When Michael Schneider took over as CEO of Dallas-based A1-Locksmith, he realized that the company’s fourth highest expense was healthcare and knew he needed to do something about it. With healthcare costs continually rising each year, he decided to make the company self-insured and established direct contracts with primary care physicians to save money and change the incentives behind the care his employees were receiving.

Moving to direct contracts has become especially important for physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic, as many people are avoiding going to the doctor. Fee-for-service revenues are plummeting, causing many practices to wonder how they will keep the lights on. Direct contracts can help provide steady revenue to physicians.

While things might be slow to move amongst the major insurers and providers, there are more nimble organizations in DFW doing their best to fill the gap and change incentives for physicians. While Schneider never saw himself as a pioneer in healthcare, he realized it was what was best for the company. “I didn’t want to fix healthcare, but I have a duty to do the best for my employees.”

Clint Butler explains, “Residential and commercial security is a priority for most people. However, hiring a locksmith can be stressful and sometimes frustrating, especially when one is facing an emergency situation. You can find many unethical technicians that overcharge you for the simplest of tasks or send unskilled workers to do the job. This can put your property at risk and lead you to spend more money in the long run.”