The press room
January 11, 2024
Dr Josh Umbehr on the 'Concierge Medicine' Business

Dr Josh Umbehr is founder of Atlas MD, a technology company that supports doctors who are in the direct primary care, aka “concierge medicine” business. We’ll discuss “Site-Neutral” Medicare pricing which, based on what I know today, I support. Hospital groups hate it. But the impact on competition in the sense of how the current system drives massive consolidation (and thus reduction of competition) would be massively beneficial.

November 28, 2023
Lowering Healthcare Costs Through Site-Neutral Policies

The United States is facing a healthcare affordability crisis with inflation expected to drive costs up by 6.5 percent next year. While Americans worry about the rising costs of medical care, many of the underlying causes of higher prices are overlooked. Bad government policies, especially Medicare reimbursement policies, foster an environment of consolidation in the healthcare industry, leading to higher prices that hurt everyone. Medicare policies must be changed to bring down costs.

February 03, 2023
The Case for Direct Primary Care Doctors in the Debate Over Membership Care

Last week on Here & Now, host Peter O’Dowd spoke to a primary care doctor about the new trend of membership care, a model that’s becoming more common across the country. Under this model, doctors ask patients to sign up for membership plans for direct primary care services.

The conversation sparked a debate online with members of the concierge medicine community. This is a follow-up conversation with Dr. Josh Umbehr, a direct care doctor at Atlas MD. He brings a different perspective on this model of care and tells O’Dowd why he believes this model is better for patients and how it avoids a doctor shortage.

March 03, 2022
Is Telehealth Here to Stay? Yes, But Only if We Stick the Landing

After two years of lockdowns, panics, and gallons of hand sanitizer, we seem to be entering a post-COVID world. Governments are relaxing vaccine mandates and minimizing masks mandates, while markets are returning to normal. We’ve all learned more about the Greek alphabet then we did in high school. Bill Maher accurately assessed the pulse of the nation when he concluded, we’re “over COVID.”

October 31, 2019
What’s the Over/Umbehr on Direct Primary Care Becoming the Dominant Force in Primary Care

As direct primary care practices have grown over the last few years, there is now an expanding commercial marketplace for products and consultants to help DPC practices find success. It is a sign that people outside of medicine are beginning to recognize that DPC is a force to be reckoned with.

October 17, 2019
Why Not Try Free Market Health Care?

At one time only available to the very rich, a model of what is now called “direct primary care” has been developed by Atlas MD in Wichita and is rapidly spreading across the country.

September 16, 2019
A Second Opinion with Josh Umbehr

Dr Josh Umbehr sits down with former senator Bill Frist to discuss the state of healthcare and why the Atlas MD model is the future of primary care.

August 13, 2019
We Already Know What The Trump Health Plan Is

The administration hopes to make Medicare open to direct primary care. Under the arrangement, Medicare would pay a fixed monthly fee to a physician or physician group instead of the traditional fee-for-service payments. In return, the physicians would provide virtually all primary care. The fees would range from $90 to $120 a month, depending on the patient’s age and medical complexity.

August 2, 2019
A Health Plan for President Trump

Concierge doctors used to be available only to the rich. Today, “direct primary care” is far more affordable. Atlas MD in Wichita, for example, provides all primary care along with 24/7 phone and email access and generic drugs for less than what Medicaid pays. They help patients gain access to specialist care and diagnostic tests, with minimal waiting. The cost: $50 a month for a middle-aged adult and $10 a month for a child.

July 26, 2019
Direct Primary Care & Dr. Josh Umbehr

Dr. Umbehr and Dr. Segal discuss the potential of direct primary care, the origins of Dr. Umbehr’s interest in the space, and how direct primary care influences outcomes, insurance expenditures, and interactions with patients.

July 22, 2019
Dr. Josh Umbehr on the Rapid Growth of Direct Primary Care

Innovative family practice physicians such as Dr. Josh Umbehr of Atlas M.D. may not be able to dismantle intrusive health-care regulations, but they are finding ways to sidestep them and provide excellent care to their patients at surprisingly affordable prices.

May 19, 2019
Cut Out the Medical Middlemen

Health-care policy is often portrayed as a fight between government and insurance companies. But one of the most effective cost-saving measures is to cut out both and allow patients to deal directly with doctors.

