Posted by: AtlasMD

March 6, 2014

You’re Paying That Much For Your Phone? You Can Get A Personal Physician For The Same Price.

Image provided by aei-ideas.org

Epiphany Healthcare in North Port, FL, is another member of our burgeoning direct care movement. American Enterprise Institute wrote about their model and included the price comparison table above. Two obvious points worth mentioning — ACA Bronze coverage DOES NOT do much for patients and still costs a serious amount of money. It might feel safe because it includes catastrophic coverage… But here at Atlas MD in Kansas, we’ve helped patients get wrap-around coverage with a $5,000 deductible for less than $150/mo… Meaning that with direct care and wrap-around coverage combined, we’re giving you more care, and security, for potentially the same price as a Bronze ACA plan.

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Posted by: AtlasMD

March 5, 2014

We Love Seeing Direct Care In The Local News. But We Never Said, “No More Insurance.”

Direct care made a local news segment in Kansas City. But Dr. Troy Burns wasn’t too happy with the title of the online article that accompanied it. It reads, “Doctor’s new orders: No more health insurance.” Thank you, Fox News, for taking notice of our model of care — one that’s affordable, practical, and is making patients and doctors happy. However, we have to point out that insurance is DEFINITELY necessary in the event of trauma or catastrophe.

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Posted by: AtlasMD

March 2, 2014

Ringadoc Phone Concierge Wants To Charge You $40 Per Telehealth Visit. For $10 More We’ll See You Anytime, Anywhere.

It looks like telehealth and concierge medicine just got cozier.

Announced last week, Ringadoc, based in San Francisco, has launched a platform that allows patients to have a telehealth consult with their own doctor. According to Mobile Health News, “Ringadoc Phone Concierge costs roughly $40 per visit… similar to a standard insurance co-pay for a visit to the doctor’s office.”

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Posted by: AtlasMD

March 2, 2014

For Years The RAND Corporation Claimed EMRs Would Save Us $100 Billion Per Year — Until Their Own Research Proved Otherwise

Seriously, we’ve heard enough idealistic hoopla about EMRs improving patient care. It is not the reality of the situation. What appears to be the reality is that the companies who provide the EMRs, and get government kick backs for doing such, are definitely raking in a lot of dough. What’s not happening, though, is anything beneficial in the doctor’s office. The machines aren’t widely adopted and when they are, they’re costing doctors time with unnecessary clicks. And the nail in the coffin comes from the New York Times, who write, “The conversion to electronic health records has failed so far to produce the hoped-for savings in health care costs and has had mixed results, at best, in improving efficiency and patient care, according to a new analysis by the influential RAND Corporation.”

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Posted by: AtlasMD

March 2, 2014

Healthcare Is Broken. But Throwing Pills At It Won’t Solve The Problem.

Kevin Pho knows how to craft a headline. He says on Kevin MD, that patient satisfaction is all the rage, and that it might actually kill.

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Posted by: AtlasMD

February 26, 2014

Bloomberg Businessweek Investigates The Future Of Medicine — Cash-Only Clinics.

Bloomberg Businessweek wants to know what’s in store for our nation’s healthcare future. We are facing a staggering shortage of doctors, along with a growing demand for providers precipitated by Obamacare. In spite of thee challenges, there are doctors and entrepreneurs emerging, people searching for better outcomes. Our direct care operation, Atlas MD, was actually the first practice profiled in Bloomberg’s article. They shared one of our harrowing stories — helping a struggling, uninsured woman address her thyroid issues, and regain her vitality, for $147 instead of ~$1,500 a hospital would have potentially charged her.

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Posted by: AtlasMD

February 26, 2014

Sure, Stage 2 Meaningful Use Regulations Are Great. That’s Why Providers Want A Two Year Delay In Their Implementation.

Fierce Health IT reports that “nearly 50 of the nation’s most influential provider organizations–including the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives, the American Medical Association, the American Hospital Association and the Medical Group Management Association–are asking for a front-end extension to Meaningful Use Stage 2…” In fact, they sent a letter directly to U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius expressing just that. Read more

Posted by: AtlasMD

February 24, 2014

Dear Congress, This Doctor Is NOT For Sale. Don’t Sell Her Services Without Her Permission.

In her open letter to the President, Texas physician Kris Held, M.D. writes:

“Dear Johns,

“I am not for sale.

“You may not use me and my works to discriminate against my fellow American patients, much less for your profit. I will not serve one patient under one set of rules and another patient under a different set of your pen’s usurious rules. You lie to me and my patients. I call you out. You falsely advertise my services. You profess “access to care” for your members using false advertising when you list me as one of your “providers”. You trick patients, who you call members; I will not be tricked by you. By the way, I am a doctor not a provider.”

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Posted by: AtlasMD

February 24, 2014

Apprehensive Doctors Shift From Private Practices Into Salaried Positions

According to the New York Times, “American physicians, worried about changes in the health care market, are streaming into salaried jobs with hospitals.” This exodus is most severe in primary care, followed by specialists.

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Posted by: AtlasMD

February 21, 2014

Can A Drug-Dealing Robot Increase Direct Care Value?

Can A Drug-Dealing Robot Increase Direct Care Value?

Wired reports on a disruptive technology entering the healthcare market. PillPack, a startup pharmacy, hopes to overthrow the archaic process of picking up prescriptions. They’re charging $20 a month to enroll. PillPack will then deliver “drugs” directly to your doorstep. With the help of robots, all of your meds are organized into “dose packets,” which are small, well-designed plastic baggies. They’re even marked with the date and time they’re supposed to be taken.

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