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.
Tag Archives: Direct Care
April 23, 2014
Yes, Being A Doctor Became Miserable. That’s Why I Became A Direct Care Doctor Instead.
April 18, 2014
Stream The Next Atlas MD Podcast, Episode 16 >
“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
The Benefits Of Price Transparency Are Overstated. The Benefits Of An Accessible Doctor You Trust Can’t Be Stated.
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
Do You Hear The Sound Of American Healthcare Failing? Oh, Right, You’re Not Listening.
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
It’s The Chicken Or The Egg Again. Will Direct Care Expand Proportionately To Demand For Preventative Care?
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.
April 14, 2014
Direct Care Opponents Claim Our Patients Are “Exposed”? Tell That To A Surprising Proponent (The Healthcare Exchange).
In South Portland, Maine — Roxanne Pettigrow chooses not to buy health insurance. She visits her doctor in South Portland every few weeks, though, paying $50 up front, once per month for regular checkups, office visits and preventive health screenings. It’s care that those who lack health coverage often skip.
April 11, 2014
Doctors Ought To Get Paid However They Choose To See Their Patients
Hans Duvefelt explains the strange world he lives in: He can freeze some warts in less than a minute and send a bill to a patient’s commercial insurance for way more money than if he spent fifteen minutes changing someone’s blood pressure medication.
Why’s this the case? For one, he’s a victim of red tape i.e. governmental market manipulation.
April 10, 2014
Will The Uninsured Become Healthier Once They Receive Healthcare Coverage?
Conventional wisdom might tell you, The Affordable Care Act will save thousands of lives, as millions of uninsured persons* receive the coverage they lacked, and hence the care they need.
But although commentators make the assumption that the ACA will improve the health of the uninsured, the link between health insurance and health isn’t so clear.
April 10, 2014
Red Tape By Any Other Name — How Medicare Drives High Healthcare Costs
Yes, Medicare pays the medical bills for millions of people 65 and older. And its benefit is tremendous. But recent studies show it plays another huge role in American healthcare: It helps set prices for everyone in the economy.
April 9, 2014
Direct Care Is The Most Political, Least Political Healthcare
Originally posted on KevinMD.com
This post deserves a caveat — healthcare shouldn’t be a political issue. When someone comes into my office because they have chest pain, I don’t ask them “What’s your political leaning?” before administering care. And now after reading about the recent delay of ICD-10 in Congress, I realized that my choice in practicing Direct Care was the most political and least political thing I could have done.