Happy New Year! The direct care duo starts 2014 with good news and exciting updates. We’re happy to report that we’ve been consulted by Kansas University; in the near future, more students will be getting a glimpse into the world of insurance-free medicine through their curriculum. International pins were placed on the I Want Direct Care map (including clinics and patients in the U.K., Vietnam, Argentina, and more). And a humblebrag warning: we were interviewed by Harvard Business Review, so keep an eye out for that.
Tag Archives: insurance-free medicine
January 13, 2014
July 18, 2013
Personal Injury Lawyer Takes Interest in “Cash-Only” Medicine
This came as a surprise, but Console & Hollawell P.C., personal injury attorneys based in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York have taken interest in cash-only medicine. They posted an optimistic essay after interviewing three successful doctors who’ve left the insurance-based pay-for-service system. This included our own Dr. Doug Nunamaker, who had a chance to share his motivations for practicing Atlas MD-style of primary care. If you’re looking for a personal essay laying out the possibilities made possible by exiting insurance-based medicine, this is it. It’s definitely worth sharing with your online network.
June 28, 2013
AAFP Embraces DPC, Creates New Policy Guidelines
Wait, is this the same Association of American Family Practitioners who’s been used by dated critics to turn direct care into another Red Scare? They once warned, according to the LA Times, that direct primary care could lead to further shortage of doctors down the line. We, of course, knew better and said, No, unhappy doctors who refuse to practice altogether should be the real concern. We’ve been charging ahead, day-by-day, doing what we believe in, and the media is paying attention. Meanwhile, the AFFP maintained a strictly neutral opinion, to our awareness. But now it appears they’ve leapt off the fence and into our court, with a new article highlighting three direct care practices, including Atlas MD.
June 21, 2013
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.
May 9, 2013
It’s Business Time (Interview)
Critical Financial recently talked to Dr. Josh about the simple math behind his concierge medicine practice.
He pulled back the curtains on Oz so to speak. But instead of a frail old man, there’s some great insight into why government policy won’t fix anything (because the doctors have to provide the care) and why the current system looks about as silly as buying auto insurance that covers gas, flat tires and oil changes.
Check out the full interview here. Josh was delighted to air a few of his frustrations. We hope you’re as relieved to know you’re not the only one who’s feeling like primary care is looking a bit ridiculous these days.
April 19, 2013
Technology Will Drive Concierge Medicine
Angela Dunn cited Dr. Josh and AtlasMD’s affordability in yesterday’s post on HL7 (Health) Standards’ blog. It’s the first in a two-part piece called “Technology Driving New Models for Concierge Medicine and Direct Primary Care.”
Check out her summary of concierge medicine’s key benefits. It’s an effective case for doctors who want to practice grassroots primary care. She sums up the movement saying that it aims to “minimize the need for insurance, except for emergency and catastrophic care, and… eliminate or minimize the high administrative costs for a practice.”