San Antonio Direct Primary Care

  A New Approach to Healthcare

By Bruce X. Forey  |Photography by Taylor Lane

 

In a healthcare system often burdened with rising costs, long wait times, and insurance bureaucracy, a new model is emerging to offer patients a simpler, more personalized alternative. San Antonio Direct Primary Care Alamo Heights (SADPCAH) is a local leader of this movement. They are redefining the doctor-patient relationship through a membership-based approach. Their business model eliminates the need for insurance billing, reduces overhead costs, and prioritizes quality care over patient volume.

What is Direct Primary Care?

Unlike traditional medical practices that rely on insurance reimbursements, SADPC operates on a flat monthly membership fee. In exchange, patients receive unlimited office, virtual, or text visits, extended consultation times, and access to a range of in-office services without additional co-pays or surprise charges.

Dr. Manuel Vogt, founder of San Antonio Direct Primary Care, explains the model:

“We don’t bill insurance at all. Patients pay a simple, flat fee each month, and most of what we do in the clinic is included—EKGs, large joint injections, anti-inflammatory and B12 shots, breathing treatments, and more. It eliminates the unpredictability of medical costs and allows us to spend more time with patients instead of rushing through 10-minute appointments.”

 

 

The Hidden Costs of Traditional Healthcare

Even for insured patients, navigating healthcare expenses can be frustrating. Lab work, for example, can result in unexpectedly high bills.

“Our members benefit from wholesale lab pricing, and many choose to pay cash for tests because it’s often cheaper than going through their insurance,” Dr. Vogt said.

“I had a patient send me a bill for $200 for their annual physical labs. Through our practice, the same tests would have cost them around $25 or $30.”

Beyond the Exam Room: A More Personalized Approach

One of the biggest draws of direct primary care is the level of attention and care patients receive. Instead of rushed visits, Dr. Vogt said he can spend up to an hour with each patient. This allows enough time to address concerns, discuss lifestyle changes, and truly understand everyone’s health journey.

“My exam table is in my office, right next to my desk and computer,” Dr. Vogt explains. “When patients come in, they sit down, and we talk. Sometimes, we even run out of things to discuss because they’ve never had an experience where they weren’t being rushed out the door.”

A Family-Centered Model

The decision to pursue direct primary care was personal for Dr. Manuel Vogt and his wife, Dr. Patricia Saravia, a San Antonio native who has her DPC practice in King William. The couple both trained at NYU Lutheran in Brooklyn, New York, before returning to San Antonio. They first encountered the DPC model during residency and immediately saw its potential to improve physician work-life balance and patient care.

“Traditional healthcare burns doctors out. My wife used to come home from work, put the kids to bed, and then spend three hours on work,” he explains. “Now, we can actually have a family life and are able to provide exceptional care.”

Growing Demand and Expansion

Dr. Vogt said the popularity of direct primary care is skyrocketing—not just among patients but also among doctors ready to escape insurance-based medicine. Dr. Vogt’s practice has grown rapidly, outgrowing its initial space within months. He has since expanded to a larger location, at 242 W. Sunset Rd, Ste 102. With more space, he added dietician services in the office through My Nutrition Studio and brought in a pediatrician, Dr Leah Jacobson MD, with Personal Pediatrics, to provide comprehensive care for all ages, from newborns to seniors.

A Healthcare Solution for Businesses

Beyond individual patients, SADPCAH is proving to be an attractive option for local businesses through their umbrella company, San Antonio Direct Primary Care, particularly in the service industry, where traditional health insurance can be cost-prohibitive.

“We work with businesses to offer discounted group memberships for employees, giving them immediate access to care,” he says. “It keeps workers healthier, reduces absenteeism, and is often more affordable than traditional employer-sponsored insurance plans.”

The Future of Healthcare?

With traditional healthcare costs soaring, many believe direct primary care is poised for major growth.

“We’re at a tipping point,” Dr. Vogt says. “Insurance-based healthcare is becoming more expensive, more frustrating, and more impersonal. People are looking for alternatives that prioritize patient care over paperwork.”