From Optum to Direct Primary Care: Dr. Nick Jones on Practice Ownership and Physician Advocacy
Dr. Nicholas “Nick” Jones thought he had found the right first job: a long-standing, physician-owned medical group in Eugene, Oregon. Then UnitedHealth's Optum acquired the organization. What followed changed how he thought about professional independence, medical practice ownership, and the care physicians could deliver.
In this conversation with Dr. Maryal Concepcion on My DPC Story, Dr. Jones explains why he left, how he launched Clear Health Direct Primary Care, the practical decisions that made his practice sustainable, and why independent medicine eventually took him into Oregon health policy.
Watch the complete interview: Dr. Nick Jones, From Optum to DPC, on YouTube.
Why an Optum acquisition changed Dr. Jones's path
Dr. Jonesjoined the physician-owned group in 2020, after residency and at the beginning of the pandemic. He wanted to practice alongside clinicians who still had a voice in leadership. When the organization was acquired, the people working with patients were largely the same, but important operational decisions moved farther away from the clinic.
In the interview, he describes delays in improving medical assistant compensation, changes to services, and mounting administrative demands around performance measures and documentation. These are his observations from inside that particular organization, not a claim that every physician employed by a large group has the same experience.
His departure required planning. Dr. Jones says he had never signed a non-compete, but an employment addendum changed his required resignation notice to six months. He also had to think about how an established patient panel would transition. The practical lesson is not to assume an employment contract is standard or negotiable. Read the actual terms and obtain independent legal advice before making an exit plan.
How he opened Clear Health Direct Primary Care
Dr. Jones opened Clear Health DPC on November 6, 2023. Before leaving employment, he reduced his clinical schedule so he could spend two days a week preparing the new practice. He recalls roughly 30 to 40 members in the first month, with growth coming from referrals, existing relationships, local visibility, and word of mouth.
The initial patient mix was not exactly what he predicted. He expected to attract working-age patients, but older adults who valued long-term relationships with a family doctor also responded to the model. It reminded him that a DPC business plan has to be tested against what a community actually needs, not just what a new owner imagines.
DPC membership pricing: simple numbers, real trade-offs
Dr. Jones initially priced adult memberships at $99.99 per month and used a $200 one-time enrollment fee, which he waived while building his early panel. The pricing made break-even calculations easier and gave the practice flexibility to offer an introductory incentive without committing to a permanent monthly discount.
By March 2026, he had raised the adult rate to $110 per month, with children and students at $55. Clear Health's current website lists those rates. Dr. Jones explains that adding more clinicians and support staff changed what patients received and what the business needed to sustain. His central lesson is not that every DPC should charge the same amount, but that the membership price must support the level of access and care the practice promises.
Hiring before the numbers felt completely safe
Dr. Jonesbegan with part-time support, later expanded his clinical and administrative team, and made the decision to add another physician before he had a long waiting list. This was a deliberate risk, not evidence that hiring early is the right choice for every practice.
The upside was greater clinical coverage, more continuity for members, and more freedom for the physicians to take time away. The trade-off was carrying additional payroll and benefits before all the new capacity was filled. For physicians considering a similar step, his story is a reminder to model capacity, cash flow, and personal priorities together.
How DPC independence became physician advocacy
The unexpected benefit of controlling his schedule was time to participate in local professional conversations. Dr. Jones describes going to medical society meetings, building relationships with colleagues and legislators, and sharing firsthand experiences of what clinical independence made possible.
His starting advice is refreshingly practical: “You just gotta show up.” Independent physicians do not have to arrive with a legislative agenda. They can begin by attending one medical society meeting, connecting with a professional association, or sharing a concrete example from their community.
