comfortable
approaching medicine and gettingthe care they need.
So.
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (15:37):
I love it and I love, the, the description
of relationship-based medicine.
This is what I think, especiallyfamily medicine doctors, primary
care doctors really go intoprimary care for, and I love
that you are delivering that.
one thing that you mentioned ismyths that you hear.
And so I would love to hear whatother common myths do you hear
about direct primary?
Direct primary care?
(15:57):
Because I have my list that Icommonly hear, but I'd love to
hear yours.
Dr. Teresa Lovins (16:02):
Well, I think the biggest one that I hear is
people are worried about thefuture of family medicine and
the ability for us to seepatients.
But so much through what I'veseen, and even in my own case,
if I had not have found this, Iprobably wouldn't be in clinical
medicine.
And so.
(16:23):
I'm seeing 500 patients that ifI had not done this, I would not
be seeing them.
So there's this myth that we'renot gonna have enough doctors,
but if we're all getting burnedout and we're all quitting the
profession, we're not gonna haveenough doctors.
I think that's probably thebiggest one that I see from my
advocacy.
(16:43):
C with the A A FP is people areworried about that.
But when I reassure them thatthere are so many DPC docs who
have been through that burnoutand have made that conscious
decision to do DPC versusquitting medicine that's a
significant number of physiciansthat are staying in medicine,
and I think that's important.
(17:04):
I think the other one is thatwhole myth about, well, it's
only for rich people.
I guarantee you.
I, I live in a town that has adecent per capita if you want.
But the people that are comingto me are the people who can't
afford insurance or who work ata small factory who need help
and care and those people whodon't have insurance.
(17:25):
So it's, it's not for thewealthy.
It is definitely not for thewealthy, and I love that my
patients come to me, even ifthey have insurance and they're
like, Dr.
Levins, you can provide me withmedicines cheaper than I'm gonna
get at the pharmacy.
Do you mind writing my, do youmind filling my prescriptions?
I'm like, no.
That's what I'm here for, is tomake things cheaper for you.
Or drawing blood on patients andmaking sure that we can, save
(17:48):
them money from that standpointis very important to the whole
philosophy of DPC and I, and Ilove the fact that I can do that
for my patients.
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (17:57):
Amen.
And I, I cannot echo that enoughbecause literally when you get
the freedom to practice in theway that you need to for your
patients, and every patient isgoing to be different, and
you're able to be creativebecause that's what you get paid
to do, you're literally workingfor them.
It is, it is a completelydifferent.
Game.
And I will say absolutely thosemyths are very, very common.
(18:18):
And I'm glad that you address'embecause I do think that this is
where more and more people arebecoming aware that these are
myths.
More and more people arechoosing DPC, like we saw, I I
wanna say two years ago.
I, I wanna say that the.
The data that we got at the DPCNational Summit that the A A FP
co-sponsors was that in one yearwe had gone from like 4.5 to
(18:39):
percent to over 9% of A A FPmembers identifying as DPC and
I, I'm like.
Also, I wonder what's under thehood of the people who are
planning on DPC who are aren'tidentifying as DPC yet.
And so I'm so excited to see youand see Dr.
Tom White at in Anaheim.
So definitely, if you are a DPCfan, come find one of us and
(19:01):
talk more about DPC.
We love talking about it when itcomes to practice scope.
This is another myth that Ihear, and I mean, even today
you're like, skin cancer andwarts and all the, all the
things.
I, I would love to hear yourperspective on does DPC limit
your scope of practice, or howdoes it work for you in terms of
(19:22):
enabling you to be the doctoryou need to be for your
patients, which could requiredifferent skills on different
days?
Dr. Teresa Lovins (19:31):
Many years ago the A A FP brought forth
this package of this basket ofservices that family medicine
should be able to do.
And when that came out, it wasway in the two thousands.
But when that came out, I neverunderstood.
