NO PRIOR AUTH: The Kenya Coffee That Does Not Ask Permission
Share
By Maryal Concepcion, MD, FAAFP · 6 minute read
Prior authorization is the form that sits between a physician's decision and the patient getting it. NO PRIOR AUTH is a washed Kenya from Othaya, Nyeri County, medium-light roasted, bright with orange, lemon, and floral notes. It is our best selling single bag. This post starts with the name, then covers what is in the bag and how to brew it.
Why it is called NO PRIOR AUTH
Bright, sharp, and unbought. A finish that does not ask permission.
Every physician knows the sequence. You examine the patient, you decide what they need, and then you wait for someone who has never seen them to agree. The waiting is the treatment plan now. Days for a scan. Weeks for a medication. A phone tree, a fax, and a second submission because the first one used the wrong code.
Dr. Matthew Hitchcock, MD, MBA, of Hitchcock Medical Group in Chattanooga, told the version of this story on My DPC Story, episode 256, that every emergency physician recognizes. A patient in agony with a kidney stone, and the insurer needing seven to ten days to approve the CT:
"Well, if it's that urgent, just send him to the ER."
His answer was to open a cash imaging center. Same scan, same day, no form:
"That's 350 bucks through us and we can do it today."
That is the model I practice and advocate for: a physician and a patient, and no one in between deciding whether the decision counts. In Direct Primary Care the prior authorization for primary care simply does not exist, because there is no third party to authorize anything. The physician decides. The patient agrees or does not. That is the whole approval process. Listen to episode 256 of My DPC Story.
What is in the bag
Single origin Kenya from Othaya, Nyeri County. Grown between 1,700 and 1,890 meters, fully washed and dried on raised beds, from SL28, SL34, Ruiru 11, and Batian trees. Medium-light roast.
The cup. Orange and lemon up front, floral underneath, bright acidity, and a clean finish. This is what people mean when they say a Kenya tastes alive. It is not a comfort coffee. It is a wake-up coffee.
The bag. 12 ounces in standard grind, coarse, or whole bean, and a one pound bag for the practice. Roasted in frequent small batches based on customer demand, so it is not produced far in advance or held in storage.
The price. $22.99 for 12 ounces, $31.99 for the pound. Ships free at $50.
How to brew it
Pour over. This is where a washed Kenya belongs. Slightly finer than drip, water just off the boil. All of the citrus shows up.
Drip. Standard grind, 1 to 16 by weight. Still bright, a little rounder. A very good office pot if the office likes to be awake.
French press. Order the coarse grind. Four minutes. The acidity softens and the body fills in. Some people prefer it this way; I do not, but it is your cup.
Iced. Brew it double strength over ice. The citrus was made for it.
Who this coffee is for
The physician who just got a denial. The scan was obvious. The form was not.
The person who does the prior auths. Every practice has one. They know the hold music by heart and have never once been thanked in writing.
The patient who waited. You know who you are. This one you can have today.
Frequently asked questions
Is NO PRIOR AUTH a single origin coffee?
Yes. It comes from Othaya in Nyeri County, Kenya, fully washed, grown between 1,700 and 1,890 meters. The roaster lists the varieties as SL28, SL34, Ruiru 11, and Batian.
What does it taste like?
Orange, lemon, and floral notes with bright acidity and a clean finish. It is a medium-light roast, so it leans bright rather than heavy. If you like dark, oily coffee this is not it. If you like a coffee that tastes like fruit, this is the one.
Which grind should I order?
Standard for drip or pour over. Coarse for French press or cold brew. Whole bean if you grind at home. The one pound bag is for a practice or a household that goes through a bag in under two weeks.
What is prior authorization?
Prior authorization is the process where an insurer must approve a test, medication, procedure, or referral before it will pay for it. The physician has already decided the patient needs it; the authorization is the insurer deciding whether to agree. Delays and denials are common, and appeals take physician time that is not paid for.
What is Direct Primary Care?
Direct Primary Care is a membership model where patients pay their physician directly, usually a flat monthly fee, for primary care. There is no insurance in the middle of the visit, so there is no prior authorization for the care the physician provides. Physicians tell their own stories of building these practices on the My DPC Story podcast.
How do I find a Direct Primary Care doctor near me?
Search The DPC Directory, a free listing of Direct Primary Care practices by location.
Is this coffee flavored?
No. The citrus and floral notes come from the bean and the washed process. The only ingredient is coffee.
More resources from My DPC Story
The My DPC Story Podcast. Three hundred episodes of physicians describing how they opened, grew, and run Direct Primary Care practices, in their own words.
The DPC Directory. Find a Direct Primary Care physician near you.
My DPC Story, episode 256 with Dr. Matthew Hitchcock. The kidney stone story is at 27:47 and the imaging center at 25:12.
Shop this coffee
NO PRIOR AUTH, 12 oz or 1 lb · from $22.99
Part of NO ROOM FOR PRIVATE EQUITY, THE SET and DIRECT PRIMARY CARE, THE SET.
Related posts
Medically Necessary, Now a Coffee
WORD OF MOUTH: The Coffee Named for How Patients Actually Find a Doctor
What to Get a Nurse Who Has Everything
Who Owns My Doctor? Private equity and physician practices, explained
Gift guide by recipient: doctors, nurses and the whole floor