Risky Benefits

Primary Health Partners - Risky Benefits Podcast

• Kyla Heap • Season 5 • Episode 14

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In this episode of Risky Benefits, the podcast delves into the world of employee benefits and healthcare innovation with special guest Kristin Stamatis from Primary Health Partners. Kristin discusses her professional background, sharing insights about the membership-based direct primary care model, which eliminates insurance billing and offers unlimited access to primary care for a flat monthly fee. Kristin explains the benefits of this model for both patients and employers, highlighting reduced claim costs, increased employee satisfaction, and improved health outcomes. The conversation also covers upcoming initiatives, including a new bill allowing HSA funds for direct primary care membership and expansion plans for Primary Health Partners. Listeners are encouraged to explore new options in healthcare and benefits.



To listen in and subscribe to more episodes, visit our website: fbmc.com/podcast.

Hey, thank you for listening in to Risky Benefits, a podcast that informs you on all things benefits. We've got a saying around here, benefits isn't your main business. It's ours.

fbmc-production_1_07-08-2025_131511:

Hey everyone, and thank you for listening to Risky Benefits, the podcast where we dive into the complex world of employee benefits, healthcare innovation, and everything in between. Today we have our special guest, Kristin Sta. From Primary Health Partners, a leader in direct primary care or DCPA model that's redefining how people access healthcare. Hi Kristen. Thank you so much for coming on. And before we get started, why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself.

kristin-_1_07-08-2025_121510:

Absolutely. First, thank you for having me on today. It's such a privilege to be speaking with you, on the personal side. I live in Oklahoma. With my husband and two children, and I have an 18-year-old daughter who just graduated college or high school I, I'm sorry, and will be heading off to college in the fall. So that's gonna be a large change for my family coming up this year. But she'll be heading off on a rodeo scholarship. So

fbmc-production_1_07-08-2025_131511:

Oh, so fun.

kristin-_1_07-08-2025_121510:

area. Yeah.

fbmc-production_1_07-08-2025_131511:

Where is she going?

kristin-_1_07-08-2025_121510:

She's going to a little college in the west panhandle of Texas called Clariton.

fbmc-production_1_07-08-2025_131511:

Okay.

kristin-_1_07-08-2025_121510:

they have a really, really strong rodeo team out there, and so she's very excited to, to gain the experience.

fbmc-production_1_07-08-2025_131511:

That's awesome.

kristin-_1_07-08-2025_121510:

Yeah. And then I've got a 15-year-old son who will be going in as a sophomore into high school this year and he is all about anything basketball and baseball. So we keep ourselves pretty busy'cause we are obviously big outdoors family that enjoy anything and everything. From the water to travel and we actually just got back from Greece and Italy, so that was a great trip. And, but yeah, so that's kind of me on the personal side professionally. I started off as an entrepreneur in the retail space and then transitioned into medical sales back in 2012. I quickly learned from there that how insurance can impact individuals lives, good or bad. Whether it was working in the prosthetics world and helping amputees or in the orthopedic space, insurance was either helpful or a pain point for both the doctors and the patients. So when Primary Health Partners came and reached out to me last year. I just knew that it was something that I was really going to be able to stand behind and was very excited to be a part of as the head of business development. my team and I are responsible for partnering with employer groups and brokers across the country and to help lower their claim spend and spreading the word about direct primary care is a huge part of my job.

fbmc-production_1_07-08-2025_131511:

That's fantastic. Thank you for that background and it's. Said you have a, um, you started off in retail entrepreneurship actually my husband and I own a sporting goods store, played against sports also. So I am familiar with both worlds as well.

kristin-_1_07-08-2025_121510:

Yeah. Yeah, a tough world, but it's a fun one.

fbmc-production_1_07-08-2025_131511:

yeah, definitely. For those that listeners that might not know, can you tell us what is Direct primary care and how does Primary Health Partners fit into that landscape?

kristin-_1_07-08-2025_121510:

Yeah, so the direct primary care is a membership based healthcare model. It removes the insurance billing, it provides unlimited access to primary care for one flat monthly fee.

fbmc-production_1_07-08-2025_131511:

Okay, perfect. What a refreshing approach and especially in today's healthcare environment where access can feel like such a big hurdle. What do you find that surprises patients or employer, employers the first time they experience primary health partners?