What that basket meant, becausebeing employed, I was kind of
dictated to what I could do, howlong I had with patients.
(19:52):
And so I made lots of referralsfor patients and, and because I
couldn't do the things I wantedto do for them in the practice.
So then they got referred out tothe specialist and the
specialist took care of all ofthat.
Well, I really feel like my DPCpractices allowed me to open
back up my specialty and theservices I can provide.
(20:12):
Because I have the time to do itand I can spend the time to do
the workup.
I don't have to send them rightto the cardiologist for blood
pressure that's not undercontrol or troubles with their
cholesterol.
I can work with them because Ihave a much more close
relationship with them, and it'snot time to, to a five minute
visit or a seven minute visit.
(20:32):
And so I, I, my favorite is whenI get a new patient.
They are scheduled on myschedule for an hour and a half.
They don't know that.
They just know they have a newpatient visit and the clock for
them is behind them in myoffice.
And I love it when I get toabout that 25, 30 minute point
and I'm still asking questionsand trying to get to know them
(20:55):
and they're looking around for aclock.
'cause they know they gotta getdone.
They gotta get done'causethey're just, I'm like, I, and
about that time I say, it'sokay.
You've got more time.
If you've got the time.
I've got the time.
And so it's just really such adifferent atmosphere, even
interacting with the patientsand giving them that time that
they really do need has been a,a, a, a wonderful thing.
(21:18):
I think the other piece for mehas been, the whole process of
learning how to run a business.
Mm-hmm.
That was my favorite line thatI've told people is You went to
medical school.
You graduated, you finishedresidency, you can run the
business.
Don't worry about that.
And if you don't wanna run thebusiness,'cause there are people
(21:39):
that don't find a practicethat's looking for a partner
because there's lots of thoseset settings where you can do
it.
But I love that part of it.
I love it Sounds really silly.
I I don't mind taking out thetrash.
I don't mind cleaning thetoilets.
I don't mind doing theinventory.
That's a piece of it that I am.
So happy to be able to do, andit's been a really fun
(22:00):
experience learning all of thosethings too as part of this.
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (22:04):
I love that.
And that's, that's perfectly.
Dovetailing into what I wantedto ask, because as you are a
micropractice clinic, you arethe, the, the, you are the
physician and the, the hat wear,as you just described, of many
different hats.
Tell us about how youadministratively manage your
day.
Because we heard about how, likethe patients that you saw today,
(22:26):
but how do you mix in theadministrative back office, so
to speak, part of your clinic sothat you are able to, not use a
waiting room for waiting.
That's a very classic thing inDPC that we joke about.
Dr. Teresa Lovins (22:36):
Yeah, absolutely.
So I figured out very early thatif I set aside time in the
schedule, so.
I have it to do that paperworkor to do that inventory, it gets
done.
And so I literally I, my, myschedule is Monday through
Friday.
(22:57):
It is scheduled nine to four 30.
I see patients before that.
I see patients after that,depending on what they need.
But I set out a two hour timeblock for meetings, for time to
do the administrative things.
And it just really made iteasier for me because I know
that.
Every Thursday I'm gonna be ableto, to set up a meeting if I
(23:17):
need to do that with somebody,or talk to a drug rep if I need
to, or just do the inventory.
VaxCare wants a inventory everyweek, and so it's very easy to
do that with that.
That, that timeframe.
So, that's how I did it.
I think, in the first couple ofmonths it, because my patients
were very far between, I wasable to do it between time, but
(23:39):
as I got a little bit busier,some days are a little bit more
full.
And so I just wanted to makesure I had a set time to do it
and, and that's how I chose todo it.
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (23:47):
And I think it's so important here to
mention that this addressesanother myth in DPC that you
know it, it's not for everybodybecause.
You're gonna get lonely.
You're, if you open and you'reby yourself, like where's the,
the, the bunch of residents whoshare the same computer room or
whatever.