February 22, 2019
How Primary Care Affects Health Care Costs and Outcomes

Dr. Josh Umbehr isn’t afraid to stand up for patients … even in the Senate. Dr. Umbehr helps lawmakers take more interest in limiting physician burdens and increasing the level of care that patients receive.

February 6, 2019
New Primary Care Models, Delivery Methods Save Money, Enhance Care

Primary care physicians can curb healthcare costs and improve patient outcomes via telemedicine and new payment models and purchasing options, witnesses told the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Tuesday.

In a direct primary care model — what Joshua Umbehr, MD, of Atlas MD in Wichita, Kansas, characterized as a more affordable cousin of “concierge care” — patients pay a monthly fee based on age.

December 10, 2018
Another Voice: ‘Direct Primary Care’ Empowers Doctors, Patients

Scores of doctors are taking a page from Netflix’s playbook and getting into the subscription business.

They’ve adopted a business model called “direct primary care,” whereby patients pay a periodic fee for access to primary care physicians. Since 2014, the number of direct primary care practices in America has grown more than six times over.

October 16, 2018
DIRECT PRIMARY CARE: The ‘Freedom-Based Solution’ for America’s Healthcare Crisis

Millions of Americans continue to struggle under the rising costs and bureaucratic mess spawned by the Affordable Care Act better known as Obamacare with no end in sight. Despite Congress’s inaction on solving the escalating crisis, doctors across the country are calling for a better system: Direct Primary Care.

September 15, 2018
Dr. Josh Umbehr on the Rapid Growth of Direct Primary Care

Dr. Josh Umbehr of Atlas M.D. speaks about how direct primary care has grown in recent years and how it’s shaping the future of medicine in America.

October 3, 2017
This Doctor Has Been Emailing Jeff Bezos for Years Begging Amazon to get into Health

Josh Umbehr, a Kansas-based family physician and entrepreneur, is on a mission to bring down the price of health care, starting with prescription drugs.

So for years, he’s been regularly emailing the one person that he believes can make a difference.

And that’s Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos.

July 7, 2017
Alternative Healthcare Gains Momentum in Kansas

As health insurance premiums rise and the health care bill faces uncertainty, some Kansans are looking for other health care alternatives.

One, in particular, is called direct primary care. According to practicing physicians, it’s the “Netflix of medicine.”

July 7, 2017
Alternative Healthcare Gains Momentum in Kansas

As health insurance premiums rise and the health care bill faces uncertainty, some Kansans are looking for other health care alternatives.

One, in particular, is called direct primary care. According to practicing physicians, it’s the “Netflix of medicine.”

May 13, 2017
Direct Primary Care as a Solution for Health Care Reform?

Dr Josh Umbehr, M.D., speaks to a lunch gathering of the Wichita Pachyderm Club on May 12, 2017, about Atlas MD, a direct primary care medical provider and its potential for meaningful health care reform.

May 13, 2017
Direct Primary Care as a Solution for Health Care Reform?

Dr Josh Umbehr, M.D., spoke to a lunch gathering of the Wichita Pachyderm Club May 12, 2017, about Atlas MD, a direct primary care medical provider and its potential for meaningful health care reform.

March 16, 2017
TLR Exclusive: AtlasMD’s Dr. Josh Umbehr and Everything Healthcare

Meet AtlasMD out of Wichita, KS, a direct primary care physician service (DPC). Run by doctors Josh Umbehr and Doug Nunamaker, AtlasMD is revolutionizing healthcare one transparent and affordable transaction at a time.

March 8, 2017
AtlasMD Founder Featured on Fox News Program

Dr. Josh Umbehr, the founder of Wichita-based AtlasMD, appeared as a guest on the Fox News program The Sean Hannity Show to discuss the Direct Care business and how it can be used to drive change within health care.

November 10, 2016
Atlas MD and Direct Care is Part of Replacing ObamaCare

Sean Hannity offers up Atlas MD’s Direct Care model as a possible tool for fixing healthcare. Dr. Ben Carson agrees.

September 21, 2016
Atlas MD Mentioned In US House Budget Committee Meeting

The Atlas DPC model is regarded as “perfect” in a recent US House Budget meeting with a topic of “Restoring the Trust for Families and Working-Age Americans.”

July 11, 2016
Dr. Josh Named One of WBJ's 2016 Health Care Heroes

They take care of us when we’re sick, help keep us from falling ill and manage the health care systems we use.

