Welcome Health of Evans is offering local businesses something many didn’t realize was possible in today’s healthcare landscape: a way to lower costs while also giving employees better, more accessible medical care. With insurance premiums rising year after year, companies often feel forced to choose between higher deductibles or higher monthly costs. Direct Primary Care (DPC), the model used by Welcome Health, creates a third option. One that benefits both employers and their teams.
Welcome Health operates on a membership basis rather than billing insurance, which removes many of the financial barriers that keep people from going to the doctor. For individuals, this means longer appointments, same-day visits, messaging access, and significantly lower lab and medication costs. For businesses, it means fewer insurance claims. Something owner and provider Davis Mellick, PA-C, says is the key to sustainable savings. “The fewer claims you make, the less your insurance costs in the long run,” he explains. “DPC does a great job of cost containment.”
Businesses with fifty or more employees often pair Direct Primary Care with a level-funded plan, self-funded plan, or partially level-funded plans. Rather than paying into a traditional plan where unused funds disappear at the end of the year, level funding allows businesses to roll remaining money into the next year or back into the company. “You get actual flexibility,” Davis says. “You can pay your employees more, offer bonuses, whatever your goals are. But this only works if claims stay low, and DPC makes that possible without compromising quality of care.”
Many of the most common and costly claims never happen under this model. Patients at Welcome Health don’t face copays or surprise bills, and inexpensive in-house labs and medications replace many insurance submissions entirely. A lab panel that might generate a $450 claim under insurance is $31 at Welcome Health. A prescription that once cost $85 a month may be just $8 for a 90-day supply. This predictable, transparent pricing reduces the need for urgent care visits and encourages patients to seek help before small issues become big ones. “Patients can message me directly,” Davis explains. “I know them, I know their history, and sometimes that means they don’t even need to come in. That’s fewer sick days, fewer emergencies, and better overall health.”
Employees overwhelmingly appreciate this kind of access. Studies show Direct Primary Care consistently ranks among the most valued workplace benefits because it signals that an employer is genuinely invested in their well-being. Davis sees that firsthand through the relationships formed at his practice. His team, he says, plays an important role in creating a welcoming, attentive environment. “They’re often the first point of contact, and the relationships they build are incredible,” he says. “If someone comes in for a refill but looks off, they’ll grab me. That familiarity is rare these days.”
That personal connection extends outside the exam room. Davis says one of the most rewarding parts of the job is being part of a patient’s life over the years. Seeing families grow, celebrating milestones, and watching health improve. He emphasizes lifestyle-focused care, encouraging small, realistic changes. “Food is medicine,” he adds. “If we can help someone improve through lifestyle and get them off medications safely, that’s a success.”
Welcome Health works with businesses of all sizes, whether a company has two employees or three hundred employees, building plans tailored to their needs. For larger groups exploring DPC for the first time, Davis often visits workplaces to answer questions directly and help employees understand how the model works. “We can come to your business a set number of times per year,” he says. “We really try to break down any barriers.”
With its blend of accessibility, transparency, and personal connection, Welcome Health is reshaping how the CSRA thinks about healthcare. It’s a model rooted not in complexity but in the simple idea that people do better when their care is easy to access and built on trust.