Oregon SB 951: what physicians should understand
Oregon's SB 951, amended by HB 3410, strengthened restrictions addressing corporate influence over the practice of medicine and certain physician non-compete provisions. The rules include exceptions and different effective dates. According to the Oregon Medical Association's explanation, non-compete restrictions generally took effect June 9, 2025, while ownership and control rules for management services organizations are phased in: January 1, 2026 for new arrangements and January 1, 2029 for many preexisting arrangements.
These are Oregon-specific legal developments, not nationwide rules or a guarantee that any particular contractual clause is unenforceable. Physicians should have independent counsel evaluate their agreements and current law.
The Eugene emergency physicians' fight
In 2026, a dispute over hospital emergency department staffing brought Oregon's corporate practice of medicine rules into the spotlight. PeaceHealth proposed replacing the local physician-owned Eugene Emergency Physicians group with ApolloMD. The local group challenged the plan, and a settlement and renewed negotiations followed broad community and professional concern. Oregon Public Broadcasting reported the reversal and legal dispute in May 2026.
Dr. Jones describes this outcome as one of the proudest moments associated with his advocacy. The story illustrates how physicians can contribute their experience and relationships to a wider community effort. It should not be read as a claim that one person or one statute alone produced the settlement.
Three steps for physicians who want more independence
1. Understand the contract before you act
Review notice periods, restrictive covenants, repayment provisions, and patient communication terms with an independent attorney. Do not upload a confidential employment agreement to a public AI service as a substitute for legal counsel.
2. Build the practice model around sustainability
Calculate membership revenue, break-even panel size, staffing needs, cash reserves, and the time you want to protect outside work. Membership pricing should reflect the practice you intend to operate, not just the one you can afford on opening day.
3. Make one local professional connection
Attend a medical society gathering, reach out to a state family medicine organization, or speak with another DPC owner who has navigated an employment transition. Credible relationships can help your patients and may become a pathway to advocacy.
Watch the full My DPC Story episode
In the full video, Dr. Nick Jones talks through the choices, setbacks, and opportunities behind this transition, in his own words. Watch Dr. Nick Jones on YouTube.
Related My DPC Story episodes
Dr. Nyasha Spears: Suing for Her Freedom and Challenging a Non-Compete — another physician's experience challenging an employment restriction before opening DPC.
Dr. Jeremiah Fillo: Leaving Corporate Medicine for DPC — how a family physician rebuilt his career after a difficult employed-practice transition.
What Should a DPC Physician Pay Themselves? With Nate Goodman, CPA — financial questions every independent practice owner needs to answer.
Frequently asked questions
What is direct primary care (DPC)?
Direct primary care is a practice model in which patients pay a recurring membership fee for primary care services. It generally replaces insurance billing for the services included in the membership, but it is not itself comprehensive health insurance.
How can an employed physician transition into DPC?
Start with a contract review, financial runway, a practical launch plan, and connections to other DPC physicians. Dr. Jones's story also illustrates the benefit of making time to prepare before leaving employment.
Can a DPC practice raise membership prices?
Many practices adjust prices as their teams and costs change, subject to their membership agreements and applicable law. Dr. Jones explains why his practice's 2026 increase was tied to expanded services and sustainability.
Does Oregon SB 951 prohibit every physician non-compete?
No. Oregon restricts many physician non-compete arrangements, but there are exceptions and fact-specific questions. Consult counsel rather than assuming a particular employment clause is unenforceable.
How can a physician get involved in advocacy?
Start by showing up at a local medical society or state association meeting. You can share a practical account of the barriers you see in patient care and help policymakers understand how independent practices work.
About this episode
Guest: Dr. Nicholas Jones, founder of Clear Health Direct Primary Care, Eugene, Oregon. Host: Dr. Maryal Concepcion, MD, founder of My DPC Story. Explore more independent physician stories at My DPC Story.
Editorial note: This article is based on Dr. Jones's interview. Statements about his experience and practice numbers are attributed to him; the Oregon legislative timeline and emergency physician dispute are supplemented by public sources. This content is educational and is not individualized legal or business advice.
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