Episode #575 - Update on the Direct Primary Care Model: Interview with Dr. Paul Thomas

On this episode of The Soul of Enterprise, we welcome back Dr. Paul Thomas, founder and CEO of Plum Health Direct Primary Care. Since his last visit, Plum Health has expanded to multiple locations, added new physicians, and continued scaling a model that puts relationships—not insurance paperwork—at the center of care.

We’ll get an update on that growth and explore the broader Direct Primary Care (DPC) movement: How fast is it growing? Why are employers and patients embracing it? And is it truly reshaping how healthcare is delivered in America?

We’ll also dig into the regulatory hurdles that still stand in the way—HSA eligibility, state-level rules, and what policy changes could accelerate adoption.

If you care about innovation, subscription models, or the future of healthcare, this conversation is one you won’t want to miss.

SHOW NOTES

Segment one

  • Current state of the DPC movement: 2,919 DPC practices in 50 states. The Direct Primary Care movement is growing! This is a small but mighty group and they are having an out-sized impact on the overall healthcare industry.

  • Regulatory hurdles became much easier in 2025. Congress allowed for businesses to use pre-tax dollars to fund direct primary care services for their employees. Previous to that, it had to be post-tax dollars.

  • We’ve often thought about DPC being great for an individual or freelancer. But a large employer group with 1,000 employees can also take advantage of the DPC business model for their employees which makes healthcare more accessible and convenient.

  • Dr. Paul has a great joke about his DPC practice and what they can / cannot do for you: “If you cut your finger, call me. If you cut your finger off, please go to the emergency department.”

Segment two

  • The average wait time for a DPC doctor is 3 minutes from your arrival.

  • Dr. Paul has grown from 1 to FIVE OFFICES during the course of his business. Scaling a direct primary care practice can and is being done. https://www.plumhealthdpc.com/ 

  • As a result of that growth, Dr. Paul now looks to groups who are self-funded with 500-600 patients in the Detroit or mid-Michigan areas. In addition, he is building near-sight offices based on employee concentrations for specific businesses.

  • “If you’re smart enough to finish med school, gritty enough to get through residency, and passionate enough to have chosen a primary care specialty then you have all the ingredients you need to be a successful DPC doctor and a successful entrepreneur.” —Dr. Paul Thomas, PlumHealth DPC

Segment three

  • Dr. Paul has grown Plum Health to the point where he is now the Chief Medical Officer in the practice and handles the organizational management, culture, and education of the doctors in the practice. 

  • Dr. Paul has a strong vision for Plum Health: We believe healthcare should be affordable, accessible, and excellent for everyone.

  • Dr. Paul mentioned his StartupDPC website during the show today. Here is the link: https://www.startupdpc.com/ 

  • Is AI having an impact on Dr. Paul’s business. Yes, of course. For example, their EMR system allows for the recording of conversations with patients which then makes it easier to create a medical note. The doctor spends some time editing the note and the time savings compounds over the day, week, month, and year.

Segment four

  • Today I learned that some states like Maine have integrated DPC into the primary state healthcare marketplace.

  • During World War II, the federal government introduced wages and price controls. In an effort to continue attracting and retaining employees without violating those controls, employers offered and sponsored health insurance to employees in lieu of gross pay. This was a beginning of the third-party paying system that began to replace direct out-of-pocket payments. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_health_care_reform_in_the_United_States 

  • GREAT point by Dr. Paul today: The use of AI for managing his business can help INFORM his decisions. That’s an important distinction.

  • A big THANK YOU to Dr. Paul Thomas for joining us today. Check out his DPC at this link: https://www.plumhealthdpc.com/ 

Bonus Content is Available As Well

Did you know that each week after our live show, Ron and Ed take to the microphone for a bonus show? Typically, this bonus show is an extension of the live show topic (sometimes even with the same guest) and a few other pieces of news, current events, or things that have caught our attention.

Click the “FANATIC” image to learn more about pricing and member benefits.