April 28, 2014
Oregon went “all in” on health reform, firmly embracing the Affordable Care Act. They launched a very successful Medicaid expansion — a $2 billion federal experiment to prove the state could save money by managing patients’ care better, and, of course, the state’s own online marketplace to sell Obamacare insurance.
But that last point has been a huge problem.
The Cover Oregon board decided on Friday to ditch its troubled website and join up with the federal HealthCare.gov exchange instead.
April 26, 2014
While open enrollment for coverage under the Affordable Care Act is closed, many of the newly insured are finding they can’t find doctors, landing them into a state described as “medical homelessness.”
Rotacare, a free clinic for the uninsured in Mountain View, is dealing with the problem firsthand.
April 25, 2014
Health care costs are dramatically higher in the U.S. than in the rest of the world. Yet our health care outcomes – from life expectancy to infant mortality – are average at best. Few dispute these facts.
The real debate starts when we ask why. While there isn’t one single answer, the rapidly rising cost of drugs and medical devices is a significant factor.
April 24, 2014
Yes, the customer is almost always right — except if they’re paying cash for healthcare. In this case, yes, the “customer” has the right to take their business elsewhere. But do they have the right to complain when I won’t prescribe a drug I know they don’t need?
No way. And just like I don’t WANT to pay taxes, my accountant provides me with options to address what I need to do and what I should not do.
Of course, I don’t have to listen to my accountant. I can forego paying my taxes.
However, I shouldn’t be surprised when the IRS calls me to demand payment, garnishes my wages, and ultimately closes my practice.
April 23, 2014
About 8 million people have signed up for Year 1 of Obamacare, but millions of others are still falling into the law’s “coverage gap.” They earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid, but they don’t make enough to get federal subsidies to buy private insurance on an Affordable Care Act exchange.
The human toll of the coverage gap can be found all too easily in Hidalgo County, Texas, where less than half of non-senior adults had health insurance in 2012.
April 23, 2014
Originally posted on KevinMD.com
“Nine of 10 doctors discourage others from joining the profession,” writes Daniela Drake on the Daily Beast.
And stats say that by the end of 2014, ~300 physicians commit suicide.
April 18, 2014
“Medicine is a business,” says Dr. Doug Nunamaker, “And how our nation’s doing it isn’t working.”
Listen to Drs. Josh and Doug discuss Direct Care in the latest episode of the Atlas MD podcast.
Ditching insurance companies and running a successful business isn’t for the faint of heart, but it’s the only way that family care will keep doctors and patients healthy and happy.
However, one of the biggest challenges for a new Direct Care doctor will be the transition. Which is why we recommend that patients pre-enroll in your Direct Care clinic before you make the switch. Feel out which patients are going to join you, and for those who aren’t ready to follow your lead yet, no worries. With the proper planning and commitment, you can help all your current patients find primary care, and run a profitable business.
If you’re considering a transition into this affordable, powerful alternative to the hurried world of fee-for-service medicine, make sure to visit IWantDirectCare.com. There, you can create a Clinic Account to let potential Direct Care patients know where you plan to offer cash-only medicine.
April 18, 2014
Maybe you heard something like this on the radio recently: A mom takes her new baby to the emergency department on a weekend because she thinks her daughter might have a urinary tract infection. She’s right, but regulations say the baby has to stay in the hospital for two days to ensure the infection clears. Afterwards, the mom is surprised by and concerned about a $7,000 hospital bill for the baby’s care.
The reporter says that since more companies are purchasing high-deductible health plans for their employees, it’s increasingly important that people can find out the price of their care so they can make better choices.
April 17, 2014
Medical Megatrends and the Future of Medicine blogger Dr. Schimpff writes that a lack of listening is the core problem in American healthcare. It’s part of a series of blog posts he’s writing on the crisis in primary care.
April 15, 2014
The president’s signature legislation aims to provide every American with affordable health insurance options, but there’s been an increase in doctors becoming direct pay or cash-only practices recently.
“There’s no doubt that one of the driving forces behind direct-pay practices is frustration and anger with health care among physicians,” says Michael Smith, medical director and chief medical editor at WebMD. “More and more doctors feel they are ready to quit the system and start practicing off the grid.”
But what about patient demand for preventative care? Something that fee-for-service medicine DOES NOT ENCOURAGE — and that Direct Care thrives on.