Pros and Cons of Direct Primary Care (DPC): A Complete Guide

If you’ve ever felt like modern healthcare is rushed, expensive, and hard to access, you’re not imagining it. In a recent nationwide survey of physician appointment wait times, the average wait for a new patient appointment was reported at 31 days—a number that has climbed over time.

And in New Mexico, access challenges can feel even more personal. By 2030, the state is projected to face a shortage of 2,118 physicians, including 326 primary care providers, depending on the projection model used.

That’s exactly why more patients are searching:

• “pros and cons of direct primary care”

• “benefits of DPC”

• “is direct primary care worth it”

• and locally, “direct primary care Las Cruces NM”

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This guide is designed to be the most complete, easy-to-understand answer—so you can decide if a Direct Primary Care membership is the right fit for you and your family.

What Is Direct Primary Care (DPC)?

Direct Primary Care (DPC) is a membership model for primary care.

Instead of billing insurance for each visit (fee-for-service), DPC practices charge a flat monthly membership fee and provide primary care services directly to patients. Many DPC practices offer features like same-day visits, longer appointments, and direct communication (text/email/telehealth), because the practice isn’t structured around insurance billing.

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), monthly membership fees commonly range around $50–$100, and in their summary of DPC practice data, 99% of DPC practices reported offering same-day appointments.

At Salud Healthcare in Las Cruces, our approach is built around the idea of “bringing old-fashioned care forward” relationship-based primary care with modern access and transparent pricing.

How Direct Primary Care Works (In Plain English)

Here’s the simplest way to picture it:

In traditional insurance-based care:

You pay premiums → then copays → then deductibles/coinsurance → and the clinic bills your insurance for each visit and service.

In Direct Primary Care:

You pay a monthly membership → and your primary care is delivered directly by your provider without insurance billing for those primary care services.

Most patients still keep insurance (often a lower-cost plan) for “big” events like:

• hospital care

• surgeries

• specialists

• advanced imaging outside the clinic

DPC is not “insurance.” It’s a way to access primary care more directly.

Pros and Cons of Direct Primary Care in Las Cruces, NM

If you’re trying to decide whether DPC is right for you, the best approach is to look at the full picture: what DPC does incredibly well, and where it has limitations.

Let’s break down the real-world pros and cons.

The Biggest PROS of Direct Primary Care

1) Better Access (Same-Day or Next-Day Visits)

One of the most common reasons patients leave traditional care is access: long scheduling delays, phone trees, and rushed visits.

DPC practices are designed to remove those barriers. The AAFP reports that 99% of DPC practices provide same-day appointments. AAFP

What this means for you in Las Cruces:

• When you’re sick, you’re not waiting two weeks hoping it “goes away.”

• When your kid wakes up with a fever, you can actually reach your provider.

• When your blood pressure is creeping up, you can address it early, not after months.

In a region where healthcare access can be strained, access isn’t a luxury, it’s the difference between preventive care and reactive care.

2) Longer Appointments (Time to Actually Talk)

Traditional clinics often run on volume and documentation requirements. Many visits feel like a quick checklist.

DPC shifts the business model so the provider can slow down:

• deeper conversations

• preventive strategy

• root-cause exploration

• better follow-through

In practical terms: you’re not trying to squeeze your entire health story into 8 minutes.

3) Predictable Costs (No Surprise Bills for Primary Care)

With DPC, the membership model is simple:

• you know your monthly cost

• you can budget for it

• you’re less likely to avoid care due to a per-visit fee

AAFP’s published DPC overview notes common monthly fees around $50–$100 (varies by practice and age). Other industry summaries describe typical ranges that may extend higher depending on services and structure.

The real benefit isn’t just “cheaper” care, it’s clearer care.

4) Stronger Provider Relationship (Continuity + Trust)

DPC is built around an ongoing relationship:

• you see the same provider

• your provider learns your baseline

• your care becomes proactive instead of emergency-driven

And trust matters. Patients who feel heard tend to stay engaged, follow plans, and get better outcomes over time.

5) Prevention Gets Real

In many traditional models, prevention can feel like:

• “eat better”

• “exercise more”

• “see you next year”

In DPC, prevention can be more hands-on:

• consistent follow-up

• early lab review and action steps

• nutrition and weight support

• accountability and check-ins

At Salud Healthcare, prevention also connects to our broader services like medical weight loss, IV therapy, joint injections, and sick care, supporting patients beyond “just the annual physical.”

