Making time for your health may soon be easier, and cheaper, thanks to a new employer-sponsored benefit being offered to staff members at the Johns Hopkins Health System in calendar year 2019.

Available for election during Open Enrollment, Oct. 15–31, Direct Primary Care is a new pilot benefit available to health system employees that offers 24/7 access to adult primary care services. Participants receive up to eight free appointments with a Direct Primary Care provider in the calendar year. Appointment times are longer, office hours are extended and video visits are available. Members can speak with a provider after hours through the phone and MyChart messages. Direct primary care can enroll only 1,600 participants during the pilot 2019 year.

Here are answers to top questions employees have about Direct Primary Care:

What is Direct Primary Care and how is it different from my current primary care or urgent care?

Direct Primary Care promotes greater access to services. Participants can visit a Direct Primary Care provider—either in-person or by video—for select adult services with no copayments, out-of-pocket costs, or additional costs to their Employer Health Program (EHP) insurance plan for the first eight visits in calendar year 2019. Also available are longer appointment times, extended office hours, and after-hours phone lines to ensure that people receive care when and where they need it, even during high volume times such as flu season.

Who is eligible to participate in Direct Primary Care?

All Johns Hopkins Health System employees and their adult dependents who elect an EHP insurance plan are eligible to enroll in Direct Primary Care. Spouses, partners, and children over age 18 who are covered by a Johns Hopkins employee’s EHP insurance plan may also elect to participate in the benefit.

What services are covered under Direct Primary Care?

Participants receive standard adult primary care services, including an annual physical; office and video visits; point-of-care tests such as pregnancy, urine, flu, strep throat; prescriptions and refills; and medical reviews of tests performed by specialists and other physicians. Other clinical services are covered according to the selected EHP insurance plan.

Where is the Direct Primary Care practice?

The Direct Primary Care practice will open in January 2019 in the Medical Arts Building on the Howard County General Hospital campus. Video visits and econsultations are available to help connect participants with a Direct Primary Care provider.

Visit jhcp.org/DPC for more information.