So tell us about how you, tellus more about how you remain
(24:09):
part of a community of activephysician entrepreneurs.
Dr. Teresa Lovins (24:13):
I, I, I appreciate all of the different
social media outlets to be ableto interact attending the summit
getting to know people from theregion which is the Midwest
region and just being able toreach out literally reach out to
anyone I've never had.
A single other DPC doc say, Idon't have time for you right
(24:33):
now.
And so that's been very, veryhelpful.
I think, again, we have a nicesocial group on, on social media
for Indiana.
And so being able to share thatinformation where'd you find
this, where'd you find that?
How are you doing this?
And it's been, it's been a nicepiece to be able to use those
resources for me to set up thepractice.
(24:55):
Yeah.
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (24:56):
I love that.
And it's, it's ironic that youand I are recording this on
Physician Suicide Awareness Day.
I I, I actually dropped anarticle on so many docs this
morning about.
Going out to our colleagues indirect primary care and the
direct care space.
But I'm wondering if you cantalk to us in the lens of the
people who might be consideringtaking their own lives leaving
(25:18):
medicine how do you think DPCcan contribute to a person's
psyche when it comes to, themental health that we too often
put aside when we're, especiallyin primary care.
Yeah,
Dr. Teresa Lovins (25:31):
it I, I think it's very important to know that
in one of my situations, in myprevious life, I had panic
attacks going into work.
I had anxiety.
I had that whole scenario of allof the mental health issues that
were just overwhelming me.
And so I see that this hascalmed all those things down and
(25:52):
has just been such an asset tome personally.
But I also think there's anotherpiece about DPC that, that we
sometimes forget because I'm notassociated with a hospital
system.
I have lots of patients who cometo see me because I'm not
associated with a hospitalsystem.
And so that's even better from aphysician standpoint to be able
(26:13):
to.
Say, Hey, listen, I'm, no one'sgonna see your chart.
It's just me.
And there's especially for thephysicians in town.
And so, that piece I think isimportant.
We had in our littler community,it's, it's a decent sized
community, but we've had threeor four physician suicides in
the 20 some plus years I've beenhere in Columbus.
(26:36):
And so it's a, it's.
It's a very personal thing forme because I'm very open about
my mental health issues.
I've had depression postpartumstarted.
My oldest is 30, so that tellsyou how long I've, I've had a, a
diagnosis.
But when I got into that.
Career.
That job that was justoverwhelming me.
I knew I had to change.
(26:57):
I tried a couple other things inthe meantime, but this is what's
worked the best for me.
One of the things that I postedabout today about physician
suicide was the Lorna greenfoundation.
She is an emergency roomphysician who.
Got COVID and then had mentalhealth issues from her COVID.
She was having mental healthslowing.
(27:19):
She got depressed and shecommitted suicide.
During COVID and her family puttogether this wonderful
foundation that is supportingphysicians and their wellbeing,
all healthcare workers and theirwellbeing.
It started with physicians andthey actually are the underlying
force behind many stateschanging.
(27:39):
Their licensing requirements toask you about your mental
health.
And so I, I find that a verywor, worthwhile foundation to
continue to follow.
I think suicide is, is importantand I think physicians I, I.
I think physicians need to knowthat it's okay to ask for help
(28:00):
and that it's not a fault ofyours, it's a fault of the
system, that it can't take careof us to keep us healthy.
Yeah, there's things we can do.
We can be better way, do moreexercise, eat healthy, sleep
well, but I think the systemsets us up for failure and not
our failure.
And so I think it's importantthat we talk openly about
(28:22):
suicide and suicide prevention.
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (28:25):
And I will say, if you haven't heard
from someone in a while andthey're very dear to you, check
on them.
I definitely would will say thatit is so common in primary care,
especially because, it's ourfaces on the billboards.
It's our faces on the, the, thecorporate whatever advertisement
marketing campaign, and.
