Posted by: AtlasMD

June 27, 2013

NPR Exposes Top Medicare Prescribers Who Rake In Speaking Fees From Drugmakers

The blood pressure drug Bystolic hit the market in 2008. It faced a slew of cheap generics, so its maker, Forest Laboratories, needed to devise a plan. They launched a promotional assault targeted straight at the people scribbling on the pads: prescribing doctors. “It flooded the offices of health professionals with drug reps, and it hired doctors to persuade their peers to choose Bystolic — even though the drug hadn’t proved more effective than competitors,” says NPR in a damning exposé that includes some shocking numbers.

According to the article, at least 17 of the top 20 Bystolic prescribers in Medicare’s prescription drug program in 2010 have been paid by Forest to deliver promotional talks. And they together received $284,700 for speeches and more than $20,000 in meals in 2012. And it’s not just us over here at Atlas MD going, hmmm, I bet they prescribed a lot of the beta blocker Bystolic. NPR reports that in the 2012 fiscal year, sales of Bystolic reached $348 million, almost double its total from two years earlier.

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Posted by: AtlasMD

June 25, 2013

GOOD NEWS: Hatch-Rubio Bill Would Modify HSA, FSA Rules

“A new Republican Senate bill seeks to facilitate the use of tax-advantaged health savings accounts (HSA) and flexible spending arrangements by loosening the rules that govern them,” says a recent post from The Hill. On Thursday, Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) introduced legislation to get rid of what they have labeled, “onerous” restrictions on HSAs. This would include the current ban that disallows the spending of HSA dollars on over-the-counter drugs tax-free.

This looks like great news for us as we’re trying to help people out of the insurance trap. As the host of Night Talker Radio Network said during a podcast with Dr. Doug, he doesn’t want to be 50 years old, paying $1,200 a month in case he gets a sore throat. A bill like this is one less shackle tying us to an entrenched, greedy system. It’s sure to cause a stir with opponents. We’re curious to see how they attack it, and are keeping an eye out for what other legislation is proposed within the bill. Obviously, based on the issues presented, we’re entirely on board.

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Posted by: AtlasMD

June 24, 2013

Running List Of The Best ICD-10 Codes

Running List Of The Best ICD-10 Codes

And if you needed any more reasons to be concerned with the future of health care as it pertains to insurance billing, look no further. We’ve compiled some of our favorite ICD-10 billing gaffs.

Here are some straight-up laugh-worthy ICD-10 codes:
R46.1, “bizarre personal appearance”
R46.0, “very low level of personal hygiene”
W22.02XA, “walked into lamppost, initial encounter”
W22.02XD, “walked into lamppost, subsequent encounter”
V91.07XA, “burn due to water-skis on fire”

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Posted by: AtlasMD

June 24, 2013

The Future of Doctor-Patient Emails Looks Bleak, for Everyone Else

Doug FarragoDoug Farrago’s new post on Kevin MD makes a grim prognosis for docs operating within the insurance system. Looks like they will need to answer emails more promptly or risk diminishing profits.

Farrago’s future of patient emails includes not getting paid for answering them, getting dinged if you lag when responding, possibly getting sued, making bad prognoses based on cryptic messages (which you’re expected to answer or lose patients to doctors who will), and losing money since emailing patients are skipping out on the visit.

However, Farrago mentions that Dr. Josh has solved this quandary by introducing a subscription model and limiting his patient number. As we know, Atlas MD docs take calls and emails 24/7 and as Dr. Doug told CNN Money, “My professional life is better than expected, my family life and personal time is better than expected,” he said. “This is everything I wanted out of family medicine.” In fact, Atlas MD enjoys their work so much, they’re fighting to bring direct care to the masses. It feels good to be recognized as a solution in an industry riddled with incalculable problems.