September 10, 2015
Atlas MD Celebrates a New DPC Holiday - the Launch of ICD-10!

As ICD-10 rolls out on October 1, 2015, Direct Care practices around the country will sit back and watch the madness from the sidelines.

August 4, 2015
Atlas MD Announces Direct Care Curriculum

Atlas MD launches the Direct Care Curriculum, where healthcare professionals can learn everything there is to know about Direct Care – completely free of charge.

May 6, 2015
Josh Umbehr Working to Create a Direct Care Movement

Dr. Josh shares his business model for providing insurance-free medical care to other physicians around the country to grow the DPC movement.

March 22, 2015
The Medical Record System for Direct Primary Care

Doug Farrago, MD shares why he believes the Atlas.md EMR is the ideal reasonable costing cloud solution EMR for DPC practices.

July 29, 2014
How Providing the Best Care Leads to Higher Profits and More Fulfillment

Dr. Josh and Dr. Doug share the exact strategy, services, and pricing they’ve used to grow their own direct-pay primary care (DPC) practice

July 23, 2014
The VA Scandal and Government Run Healthcare

Obamacare Expert Patricia Newman on the VA Scandal and Government Run Healthcare

July 22, 2014
Family medicine can be provided without health insurance

Josh Umbehr of the Kansas-based medical practice Atlas MD explains how his practice delivers low-cost family medicine using a direct-pay membership model.

July 10, 2014
Engaging Medical Students in the Practice of Free Market Medicine

Clinical Innovation Network Webinar: Engaging Medical Students in the Practice of Free Market Medicine

June 23, 2014
As the Health Care Market begins to crumble under the weight of ObamaCare because of limited options, rising

Free Market Alternatives to ObamaCare

May 30, 2014
The most political, least political healthcare: Direct care

I just want to the opportunity to practice good medicine. The less Washington has to do with that, the better.

May 10, 2014
Affordable direct care doctors: Long-term healthcare solution

As their personal urgent care physician – lacerations, broken bones, earaches, and stomach flus — I can handle all of this at no extra cost to my patients.

April 30, 2014
A solution to ER overcrowding: Direct care

The reality is that 80% of what I see in the ER is “family medicine after hours.” I could safely see these patients in my own practice, and save them time and money.

April 30, 2014
A declaration of doctor independence: Direct care

The bottom line is that bureaucrats are telling docs what they can and can’t do — and that needs to stop.

December 18, 2013
Direct Primary Care Gets its First EMR; Atlas.md Launches on Desktop, Tablet and Mobile Devices

Atlas MD today launches Atlas.md EMR, a web-based app designed so that direct primary care physicians can operate their own insurance-free practices.

A second opinion with Josh Umbehr

On episode 9 of A Second Opinion, former senator Bill Frist sits down with Josh Umbehr to discuss the state of healthcare and why the Atlas MD model is the future of primary care.

Listen to the podcast here

February 23, 2016
Atlas.md Episode 24
Dr. Josh and Dr. Doug talk about the state of DPC, and the realities of running a DPC clinic.
September 03, 2015
Atlas MD Episode 23
Dr. Josh and Dr. Doug give an update on the DPC movement. The main features talking about growing a practice by adding docs and locations
April 27, 2015
Atlas.md Episode 22
Dr. Josh and Dr. Doug talk about the state of DPC, and the realities of running a DPC clinic.
February 03, 2015
Atlas MD Episode 21
Dr. Josh and Dr. Doug speak with some medical students who are interested to learn more about direct care.

