Friday, June 18, 2004
Charting a course toward cash for care
[Greg Scandlen, "Doctors And Patients Benefit When Insurers Are Bypassed," Health Care News, The Heartland Institute, 1 June 2004.]
In recent posts to this site, Flint Hills has reported on the growing trend of cash-basis health care. In this column, Greg Scandlen of The Galen Institute offers points physicians in the direction of resources on how to make the transition:
The magazine Medical Economics picks up on the fee-for-service trend in an article headlined, "No Coding, No Insurers--No Kidding." Senior Editor Robert Lowes writes, "It might be time to consider a cash-only practice. Your income may drop, but your overhead will decrease and your job satisfaction could soar."
The Nirvana is described as "No more arguing with insurance clerks about denied claims. No more fears of a Medicare audit." The article cites Dr. Rick Baxley of Orlando, who dropped all insurance contracts in 2000 and reports, "I earn roughly what I did back then, but I'm not working from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. anymore. And I'm building relationships with patients, which is why I entered medicine in the first place."
Bethesda, Maryland internists Jane Chretien and Audrey Corson say they "have extended the length of the average visit from 8 minutes to about 25 minutes." They maintain, "When visits are longer, you get to know your patients. You can put their complaints in a bigger context."
Dr. Vern Cherewatenko, originator of the SimpleCare concept, is quoted as saying "a cash-only soloist probably can operate with just a receptionist and a medical assistant."
The article provides some advice for physicians thinking about moving in this direction: Cut ties with insurance companies gradually, starting with the worst payers; drop Medicare last, especially if you have a large number of patients on Medicare; and "be prepared to scramble initially to make ends meet."
[Greg Scandlen, "Doctors And Patients Benefit When Insurers Are Bypassed," Health Care News, The Heartland Institute, 1 June 2004.]
In recent posts to this site, Flint Hills has reported on the growing trend of cash-basis health care. In this column, Greg Scandlen of The Galen Institute offers points physicians in the direction of resources on how to make the transition:
The magazine Medical Economics picks up on the fee-for-service trend in an article headlined, "No Coding, No Insurers--No Kidding." Senior Editor Robert Lowes writes, "It might be time to consider a cash-only practice. Your income may drop, but your overhead will decrease and your job satisfaction could soar."
The Nirvana is described as "No more arguing with insurance clerks about denied claims. No more fears of a Medicare audit." The article cites Dr. Rick Baxley of Orlando, who dropped all insurance contracts in 2000 and reports, "I earn roughly what I did back then, but I'm not working from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. anymore. And I'm building relationships with patients, which is why I entered medicine in the first place."
Bethesda, Maryland internists Jane Chretien and Audrey Corson say they "have extended the length of the average visit from 8 minutes to about 25 minutes." They maintain, "When visits are longer, you get to know your patients. You can put their complaints in a bigger context."
Dr. Vern Cherewatenko, originator of the SimpleCare concept, is quoted as saying "a cash-only soloist probably can operate with just a receptionist and a medical assistant."
The article provides some advice for physicians thinking about moving in this direction: Cut ties with insurance companies gradually, starting with the worst payers; drop Medicare last, especially if you have a large number of patients on Medicare; and "be prepared to scramble initially to make ends meet."
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