Who Does Your Doctor Work For? Before the health insurance industry we know of today emerged, doctors worked directly for patients. The doctor knew the family personally and was paid directly by the family. As insurance became more the norm, the direct relationship between patients and doctors evolved. Today, most doctors are in effect subcontractors to insurance companies. As a product of WWII, insurance became widespread. At that time, a patient would see a doctor and pay the bill directly. The doctor then issued a receipt for the patient to submit to their insurance company for reimbursement. The insurance company was in essence, an intermediary that helped make care affordable. In time, a practice evolved whereby physicians were expected to submit the claim to the insurance company. Then after the claim was settled, the patient might be required to pay a small portion of the bill. As a result, doctors increasingly looked to the insurance company and its rules for payment as the entity to satisfy. In time, the contracts insurance companies offered doctors came with more complex fee schedules and business rules that further removed the patient from the payment process and left physicians obligated to accept what insurance paid. Early on, Medicare imposed a fee schedule and business rules that replaced the practice of paying doctors the “usual, customary, and reasonable fee.” Private insurance companies soon followed with similar arrangements. Today, the term “reimbursement” conceals the relationship between doctor and patient. The arrangement where physicians operate as healthcare benefits subcontractors to insurers, is not always healthy for doctors or patients. Getting quality medical service will increasingly require selecting a doctor that offers a more personalized service. For a fee, seniors can contract with a personal care/concierge doctor that offers prompt access, adequate time for appointments, options for calling them directly, time to make good medical decisions, and advocacy when seeking care beyond the primary care doctor’s office. In Huntsville, Alabama, many view the opportunity to provide personal care as a positive since it provides their doctor time to listen, make the best medical decisions and teach them what they need to know rather than 5-7 minute appointments where healthcare needs get kicked down the road. By providing adequate appointment time and care, this new type of personal care doctor helps keep their patients maintain the best quality of life, stay out of the hospital and avoid unnecessary procedures. Tell Me More about Concierge Physicians in Huntsville, Alabama. Exit |