Press photos

Dr. JOSH UMBEHR
Born and raised in Alma, Kansas, Dr. Josh Umbehr majored in human nutritional sciences with a minor in biology, and completed extensive research on the effects of vitamin A on lung cancer. He graduated from The University of Kansas School of Medicine and completed his Family Medicine residency at Wesley Medical Center. After completing his training to become a Board Certified Family Physician, he opened Atlas MD. His cash-only clinic embodies his ideal medical practice, one where he shrugs off the burdens and restrictions of government and insurance regulation daily. That way he can focus solely on his patients.
Dr. DOUG NUNAMAKER
The son of a hospital administrator, Dr. Doug Nunamaker attended Pittsburg State University where he graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in biology with minors in chemistry and physics. He then graduated from KU Med and completed residency in Wichita, KS at Wesley Family Medicine. Afterwards, he joined Mid-Kansas Inpatient Physicians as a hospitalist before teaming up with Dr. Josh at Atlas MD. He had realized, quickly, that the long arm of insurance was a looming problem over contemporary medicine. However, upon meeting Dr. Josh Umbehr, he was able to cut ties with insurance companies and provide the medical care he’d dreamed of as a youth.
Dr. MICHAEL PALOMINO
A Kansan through and through, Dr. Michael Palomino graduated summa cum laude from Wichita State University with a degree in chemical science. He earned his doctorate in 2007 from University of Kansas School of Medicine. Like Drs. Doug and Josh, Dr. Michael completed residency at Wesley Medical Center. Seeking long-lasting relationships with his patients, he began practicing family medicine at a clinic affiliated with his residency program. But after frustrating experiences with insurance companies – including frequent denials of recommended medications and treatment plans — Dr. Michael sought a new way to connect with his patients. And, as Atlas MD’s third physician, he’s found the opportunity.
Dr. Jared Johnson
Dr. Jared graduated Oklahoma Christian University summa cum laude in 2003 as a university fellow with majors in biology and vocational ministry. He received his medical degree from the University of Oklahoma, then returned to Wichita to complete his family medicine training at Wesley Medical Center. Dr. Jared is board certified in family medicine and a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Kansas Academy of Family Physicians, and the Medical Society of Sedgwick County. After five years in a large multi-specialty group practice, he became frustrated with the status quo. He chose direct care to do what he went to school for: to truly be there for his patients. At Atlas MD, he feels he can invest time in pure patient-physician relationships, without any third party interference.
Chris Beaudin
Chris “Beau” Beaudin is a navy veteran with ten years of naval engineering under his belt. He has seen over twenty countries around the world including Germany, Ukraine, Turkey, Bahrain, Dubai, Scotland, and Croatia. Beau has amassed worldly knowledge and experience that he puts into his position every day here at Atlas. Beau is also actively pursuing his Business degree in Project Management and soon after his MBA in Marketing and Strategy. Beau spends his time with his two daughters Summer, Adrina, and his fiancée Lisa, and enjoys spending time at the beach, pool, or any other place with access to water – it's no wonder he and his family decided to live on the Gulf Coast! You can contact him anytime at Chris@atlas.md he is ready to help you build your future with Direct Primary Care!
Dr. Shawn Wadsworth
Dr. Shawn attended Avila University in Kansas City on a baseball scholarship. He also graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry and a minor in Mathematics. He then graduated from Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences. After residency he became Board Certified in Family Medicine through the American Board of Family Medicine and by the American Osteopathic Academy of Family Physicians. Dr. Shawn believes in spending time with each patient and being available on a daily basis allows for the development of that patient-physician relationship. He is thrilled to be a part of the Atlas family and providing affordable, personalized family care in Wichita.
KIRK UMBEHR Transition Expert
Kirk specializes in transitioning existing medical practices to Direct Care. In essence, he’ll make converting to DPC a downhill slide instead of an uphill battle. After graduating from K-State and earning a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management from the Department of Hospitality Management and Dietetics, he moved to Kansas City for the country club industry. Looking to expand his credentials, he accepted a position as Director of Sales for a commercial LED lighting company before joining Atlas MD. He knows relationships can be a very powerful currency and wants to help doctors expose their inner servant hearts to their patients.
Keen Umbehr, Sr.
Keen is Atlas’ newest addition to their in-house legal counsel. His primary role is to provide physicians with a free resource for analyzing contracts and other written agreements, and is a one-stop-shop for discussing the legal “what -ifs” doctors typically have when launching their DPC practice. After selling his trash collection business in 1999, Keen enrolled as a freshman at Kansas State University right alongside his sons Jared and Josh. He graduated cum laude with a BS in political science, and went on to study at Washburn School of Law, graduating in 2005. After practicing privately for the past fifteen years, Keen decided to join his sons as part of the (literal) Atlas family in order to assist provide timely legal assistance to any physicians looking to start their own Direct Care practices.
Atlas md, OUR CLINIC
Atlas MD is an industry-leading direct primary care medical practice offering family healthcare that is thorough, comprehensive, and affordable. Drs. Josh Umbehr & Doug Nunamaker opened the insurance-free practice in 2010. They’re committed to offering their service 24 hours a day, seven days a week and are determined to help other doctors succeed in doing the same.