kristin-_1_07-08-2025_121510:

it's unique compared to what most have experienced, I would say the moment they walk in the door, it's not gonna be your sterile doctor's office that you're probably used to. You're probably gonna be, you're gonna be greeted by name. Your wait time is going to be significantly less. You probably won't wait at all to tell you the truth. The larger and longer appointment sizes. Due to the reduced panel size of our doctors and no copays. I would say the biggest benefit I personally have experienced is not having to utilize urgent care emergency room. When something does come up after hours or on the weekends, I'm able to access my doctor directly and receive the care that I need without most of the time leaving my home.

fbmc-production_1_07-08-2025_131511:

So what about from the employer side? Where should employer, why would employers consider using a direct primary care model like Primary Health Partners to their benefits offering?

kristin-_1_07-08-2025_121510:

Yeah, there's multiple reasons and that's kind of the fun part about doing something like this and really, expanding and elaborating and educating employer groups right now. But the biggest overall, I think, benefits that they would immediately see within that first year is reduced overall claims cost decreased outpatient care, virtual or in-office appointments. So that's going to help your employees stay on the job longer, you know, less time off work, trying to receive the care that they need. implo improved employee satisfaction and productivity. Overall, like a healthier workforce. We also are partnered with DPC clinics across the country, so we can provide care to any group of any size. And so we really are nimble and in some ways customizable.

fbmc-production_1_07-08-2025_131511:

When you say, in some ways customizable. Can you expand on that a little?

kristin-_1_07-08-2025_121510:

Yeah, so we can be integrated into your plans. We can be added as a standalone option. It's really whatever your current benefit package and plan is, we can come in and fit into it or alongside it. So there's lots of ways and other. Areas that we can also expand on and elaborate for them to start utilizing on their benefit side.

fbmc-production_1_07-08-2025_131511:

Alright, so let's dig deeper into the experience itself. If I'm an employee using Primary Health Partners for the first time, what does that look like?

kristin-_1_07-08-2025_121510:

So the experience is pretty easy. They'll receive a signup link that will be sent out to the employees, whether that's a option that they can opt into, or if the employer group decides that they want to offer this to all employees. But that link will be then sent to them, and it's a quick. Three to five minute process to complete. At that point in time. They'll be also be able to read all of the doctor's bios, pick the doctor they want, and go ahead and get the first appointment scheduled for them. If they're having a hard time kind of deciding between which doctor they possibly would like to see. They have the freedom to call those clinics and ask for a quick little meet and greet. Our doctors will come out and give about 10 to 15 minutes to answer any questions, and that allows the patient or the future patient to really experience what it is that they're looking for and pick correctly for their healthcare needs.

fbmc-production_1_07-08-2025_131511:

Wow, that's nice for them to have that option. And I guess that kind of ties into some of that customization as well.

kristin-_1_07-08-2025_121510:

A hundred percent.

fbmc-production_1_07-08-2025_131511:

So I love that you mentioned chronic disease management. That's such a critical and often overlooked component of healthcare today.

kristin-_1_07-08-2025_121510:

Oh, oh my gosh. The chronic disease side is something that I think a lot of people get. Probably are used to having to be referred out to another You know, it's that point where you're probably seeing your primary care doctor and you have something that needs to be addressed, but the doctor just simply doesn't have the time. Um, what Primary health partners or a DPC, um, clinic is really going to provide is the ability for that primary care doctor to, dive into those, those chronic disease. Care needs that, that patient's needing instead of having to send them out to a specialist. So that's one way that we also reduce the claim cost on the backside, is that they're not going to be sent out and referred to as many specialists as they probably are right now, but our doctors are going to handle all of the chronic disease management for that, whether that's weight loss whether that's diabetes, you know, there's a wide array. Of areas that our primary care doctors are able to actually treat. And unfortunately what we see today is that they just don't simply have the time to do that in your traditional space and at Primary Health Partners or the DPC space, we really allow our doctors to have that patient relationship based care.

fbmc-production_1_07-08-2025_131511:

I mean, not only is it that they get to build that relationship, which is a major perk, but also I'm, I imagine that in the typical space that if you have to go and get referred to somebody else, a lot of people probably never do it. They probably just stop the process there and it never, and then their, you know, their health might suffer from that. I mean, the convenience factor is just so great too.

kristin-_1_07-08-2025_121510:

And that's really, something that probably. I mean, myself as a patient wouldn't like to admit about myself. But unfortunately prior to coming on board with Primary Health Partners I was one of them. And it just got to the point where it was so difficult. My husband, myself, my daughter and I we're kind of the fun complex patients. We have lots of really interesting little areas. My daughter has lupus at the, you know, developing at 16 when it started. And that's a really hard disease to, to pinpoint and to also treat, and us being able to really. in on having one doctor and then having that ease of access to them, whether it's after hours or during the weekend has changed the way my own healthcare is working for me and the ability to stay healthier and not, worry so much about what is taking place within my body because I know that I'm gonna be able to get it addressed and not have to wait three to six months to see a doctor. And then at that point we could be going into something else. We're seeing healthier outcomes and patients with less issues coming back into the workforce. So that's really a strong point that we are proud of.

fbmc-production_1_07-08-2025_131511:

Absolutely as you should be. It sounds like a major perk for everyone. So I think I, I would be with you in that same boat, like if I had, to be referred a lot of times I would probably just not. And it, I'm sure we're not the only ones, so that's great.

kristin-_1_07-08-2025_121510:

Agree. Yeah it's more common than not, I think unfortunately. And, and that's what we're out to make sure we're changing.

fbmc-production_1_07-08-2025_131511:

Absolutely.

kristin-_1_07-08-2025_121510:

everybody deserves to have ease of access to their care and their care provider. And it's just, unfortunately we've just been trained out of that over, the past couple of years and with what we have seen in the traditional network settings and us breaking that mold is something, like I said, we're very proud of, but we feel is a big component of why we're able to provide such high level of in quality of care.

fbmc-production_1_07-08-2025_131511:

Absolutely. So what's next for Primary Health Partners? Do you guys have any new initiatives or expansion plans?

kristin-_1_07-08-2025_121510:

there are lots of exciting things that are going to be coming down. The pipeline for primary health partners, I would say the. Biggest piece that I'm very excited about is the big new beautiful bill that was passed last week. This bill is going to allow for your HSA funds to directly pay for a direct primary care membership now starting January of 26. And that's just gonna open up. So many doors for us as a partner for those employer groups The same time, so many more doors for those employees that have the HSA funds to be able to tap into and utilize now with their direct primary care or primary health partners membership that they have. So I would say that's probably one of the biggest new pieces that just came out last week that we are super excited about. Expansion is always something that Primary Health Partners is looking for, and we're gonna continue to do, we have over 500 partnered clinics on the DPC side across the country. So we're really able to take care, like I said earlier, of any group of any size. And we're gonna continue that expansion with the brick and mortar portion of our own probably in the next year or so

fbmc-production_1_07-08-2025_131511:

Okay. Where's the first stop of that? Brick and mortar. Do you guys know yet?

kristin-_1_07-08-2025_121510:

that you'll have to wait and see.

fbmc-production_1_07-08-2025_131511:

Okay. Awesome. So before we wrap up, is there anything else you'd like our listeners to know?

kristin-_1_07-08-2025_121510:

I would say to remember that there's options, things are changing and there's a lot of exciting new things coming out in the healthcare world. And the DPC space is going to continue to push the envelope and really creating. New avenues for employer groups, employees to be able to access and to start really controlling their claim spend and kind of a cost containment portion for that every year. And so I would say continue looking for new things and be open to'em all because there's some really good things that are coming down the pipeline in all area of the benefit world.

fbmc-production_1_07-08-2025_131511:

Awesome. That's so true, and thank you so much. Thanks for joining us, and your story is such a great reminder that strong benefits authentic leadership and intentional culture can grow and grow more than just a business, but a. Movement. So thank you so much for your time. And before we wrap up, can you give a shout out to your website and how to get in touch with you?

kristin-_1_07-08-2025_121510:

Absolutely. Yeah. So it is primary health partners.com and reach out to me directly, it would be Kristen dot sta@ppdpc.com, and I would love to hear from anybody and answer any questions that I can.

fbmc-production_1_07-08-2025_131511:

Fantastic. Thank you so much and if any of our listeners have any questions you just heard how to get ahold of Kristen and if you would like to know anything else don't forget. You can always look on our homepage@www.fbmc.com and thank you so much. And remember, you can find us and subscribe on any podcast app.