Four Hospital Systems Are Pouring Money Into Concierge Medicine. Here's What DPC Doctors Should Know.

Northwell Health charges patients up to $10,000 a year for concierge primary care. Across the country, University Hospitals in Cleveland charges $2,900. Both call it the same thing. And both are growing fast.

A Modern Healthcare investigation published this week profiles four major health systems that are aggressively expanding their concierge medicine programs. The numbers tell a story that every DPC physician should be paying attention to.

The Big Four

Northwell Health launched its concierge program in 2022 and plans to double its portfolio within three years. The New York-based system caps panels at fewer than 500 patients per physician and charges $5,000 to $10,000 annually. It’s expanding into Manhattan, Long Island, and Connecticut, and has already pushed into West Palm Beach, Florida. Stephen Bello, Northwell’s EVP of Enterprise Growth, framed the value proposition simply: “We’re talking about two days versus two weeks” for appointment access.

University Hospitals in Cleveland started its UH Select program about a decade ago with a single physician in Beachwood, Ohio. Today it has 15 physicians across five locations, with the newest opening this month in Westlake. Panels cap at 400 patients per doctor. Annual membership: $2,900. Andrew Moleski, Director of Premier Services, said the program has “really blossomed into a true strength.”

Endeavor Health in Evanston, Illinois, is consolidating its concierge offerings after the 2022 NorthShore/Edward-Elmhurst merger. Ten physicians currently see 400 to 500 patients each at $2,000 to $3,000 per year. The system is now testing something new: a concierge cardiology model. “Physicians really want more time with patients,” said Dr. Sanjeeb Khatua, Chief Physician Executive.

Inova Health System in Falls Church, Virginia, has been at this the longest, operating since 2010. About 20 physicians serve approximately 7,300 patients across six locations. Annual fees start at $2,400, with discounted rates for spouses and young adults. Dr. Craig Cheifetz, President of Inova Primary Care, said demand has been “enough to keep it growing.”

What’s Driving This

Two forces are converging. Patients want access. Physicians want relief.

Health systems are discovering what DPC doctors figured out years ago: when you shrink the panel and lengthen the visit, patients actually get the care they need and doctors don’t burn out. These concierge programs offer same-day appointments, 30-to-60-minute visits, and direct communication with a physician who knows your history.

The systems also see revenue diversification. Concierge programs represent a small percentage of overall operations, but they generate predictable, high-margin income that doesn’t depend on insurance reimbursement rates.

And there’s a retention play. Physicians in concierge programs don’t leave. In a market where health systems are losing doctors to burnout, early retirement, and yes, DPC, that matters.

The Price Gap Nobody’s Talking About

Here’s where it gets interesting for DPC.

These health system programs charge $2,000 to $10,000 per year. Most DPC practices charge between $70 and $100 per month for individuals, which works out to $840 to $1,200 per year. That’s a fraction of what even the most affordable health system concierge program costs.

The care model looks similar on the surface. Small panels. Longer visits. Direct access. But the economics are fundamentally different. Health system concierge programs carry the overhead of large institutional infrastructure. DPC practices don’t.

For patients who want the membership medicine experience but can’t justify $5,000 a year, DPC is the answer they might not know about yet. For physicians considering concierge roles within health systems, independent DPC offers the same clinical model with full autonomy and practice ownership.

The Equity Question

Modern Healthcare notes that concierge medicine has historically attracted wealthier, older patients. At $5,000 to $10,000 per year, that’s not surprising. The health systems profiled say demand is expanding beyond that traditional demographic, but the price points tell a different story.

DPC has always had a different answer to the equity question. At $70 to $100 per month, a DPC membership costs less than most gym memberships. And with the new HSA eligibility rules that took effect January 1, 2026, patients can now use pre-tax dollars to pay DPC membership fees, making it even more accessible.

That doesn’t mean DPC has solved healthcare equity. But it’s a meaningfully different conversation than one centered on $10,000 annual memberships.

What This Means

When four major health systems invest in expanding concierge medicine, it validates what the DPC movement has been saying for over a decade: the membership model works. Patients want it. Physicians thrive in it. The demand is real.

But validation from health systems comes with a catch. As these programs grow, they’ll shape public perception of what “membership medicine” means. If that perception gets anchored to $5,000-plus annual fees and hospital system branding, it could make it harder for independent DPC practices to explain what they offer.

The opportunity for DPC is in the contrast. Same model, different economics. Same access, different price. Same physician satisfaction, plus full independence. That story gets stronger every time a health system publishes its concierge pricing.