DPC Near Me: The State of Direct Primary Care Across the U.S.

The DPC Map Is Filling In Fast

When we started helping physicians launch DPC practices in 2016, the map had a lot of blank space. Most DPC practices were clustered in a handful of states—Florida, Texas, Kansas, Colorado—and large swaths of the country had never heard of the model.

That's changed dramatically. As of early 2026, there are an estimated 2,500+ DPC practices operating across all 50 states. Freedom Healthworks alone has helped launch 155+ of them in 32 states, and we're actively expanding into the remaining ones.

Where DPC Is Thriving

Some states have embraced DPC more aggressively than others. The reasons vary—favorable legislation, physician demographics, insurance market frustration, or simply early adopters who proved the model works.

Top DPC Growth States

State	Why It's Strong
Florida	Large retiree population, high healthcare costs, strong DPC legislation
Texas	Business-friendly, large underserved areas, physician-owned practice culture
Indiana	Home to Freedom Healthworks, early adopter state, strong employer DPC contracts
Kansas	One of the first states to pass DPC enabling legislation (2006)
Colorado	Health-conscious population, employer interest, favorable practice environment
Tennessee	Growing DPC network, multiple FH-supported practices
North Carolina	Strong physician community, university training pipeline
Oklahoma	DPC-friendly legislation, rural healthcare gaps

States With Room to Grow

Some states have relatively few DPC practices despite large populations. This represents opportunity, not resistance:

California — High physician density but complex regulations; DPC is growing in suburban and rural areas

New York — Urban-focused healthcare system, but suburban DPC is gaining traction

Illinois — Chicago has several DPC practices, but downstate is underserved

Pennsylvania — Pockets of growth in Philadelphia suburbs and Pittsburgh, wide open elsewhere

DPC Enabling Legislation: The State-by-State Picture

DPC enabling legislation is state law that explicitly defines Direct Primary Care as a medical service—not insurance—protecting DPC practices from insurance regulation and ensuring they can operate without an insurance license.

As of 2026, over 40 states have some form of DPC enabling legislation. The remaining states don't prohibit DPC—they simply haven't passed specific legislation clarifying its legal status. In practice, DPC operates in all 50 states regardless of enabling legislation.

What enabling legislation does:

Clarifies that DPC membership agreements are not insurance products

Protects physicians from state insurance commissioner oversight

Provides legal certainty for patients and employers

Signals political support for the model

What it doesn't do:

It doesn't require insurance acceptance (DPC already doesn't bill insurance)

It doesn't create special licensing or certification requirements

It doesn't limit pricing or panel sizes

Explore DPC Pricing Tiers

See our transparent pricing and find the right tier for your practice size and goals.

The Employer DPC Movement

One of the fastest-growing segments of DPC is employer-sponsored memberships. Small and mid-size businesses (25-500 employees) are discovering that providing DPC as a benefit reduces total healthcare costs while improving employee satisfaction.

States with strong employer DPC adoption:

Indiana — Multiple employers contract directly with DPC practices for employee healthcare

Kansas — Early adopter of employer DPC contracts

Florida — Growing employer interest driven by high insurance premiums

Texas — Business-friendly environment encourages employer-DPC partnerships

If you're launching a DPC practice in any state, employer contracts represent one of the fastest paths to a full patient panel. A single contract with a 50-person company adds 50-100+ members to your practice overnight.

Rural vs. Urban: Different Markets, Same Model

DPC works in both settings, but the dynamics differ:

Rural DPC:

Often the only accessible primary care option

Larger geographic coverage area

Higher community loyalty and word-of-mouth referrals

Lower overhead costs (cheaper rent, lower staff costs)

May need to supplement with telehealth for distance

Urban/Suburban DPC:

More competition for patients (but also more potential patients)

Higher overhead but potentially higher membership pricing

Employer contracts more accessible

Marketing requires more differentiation

Most of our 155+ practice launches have been in suburban markets—communities of 25,000 to 200,000 people where patients want better care than what the large health system provides, and physicians want independence from hospital employment.

Finding (or Starting) DPC Near You

If you're a physician researching DPC in your area, here's what we recommend:

Check the Freedom Healthworks network. Our locations map shows 155+ practices we've helped launch. Even if there's one nearby, there's almost always room for another—DPC panels are small, and patient demand exceeds supply in most markets.

Research your state's DPC legislation. A quick search for "[your state] direct primary care law" will tell you where your state stands. Over 40 states have enabling legislation, and DPC operates everywhere regardless.

Talk to us. We've launched practices in 32 states and are expanding to all 50. Whether you're in a DPC-dense market or the first in your area, we can help you understand the local landscape.

The Trend Line Is Clear

DPC grew from a few hundred practices a decade ago to over 2,500 today. The model works in urban, suburban, and rural settings. It works for family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, and an expanding list of specialties.

If you're searching "DPC near me" as a physician, the better question might be: "Where do I want to be on this map?"

See our nationwide locations map or schedule a discovery call to discuss launching in your area.