It's our souls that choose to gointo family medicine, primary
(28:46):
care of any sort and specialtycare.
It does feel very personalbecause most of us are going
into this because we want tohelp others.
And then, when we.
Conveniently are groomed to notremember to take care of
ourselves.
I will say that if you know of aperson who is, is in that realm,
check on them because you cancall that out because especially
(29:08):
from colleague to colleague.
We've been in the trenches,we've all been in different
residencies, different, nightcalls.
The pages have been going offand we know what it's like.
And so who best to check onsomeone, but your colleague who
has been there and done that.
So yeah, so important.
Thank you so much for mentioningthat resource and I'll make sure
it's in the show notes.
(29:29):
So my next question here is howdo we.
How do we change the landscapeof access to amazing healthcare
like you're delivering at yourDPC?
Because I think about, as I siton the strategic committee and
the education committee at theCalifornia Academy of Family
Practice chapter that I, I feelsometimes like.
I'm banging my head against awall when I talk about anything
(29:50):
other than a 9 9 2 1 3.
Let's put that 25 modifier onguys.
Like we can't forget that.
Yeah.
80 to 90% of the family medicineresidents in California go into
employed medicine, but it's alsomore and more that the.
People in first year and secondyear residency are planning on
(30:11):
going into direct primary care.
So I'm wondering if you couldtell us your thoughts and what
you're seeing from where you areat the A FP as to how we can
change the landscape to getpeople to know what family
medicine can be and to lovefamily medicine and to choose it
for their career.
Dr. Teresa Lovins (30:28):
I think part of our issue as physicians in
training as a resident, so manyof our residencies are tied to
hospital systems, and so thosehospital systems want to keep
the primary care doctors.
They're a great referralservice, right?
They know what kind of moneythey, that.
Primary care brings into theirfacilities, and so they don't
(30:48):
offer the opportunity to learnabout other options.
So I think as, as DPC doctors,we need to get out there to the
residencies and really let themsee and know about DPC and what
independent practice looks like.
Because that's, that's anotherpiece of it.
I mean, even if you don't wantto do this model, if you want to
be out and be in charge.
(31:10):
Then independent practice iswhat is a way to do that too.
So I do think that there's beena lot more social media.
I think there's been a lot moreinteractions with residencies in
Indiana there's, there's severalon our state board who are DPC
doctors, and so we've been goingto the residencies and kind of
(31:31):
teaching.
I, I have a message from aresidency wants me to come and
talk sometime.
Soon they said, and I'm like,Hmm, I have a little bit to do
in October.
But but I think it's veryimportant that we show them that
there are other options.
That being employed is not theonly option.
It was very convenient even whenI was in training, because that
(31:52):
was the point in time where youknow, knowing how to code,
knowing how to get money,knowing how to do the billing
and, and collections was.
Was very much not taught to thephysician.
And so they couldn't be thedirector, the director of their
practice if they didn't knowthose things.
And so now that it's much moreopen and there's so much more
(32:13):
ability to learn thatinformation, we really have to
be able to support them in that.
And I think that's a big partof.
How we get those residents tocontinue to want to do DPC or
how we get those physicians torealize we're not the enemy in
DPC, we're just taking care ofpatients a different way.
(32:35):
It's no different than somebodywho's doing sports medicine or
somebody who's doing, addictionmedicine.
This is just a different styleof family medicine.
But it's still medicine and it'sstill taking care of the patient
and in a way that I feel muchmore comfortable taking care of
a patient.
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (32:50):
Amen.
And I love that.
And I do think that, especiallyfor the listeners out there, if
you're like, oh my goodness, Iwould love to have a DPC doctor
come talk to my community,whether you're a resident, a
medical student, and attending,whatever the heck it is.
I definitely echo Dr.
Levinson saying just literallyGoogle your town, DPC, whatever
you got, and you'll find one ofus out there DPCs in all 50
(33:12):
states California, we have ourcali dpc.com.
