Doctor's office switching to "concierge" (additional cost outside of insurance)

[Anonymous]

Email:


Dear {insert patient name},
[sic. That's what the email said]


We are writing to announce an important practice change. We will convert to a concierge/personalized care practice model.

Unfortunately, in recent years the healthcare environment has made it almost unsustainable to practice medicine as independent physicians due to the mandated constraints placed on doctors.

Continuity of care and personalized communication have become more difficult. This is not the way we want to practice medicine.


As a member, you will enjoy phones answered live by caring staff, scheduling appointments quickly and at your convenience, having extended unhurried visits, receiving dedicated follow-up between visits, and directly communicating with us after hours for urgent issues.


In order to realize these goals, our practice size will be limited and there will be an annual membership fee
------

Fee amount not announced yet.

Thoughts?

Sounds like a lot of words to say "we need more profit per patient."

So now we get a guaranteed fixe price to pay PLUS still get surprise bills for treatment.

[Anonymous]

Insurance premiums aren’t some magic fairy money that pays your docs. For the most part they (insurance cos) do their best to not pay or set the rates of services so low that docs are not being paid well - and sometimes not much at all beyond the copay. The concierge model helps the docs manage their practice in a way to be available to you more readily and not get completely hosed by the insurance company. If everyone took up the nonpayment more with their insurance companies instead of complaining to the doctors offices about this, it would have more traction. We all need to take more responsibility and understanding our benefits and how they work. The reason there are surprise bills are because the insurance company has a set point for your care. It’s your responsibility as a consumer to check in on your plan.

[Anonymous]

I’m surprised that you’re surprised by this. Over the past 5 years lots of PCPs have moved to a concierge model. My doctor explained that she would now be able to see 400 patients instead of the 2200 she was previously seeing. It’s up to you to decide whether the premium is worth it. My doctor still took my regular insurance so there were no surprises there.

[Anonymous]

Blame the insurance companies.

Or rather insurance CEOs who need another yacht.

Or rather government that won't regulate this abuse

Or rather Republicans who oppose single payer

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Blame the insurance companies.

Or rather insurance CEOs who need another yacht.

Or rather government that won't regulate this abuse

Or rather Republicans who oppose single payer

All of this 100 percent.

But if they can't manage to actually put your name in the email, not sure I'd trust them to manage this transition very well.

[Anonymous]

Thank ACA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m surprised that you’re surprised by this. Over the past 5 years lots of PCPs have moved to a concierge model. My doctor explained that she would now be able to see 400 patients instead of the 2200 she was previously seeing. It’s up to you to decide whether the premium is worth it. My doctor still took my regular insurance so there were no surprises there.

I decided it wasn't worth it. I see several specialists for a complicated condition and a PCP doesn't add much value, especially for $2200. I'm not sure what they're going to do during the superduper annual check up. They certainly do not coordinate the specialists, and when I was diagnosed the PCP knew less about the condition than I did from Dr Google.

My suggestion would to find a PCP who uses the same portal as your specialist. Having them share records is the best care coordination for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Blame the insurance companies.

Or rather insurance CEOs who need another yacht.

Or rather government that won't regulate this abuse

Or rather Republicans who oppose single payer

All of this 100 percent.

But if they can't manage to actually put your name in the email, not sure I'd trust them to manage this transition very well.

When this happened to me, the concierge company supplied the PCP with a coordinator to manage the transition. She was not good, which convinced me to leave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m surprised that you’re surprised by this. Over the past 5 years lots of PCPs have moved to a concierge model. My doctor explained that she would now be able to see 400 patients instead of the 2200 she was previously seeing. It’s up to you to decide whether the premium is worth it. My doctor still took my regular insurance so there were no surprises there.

I decided it wasn't worth it. I see several specialists for a complicated condition and a PCP doesn't add much value, especially for $2200. I'm not sure what they're going to do during the superduper annual check up. They certainly do not coordinate the specialists, and when I was diagnosed the PCP knew less about the condition than I did from Dr Google.

My suggestion would to find a PCP who uses the same portal as your specialist. Having them share records is the best care coordination for me.

This is excellent advice if this situation applies to you.
— former RN in a PCP office

[Anonymous]

the concierge company supplied the PCP with a coordinator to manage the transition. She was not good, which convinced me to leave.

This was our experience

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m surprised that you’re surprised by this. Over the past 5 years lots of PCPs have moved to a concierge model. My doctor explained that she would now be able to see 400 patients instead of the 2200 she was previously seeing. It’s up to you to decide whether the premium is worth it. My doctor still took my regular insurance so there were no surprises there.

I decided it wasn't worth it. I see several specialists for a complicated condition and a PCP doesn't add much value, especially for $2200. I'm not sure what they're going to do during the superduper annual check up. They certainly do not coordinate the specialists, and when I was diagnosed the PCP knew less about the condition than I did from Dr Google.

My suggestion would to find a PCP who uses the same portal as your specialist. Having them share records is the best care coordination for me.

2200 is dirt cheap to get (assuming you would) same day or next day care, extended time with doctor, and full annual more extensive visit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Insurance premiums aren’t some magic fairy money that pays your docs. For the most part they (insurance cos) do their best to not pay or set the rates of services so low that docs are not being paid well - and sometimes not much at all beyond the copay. The concierge model helps the docs manage their practice in a way to be available to you more readily and not get completely hosed by the insurance company. If everyone took up the nonpayment more with their insurance companies instead of complaining to the doctors offices about this, it would have more traction. We all need to take more responsibility and understanding our benefits and how they work. The reason there are surprise bills are because the insurance company has a set point for your care. It’s your responsibility as a consumer to check in on your plan.

+1

Concierge docs are worth all the $$$ if you can afford it. You get 24 hour access for texting/Calling. They always have a "sick/same day consultation" available---may not be your doctor, but at least one in the practice will have space. They help arrange appointments/get you in earlier if you have issues and need more care. They coordinate care. They actually know you because most have 25-30% of the patients a typical doctor has, then they stop accepting new patients.

When I call the regular number for our concierge system, I always get a live person (or leave a message and get a response in an hour). no leaving a message and waiting until the next day for a response. The $200-300/month fee is to allow the doctor to see less patients. You get a 30-45 min appt most of the time, not 10 min.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank ACA.

This has nothing to do with the ACA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m surprised that you’re surprised by this. Over the past 5 years lots of PCPs have moved to a concierge model. My doctor explained that she would now be able to see 400 patients instead of the 2200 she was previously seeing. It’s up to you to decide whether the premium is worth it. My doctor still took my regular insurance so there were no surprises there.

I decided it wasn't worth it. I see several specialists for a complicated condition and a PCP doesn't add much value, especially for $2200. I'm not sure what they're going to do during the superduper annual check up. They certainly do not coordinate the specialists, and when I was diagnosed the PCP knew less about the condition than I did from Dr Google.

My suggestion would to find a PCP who uses the same portal as your specialist. Having them share records is the best care coordination for me.

2200 is dirt cheap to get (assuming you would) same day or next day care, extended time with doctor, and full annual more extensive visit.

I just joined a concierge practice and I wouldn’t call it dirt cheap. I consider it an investment in my health and essentially an insurance policy. I hope I’m only going to see the dr for my annual physical which was great and really nice to have extra time but wouldn’t on its own be worth the concierge fee. I’m paying it in case I have an issue where I need more care, coordination etc

[Anonymous]

During the pandemic we moved out of DC to a place that doesn't have nearly as many good doctors. Also, due to COVID we wanted easy access to care outside of a hospital as possible.

It has worked for us. We go in 1x/year for full physical, then any other concerns have been handled over the phone, always on a weekend.