Healthcare Without Barriers: Direct Pay and Community Models with Morgan Honea

Welcome to another episode of Impact Unfiltered! In today’s show, Philippe sits down with Morgan Honea, a seasoned healthcare leader based in Denver, Colorado. Morgan brings over 25 years of experience spanning nonprofit public health, rural healthcare, data and technology, and health systems innovation. Together, they dive into why our current fee-for-service healthcare system just isn’t working, especially for underserved and rural communities, and explore new models centered around direct pay and patient-first care.Morgan shares stories from his early days on a rural mission trip, experiences running health centers and health information exchanges, and what drives him and his team to rethink what healthcare could look like—where the community’s needs set the priorities, and cost and transparency aren’t barriers to care.Whether you’re a disruptor, a provider, or just someone who’s tired of the status quo, you’ll find inspiration and practical tips here about impacting your community, navigating the industry, and never being afraid to break the mold. Strap in for an honest, hopeful conversation about changing healthcare from the ground up!1. Podcast Introduction and Guest WelcomeBrief preamble highlighting the show’s theme: real conversations with leaders driving change in healthcare, business, and community2. Morgan Honea Professional Journey in Healthcare25 years in the healthcare industry, primarily in the nonprofit sectorExperience in public health, federally qualified health centers, and healthcare technologyLeadership roles, including running a health information exchange in ColoradoUnique perspective from multiple roles: employer, provider, payer, and patient3. Defining Impact in Healthcare & Medical Suite’s MissionThe team’s focus on the impact for individuals and communitiesSpecial emphasis on rural and underserved communitiesChallenges in healthcare delivery outside major metropolitan areasImportance of localizing healthcare and using team expertise to show communities 4. Community Engagement and Needs AlignmentCommitment to listening first: every community has unique prioritiesCollaboration with stakeholders like school districts, municipal governments, and local employersAvoiding assumptions; starting with community-led goalsEnsuring solutions are genuinely driven by local needs5. Innovation and Service Delivery Outside the Fee-for-Service ModelSkepticism about the word "innovation" within fee-for-serviceAdvocating for direct pay models to remove constraints on providersAdvantages of direct pay: longer provider-patient interactions, appropriate use of data, tailored careEmphasizing primary care as critical to 80% of healthcare outcomesAddressing social determinants of health and the importance of zip code in outcomes6. Practical Examples and PartnershipsUse of data-driven approaches for aligning services to patient/community needsPartnerships and tools for direct pay care, including virtual and telehealth servicesMention of various companies and initiatives (e.g., Nexus Health Connect, Actuate Care, Smith Medical ambulatory surgery center)Highlight: transparent pricing on procedures, e.g., appendectomy at Smith Medical7. Advice for Emerging Leaders in HealthcareImportance of being ambitious and mission-drivenThe value of questioning traditional paths and methods in healthcareEncouragement to take risks and innovate outside the system when necessary8. How to Get Involved & Access ResourcesInformation on organizations and websites for further learning (Nexus Health Connect, Actuate Care, Smith Medical)Solutions for direct primary care, virtual care, and direct-pay proceduresPlans for a new general agency to educate brokers and empower more individuals and employers9. Closing Remarks and AppreciationEncouragement and optimism for the future of healthcare reform