So if you're in California,reach out to us.
The Indiana crew has alreadycreated their Facebook, it's
like there's community.
Where you don't know that it'sthere.
So I definitely will say it's,it's as literally as easy as
dialing one of our numbers.
I joked, I called Dr.
Lauren Hetty one day before herrecording on the podcast because
(33:35):
I knew that she was going toanswer the, the voice message
and not some assistant becauseshe's like, you a micropractice.
So I love that.
So, let me ask you here in termsof, you.
Not only being a DPC doctor, Ialso wanna talk about, how like,
like we, we were talking aboutseeing and learning about DPC is
(33:56):
so important because it canchange your trajectory as to
what you think family medicinecan be.
And so I'm wondering if you cantalk to us, because I have my
biases about this very clearly,but it's like.
What is the importance ofsomebody who is living the life
of a physician who is seeingpatients running their, their,
their practice as a physicianentrepreneur, why is it so
(34:17):
important that somebody like yoube in the presidency of the
American Academy of FamilyPractice?
Dr. Teresa Lovins (34:23):
Well, I think twofold.
There are three candidates whoare running and I think it's
very important that we keep onthat board.
Physicians who are doingclinical care and taking care of
patients and being in anindependent setting.
DPC is a form of independentfamily medicine, and I think
it's very important that wecontinue to keep that.
(34:44):
Yes, I know, I know thestatistics.
I've seen'em, it's 11% now.
But I, I, I, I think it's veryimportant that that board, that
executive team, those officersincludes.
Someone who is a minority in thestyle of medicine that they do.
And so that's what I want topresent as an, as a
(35:06):
president-elect, is the abilityto speak for those that are in
that minority and, and toreally.
Amplify the signal that it'sokay to do this.
You can survive.
You, you are not gonna beoverburdened, you are not gonna
be overwhelmed.
And so moving into that positionI think is very important for
(35:27):
allowing other family docs tosee that.
Private practice, independentpractice, clinical medicine is
still important.
And this is one style that worksvery well.
It may not work well for ahundred percent of them.
I don't expect that, but I wouldhope that we would see that that
11% keeps going up.
Especially as we're seeing the,the, the residents.
(35:48):
Being much more involved andmuch more interested.
I had a great time at the DPCsummit.
It was the biggest one I've beento and I've been to for and I
was ecstatic about just thenumber of people and the way
they had to change the, the thelecture hall because there
wasn't enough seats.
And I'm, I'm excited about that.
(36:08):
How do I wanna describe it?
I would describe it about theenthusiasm.
The enthusiasm of our membershipand doing DPC.
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (36:17):
There's so many ways that we describe
it, like drinking the DPCKool-Aid, taking the red pill,
all of the things.
It absolutely represents theenthusiasm that we have as
physician entrepreneurs becausewe are doing so much change in
our communities that we'vealways probably wanted to to be
a part of it least.
And we couldn't necessarily dothat when we were, back to back
(36:38):
Medicare physicals asking peopleif they wear their seat belts.
Right, right, exactly.
Dr. Teresa Lovins (36:43):
So, or, or asking'em a hearing screen and
then not being able to affordhearing aids.
So why, why do we screen forthat if they're, if Medicare
doesn't pay for the hearing,hearing hearing aids.
So, yeah,
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (36:53):
makes complete sense to me for sure.
So I would love here if you cangive us some examples of like
your most DPC days of DPC days,because already you've described
your day today, but I'mwondering if you can.
Leave us with some otherexamples of only in DPC could I
have achieved this.
Dr. Teresa Lovins (37:14):
I one of my days involved actually I was
heading out of my practice for ameeting and a mom called and she
said, my kid, he fell, his handhurts.
I don't know what's going on.
He won't move it.
And I actually.
Stopped by their house on my wayto my meeting and spent time
with mom, walked'em through it,gave the little child, it, it
(37:36):
was just a contusion.