6) Less Reliance on Urgent Care and the ER

When you can access your primary care provider quickly, you’re less likely to end up in expensive settings for issues that could’ve been managed earlier.

Even if you keep insurance for major events, DPC can reduce the frequency of:

• urgent care visits

• unnecessary ER trips

• “let it get worse” delays

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The Biggest CONS of Direct Primary Care

A trustworthy DPC guide should be honest about limitations. Here are the real cons and how to think about them.

1) DPC Is Not Insurance (You Still Need Coverage for Big Stuff)

This is the #1 misconception.

DPC membership covers primary care access, but you still want a plan for:

• hospitalization

• specialists

• surgery

• high-cost imaging and procedures

Most DPC patients pair membership with:

• a major medical plan (often lower-premium/high-deductible), and/or

• an HSA strategy, and/or

• supplemental arrangements depending on the household

Bottom line: DPC can simplify primary care but it doesn’t replace catastrophic protection.

2) It’s an Added Monthly Bill (Even if You Don’t Use It Much)

If you rarely go to the doctor, you may think:“Why pay monthly if I only need one visit a year?”

But here’s the tradeoff:

• Many people underuse primary care because of friction (copays, scheduling, time).

• DPC is built to encourage early care, which can prevent costly problems later.

Still, if you truly never need anything and already have easy access, DPC may not feel essential.

3) What’s Included Varies by Practice

Not all DPC clinics include the same services.Some include more procedures or in-office labs.Some charge enrollment fees.Some offer add-ons.

That’s why it’s important to ask:

• What does the membership include?

• What is billed separately?

• How does after-hours communication work?

• What’s the process for referrals or imaging?

At Salud Healthcare, we believe in transparent expectations so you’re never guessing.

4) Specialty Access Still Depends on the System

Even with a DPC provider advocating for you, specialist wait times and availability can be a challenge especially in shortage-impacted regions.

The advantage of DPC is having a provider who can:

• coordinate your care

• help you decide if specialty care is truly needed

• provide interim management while you wait

But it doesn’t magically “fix” specialist shortages.

5) Not Ideal for Every Situation

DPC is amazing for:

• families

• busy professionals

• people with chronic conditions

• those who want wellness and prevention

• anyone tired of rushed visits

But it may be less ideal if:

• you already have a highly responsive traditional clinic you love

• your primary needs are specialty-based (complex oncology, dialysis coordination, etc.)

• you prefer a single integrated hospital system for everything and don’t want a membership model

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So… Is Direct Primary Care Worth It?

For many people, yes! Especially when the biggest pain points are:

• access

• time with the provider

• predictable costs

• feeling heard

• getting proactive support

It’s also why DPC is growing: it aligns the clinic’s incentives with your outcomes, not billing codes.

But the best answer is: it depends on your needs and preferences.

Who Benefits Most from DPC:

DPC is often a great fit if you:

• want same/next-day access

• dislike surprise bills or copays

• want longer visits and better follow-up

• have a chronic condition (thyroid, hypertension, diabetes risk, etc.)

• want weight loss support and accountability

• have kids (because sick visits happen)

• want to text/email your provider rather than wait weeks

Why DPC Matters in Las Cruces Specifically

Las Cruces families feel what the data shows: access is tight, and primary care shortages make delays more common. New Mexico physician shortage projections underscore why models that improve access and continuity matter.

When the average wait for a new appointment nationally is reported at 31 days, the value of a model designed for quick access becomes even clearer.

Why Choose Salud Healthcare for Direct Primary Care in Las Cruces, NM

Salud Healthcare, LLC exists to deliver what patients miss most:real relationships, real access, and real care.

Bringing Old-Fashioned Care Forward means:

• time to listen

• care that’s not rushed

• direct access when you need guidance

• transparent options and supportive follow-through

  
  

And because Salud Healthcare also offers services like medical weight loss, IV therapy, joint injections, and sick visits, patients can get broader support without hopping from clinic to clinic.

Ready to Try DPC in Las Cruces?

If you’ve been researching the pros and cons of direct primary care and you want a simpler, more personal healthcare experience, we’d love to help.

Call or Text: (575) 218-7742

Book a consultation to learn how a DPC membership could fit your health goals and your budget.