Doug Farrago is a family physician who blogs at Authentic Medicine.
(Photo courtesy of pressherald.com)

Posted by: AtlasMD

June 24, 2013

LISTEN: Dr. Doug Talks Commonsense Healthcare With Night Talker Radio Network

dougDr. Doug Nunamaker spoke to Michael David McGuire on his Night Talker Radio Network podcast. During the 30-minute interview Doug was met with overwhelming enthusiasm from the host. McGuire extoled our no-nonsense approach to healthcare, celebrated Kansas’ reputation for ingenuity, and had no qualms about asking Doug some personal questions about concierge medicine.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST HERE

We’re grateful for opportunities like this to spread our message to an even wider audience and clear up the preconceived notion that direct care creates a two-tiered system. It’s the red tape that’s expensive, not the healthcare, Doug explains, and the way a greedy, entrenched system fixes it is with red adhesive sticking to more red tape. In our model, Doug’s able to charge a patient who used to pay $75/month for her medication alone now just $50 for unlimited visits, and a buck for her prescription. That means she’s SAVING $24/mo with her Atlas subscription.

Doug also had a chance to share our new campaign I Want Direct Care. McGuire thought it was brilliant that we’re trying to unite patients and doctors in a reasonable one-on-one relationship. And in doing so, motivate doctors who might consider early retirement or abandonment of the profession to join our movement—if only because the people demand it.

Posted by: AtlasMD

June 22, 2013

How much does a direct care medical doctor make?

How much does a direct care medical doctor make?

Once a direct care doctor is up and running with a full roster, the salary possibilities look really good. We are of the opinion that if a doctor has good standing in his community, a decent advertising budget, and a willingness to take on multiple roles within the office, then he or she can make MORE than their current salary within the insurance-based model. Of course, exactly how much and how much more will depend on their specialty and factors like patient number, monthly fee, and cost differentiation.

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Posted by: AtlasMD

June 21, 2013

TEXAS: Dr. Casad Offers Hybrid OBGYN Concierge Model from Concierge Choice Physicians

Concierge Medicine Today (CMT) posted an article announcing the opening of a hybrid concierge medicine practice in Texas. Dr. Connie Casad is the first gynecologist in the nation to provide the hybrid concierge model for enhanced gynecologic procedures. She too is convinced in the merits of our emerging business model, saying, “Like a lot of my patients, I struggled with issues related to my health and well-being as I aged. I felt like the current healthcare model didn’t provide a system that could provide patients with what they wanted and needed. I conducted considerable research and I believe that the concierge model gives the best option possible for my patients who want to take charge of their health and who are interested in prevention and wellness.”

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Posted by: AtlasMD

June 21, 2013

Breitbart Builds Massive Dialogue After Reporting on Dr. Doug’s CNN Money Feature

Breitbart Builds Massive Dialogue After Reporting on Dr. Doug’s CNN Money Feature

We told you about Dr. Doug’s CNN Money feature last week. Now, in a recent article, Breitbart quotes that “after five years of dealing with the red tape of health insurance companies and the high overhead for the staff [Dr. Doug] hired just to deal with paperwork, he switched to a system of charging his patients a monthly fee plus the price of an office visit or test.” We did want to point out that this line had a bit of an error. Dr. Doug charges extra for things like MRIs, prescriptions, blood panels, but NOT for office visits. But, regardless of the minor oversight, the article generated a massive conversation, with resounding support for concierge medicine.

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Posted by: AtlasMD

June 21, 2013

Revisiting An LA Times Article From Last Year

The byline of last year’s LA Times article reads as follows: “Some physicians in solo practice, frustrated by long hours and less time with patients, opt for so-called concierge medicine. Critics say it could reduce access to care.” We’ve heard this argument before, and although it’s not entirely invalid, it does require a sweeping generalization, something theorists in academia do, or a teacher does when illuminating students to a mathematical law. And in doing so, it positions our field as more of a problem than a solution. They summarize direct primary care as follows: “The model is simple: Doctors charge their patients an annual fee and in turn, give them more time and attention.” While true, this overview is suspect, making us sound like we’re advocating a two-tiered system.

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Posted by: AtlasMD

June 20, 2013

Study Finds Rate Of New Primary Care Physicians Entering the Field to be “Abysmal”

An article from Breitbart said recently that “despite a shortage of U.S. primary care doctors, less than 25 percent of new doctors go into this field, and fewer still work in rural areas.” The lead study author Dr. Candice Chen, is an assistant research professor of the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services. According to her study, only 4.8 percent of the new primary care physicians set up shop in rural areas.

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