It wasn't anything big, but itwas the event that I could go
and tell the mom, this is what.
You need to do and how to do itand take care of him at the same
time that I'm heading to doadvocacy at the state.
And so that, that I think wasthe epitome of the two sides of
my practice.
My busiest day up until about ayear ago was.
(37:58):
I wanna say it was ninepatients.
And I, and people are like, oh,DPC nine patients, what are you
talking about?
And I go, well, seven of'em werefrom one family, so it wasn't so
bad.
But that I think is a littleoverwhelming when you're trying
to get'em all into one space.
But yeah, I.
There's just so much that I cando in here.
I have an EKG machine.
I draw blood, I have medicines Ido dermatologic procedures.
(38:23):
Ironically, I am next door to adermatologist.
So, and, and it's just liketoday, the patient that I
treated today for the skincancer, she'd actually gone to
see the aesthetician at thedermatologist office, and she
missed some lesions.
She's like, can, can you just.
Take care of'em while I'm here.
I'm like, sure, why not?
She'd come in to talk to meabout weight loss and we got
(38:44):
into freezing some, some scalylesions on her hands.
So, yeah, it's, it's been aninteresting experience.
Love my kids.
I love my kids.
But you know, sometimes even theelderly patients that I'm
bringing in the back door,because that's where the
handicap ha handicap.
Ramp is, and my, my exam room isright inside that door.
(39:05):
I love that too.
I have a patient who brings herdog.
He's been here probably morethan my dog has been here, but I
do sometimes bring my dog to thepractice.
And so yeah, he, he comes rightin, comes right down the hall,
comes right into my office andlays down at my feet.
So that I think is the epitomeof A DPC practice is the ability
to say, Hey, you know what?
(39:26):
Bring your dog in.
It's okay.
And, and just to be that it's,it's her companion and she needs
it.
And so to me, it's a wonderfulway that I can make my practice
accessible to her.
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (39:38):
I
Dr. Teresa Lovins (39:38):
love it.
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (39:39):
So my last question is regarding the
new legislation that has becomelaw in terms of the Primary Care
Enhancement Act passed as HR oras part of HR one and the big
beautiful bill where DPCmemberships can now be paid for
by.
People who are funding theirHSAs.
And so I will say, especially ifyou are, already on the DPC
train if you want to be, butyou're not there yet.
(40:01):
If you have patients who arelooking for ways to solve their
healthcare access problems,issues fill in the blank after
the beginning of the year.
I'm wondering if you can speakto us, to the, the people who
are wanting to talk about peoplewanting to talk to people in
their community about how tomaximize HSA benefits and
(40:23):
getting a DPC membership at thesame time.
Dr. Teresa Lovins (40:26):
I think I, I have a small company that I work
with and they offer just basicinsurance.
Really it's catastrophicinsurance, but not by that
label.
And so they are able to putmoney into their HSA.
But up until now it was iffy on.
It depended on.
Across the city.
(40:46):
It depends on who'sadministering the HSA, because
some of the HSAs they wentthrough just fine.
But now to have the actual lawthat says that you can use your
HSA to see a DPC doctor I havealready seen patients that are
excited about this and hey, I'mgonna increase the amount of
money I'm putting in my HSAbecause I know I can use it for
this.
And so to me that's.
(41:07):
That's a huge asset.
I know the Academy has beenworking along with the the
coalition to try and get tothis.
And yeah, they had to put aprice limit on it.
I understand that piece.
But I think a lot of, patients,especially those in the
marketplace who are gonna beprobably dropped off the
marketplace'cause they can'tafford it.
(41:28):
This is a way for them to beable to get catastrophic
insurance and still have a DPCdoc because now they can still
put money in their HSA and, and.
Pretax dollars for anybody arepretax dollars.
Right.
And so the ability to, to usethat for their healthcare, I
think is very important.
And then the fact that I can do80 to 85, 90% of their care
(41:49):
right here, they, they knowexactly what their cost is gonna
be.
And, and that is I think alsovery helpful for them.
Yeah.
So yeah, I think it was a greatthing.
I'm glad it went through.
I, I think and, and it'sindexed, I think that's the
other piece that it to talkabout for inflation.
Yes.
Like$150 a for a person and$300for a family.
But they actually wrote into thelaw that it's indexed for
(42:10):
inflation.
Correct.
So we're gonna see that numbergo up every year too.
Yeah.
Which I think is important.
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (42:16):
I will say just calling out your own
membership fees on your websitezero to five years old is$30 per
month with a paying adult, andit just is increasing by age
group.
So$50 per month for ages six to17,$60 per month to eight from
for ages 18 to 40,$75 per month,ages 41 to 64 and a hundred
(42:37):
dollars per month, ages 65 plus.
So I wanna make sure that we'realso mentioning those prices
because for those people who arereally learning about DPC and
trying to make that distinctionbetween concierge.
$40,000 a year plus billinginsurance like they do in the
Bay Area in California.
That is not the thing that ishappening at your DPC so when
you index for inflation, itdefinitely it, it's, you, your,
(42:59):
your lens is different than aconcierge doctor.
Dr. Teresa Lovins (43:02):
Yeah.
So, and then I have, I have a, amaximum fee for families too,
and it works out to right about,depending on their age, but
about four people is where that,that comes in and it's still
below that$300 for the family,for HSA.
So.
Yeah.
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (43:15):
Amazing.
So where can people find you toconnect with you after this
interview, but also in Anaheimwhen we get to see each other in
person?
Dr. Teresa Lovins (43:24):
Yeah, yeah.
Well I will be aroundeverywhere.
But you can connect with me.
I have a website.
It's love my health dpc.com.
There's an email on my, mywebsite that you can email me,
that'll go straight to the emailthat I'm the only one answering.
So, obviously you're gonna getme I have an office number.
My office number is 8 1 2 9 0 02 8 8 3.
(43:49):
And that humorously rings to mycell phone that you sent
messages to me.
And so I have two lines on myphone.
So I get text and, and phonecalls on the same phone.
And the.
Anyway when we get to Anaheim ifyou want to meet up with me,
text me and I'll try to figureout where we can meet.
Another place that you can getto know me, to meet me is
(44:13):
there's a hospitality room forall the candidates for A A FP
officers and I will be in thereand I will be proud as a DPC
doc.
Because I do wanna talk topeople family docs about being
the president-elect.
And I, I do wanna talk to peopleabout DPC, so I think it's very
important that we continue tonurture those that are
(44:35):
interested.
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (44:36):
Amen.
And I will say if you are thereand you're a DPC doctor, I've
already had a few people reachout and say they're gonna be
there.
We are going to be doing a myDPC story, live event with Dr.
Tom White and doing a liveinterview, but also I'll be
going around with my roving micsand you can't miss me.
So I'm so excited to see you.
I'm.
So excited that you are runningand you definitely have my vote.
(44:58):
I am not a congress of Delegatedelegate, but I am still voting
for you with all that I canmuster.
So thank you so much Dr.
Levins, for sharing your DPCstory today.
Thank you for listening toanother episode of my DBC story.
If you enjoyed it, please leavea five star review on your
favorite podcast platform.
It helps others find the show,have a question about direct
(45:19):
primary care.
Leave me a voicemail.
You might hear it answered in afuture episode.
Follow us on socials at thehandle at my D DPC story and
join DPC didactics our monthlydeep dive into your questions
and challenges.
Links are@mydpcstory.com forexclusive content you won't hear
anywhere else.
Join our Patreon.
Find the link in the show notesor search for my DPC story on
(45:40):
patreon.com for DPC news on thedaily.
Check out DPC news.com.
Until next week, this isMarielle conception.
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