By Clark Howard

APRIL 14, 2016 – If the cost of insurance is weighing you and your family down, there may be another way to help with medical bills.

WATCH VIDEO …

SOURCE: http://www.clarkhoward.com/faith-based-organizations-paying-for-your

TECHNOLOGY: Should the Urgent Care Industry Fear a New House Call App?

Learn about the new technology coming to Concierge Medicine offices and more … AUGUST 12-13, 2016 in Atlanta, GA

A fixture of French medicine since 1966, SOS Médecins provides home care to sick patients so they don’t have to go to the emergency room—the company’s doctors treat an average of six million patients every year.

When Gaspard de Dreuzy moved from Paris to New York, he thought a system similar to SOS would work well in the Big Apple. So in 2013 he teamed up with Uber cofounder Oscar Salazar to create Pager, an Uber for home health care. The on-demand healthcare platform available on the App Store connects patients with healthcare in their home, and is available every day from 8 AM to 8 PM.

Anyone who downloads Pager can start a free online chat with a nurse, or request a phone consultation. If the nurse determines that a doctor visit is necessary, the patient then schedules a time within the next two hours for the doctor to call or video chat them, or come to their house.

“The home visit concept is core to what we’re doing,” Mr. de Dreuzy told the Observer. “We want to deliver a better patient experience and lower the cost of care.”

Pager’s board-certified physicians work at hospitals throughout the city—when they finish their shifts at their home institution they freelance for Pager. They provide urgent care, first aid, physicals and flu shots to anyone six months of age or older.

The doctors are equipped to treat everything from fevers and colds to urinary tract infections and strep throat. They can also order lab tests and email prescriptions to a pharmacy.

Pager also aims to be cost effective for its customers—phone consultations with nurses cost $25, and the first home visit with a doctor is $50 (subsequent visits cost $200). Flu shots cost $25, and a physical is $100. One caveat: Pager currently accepts no insurance and requires credit card payments.

If a patient needs additional care, the Pager doctor can refer them to an outside health care provider or hospital. In fact, the app’s referral network recently grew thanks to Pager’s new partnership with Weill Cornell Medicine.

“In the past, referral to the ER has been a disjointed process,” Andrew Chomer, Pager’s executive vice president of marketing and sales, told the Observer. “Now if a patient needs follow-up care with a specialist, we can get them an appointment with one of the top medical centers in the region within the next couple of days. We can own the entire continuity of care.”

While Pager is currently only working with doctors in the five boroughs, the team plans to expand to neighboring states like New Jersey and Connecticut, and eventually the entire country.

In spite of the app’s ever growing footprint, the Urgent Care Association of America said in a statement emailed to the Observer that Pager and services like it had shortcomings that kept it from succeeding in the $14.5 billion industry.

“Urgent care centers are not encountering significant competition from app-based services like Pager,” the statement read. “Urgent care centers can treat more serious issues than an on-call physician, including those requiring X-rays, intravenous fluids, onsite lab tests and other means. Also, urgent care centers are conveniently available in communities across the country, while app-based services typically are only offered in certain large metro areas.”

“We want to act as a GPS for patients to navigate where they want to go and give them the best experience they could possibly have.”

Tom Charland, head of the consulting and analysis firm Merchant Medicine, also questioned whether Pager can succeed; he cautioned that Pager shouldn’t rely on “early adopters.”

“Healthcare is very personal, and early adopters are a small market,” Mr. Charland said. “There’s a trust issue that has to be overcome.”

Mr. Charland also questioned whether Pager can grow if it refuses to take insurance. “Those that don’t take insurance fail quickly,” he said. “Many people want to keep going to their primary doctor or urgent care office.”

According to Mr. Chomer, Pager expects to begin taking insurance-based payments from customers using Medicare and Medicaid by the third quarter of 2016.

“Insurance is absolutely part of our roadmap,” Mr. Chomer said.

The Pager team concluded by saying that rather than competing with hospitals or urgent care centers, their aim was to work with them for a better healthcare experience.

“We want to act as a GPS for patients to navigate where they want to go and give them the best experience they could possibly have,” Mr. Chomer said.

“Health systems are here to stay,” added Mr. de Dreuzy, “and we are allies, not enemies.”

SOURCE: http://observer.com/2016/04/will-pager-house-call-app-injure-the-urgent-care-industry/

This Amazon bestseller, BRANDING CONCIERGE MEDICINE explores the popularity of concierge medicine across the U.S. and examines recent data and surveys inside these medical practices – showing how exactly they are growing — On Sale Now — $9.95 (paperback) or on Kindle.

By Concierge Medicine Today, Staff

The promotion of your private-pay, concierge medical practice requires personal interaction with current and prospective patients to create interest in your services, staff and practice. Since “prospective patients” include current patients that may become repeat visitors, promotion can happen inside as well as outside of the practice.

Try some of these tactics to promote your concierge medical practice:

Follow up personally with patients.

You can do this both inside and outside of the practice. When currently practicing concierge physicians were asked, ‘how much time do you spend of the phone each day with patients?’ the results were as follows:

2% – less than 1-10-minutes /day;
8% – less than 11-25-minutes /day;
14% – less than 26-35-minutes /day;
12% – 36-45 minutes /day;
10% – 61-90-minutes /day;
19% – 90-minutes – 3 hours per day.

After patients complete their visit, it is never a bad idea for the doctor or Office Manager to speak with them directly, thanking them and asking if they were satisfied with everything. You can also follow up on customer service issues at this time as well. For example, if patients fill out a comment card and leave negative comments, you could call them to apologize for their negative experience and offer to make up for it next time by fixing the problem and giving them a discount or something of ‘unique value’.

Make friends using THANK YOU notes ….

It’s old-fashioned but everyone loves to be thanked. The best part is, a person ALWAYS reads them and it goes a long way the next time you come up in conversation with friends, family, co-workers, etc.

Pitch to local companies.

You can speak personally with the human resources (HR) managers or appropriate personnel at any companies or factories that are in your local area to see if they are interested in setting up an appointment or having you host an educational (topic-focused) meeting or event at their company.

Contact local organizations.

Ask the chamber of commerce or the convention center for a list of contact information for organizations, such as service organizations, unions, political organizations, etc. Call them and tell them about your practice.

Keep Magazines Up-to-date.

If you are one of the rare private-pay, retainer, direct care of concierge doctors that still uses a waiting room, there is nothing worse than outdated magazines on your table. Be sure to subscribe to the latest health and wellness magazines and be sure your staff tosses out anything older than last month.

Only $11.95 — A Must-Have Tool For Growing Your Direct-Pay Practice — On Sale Now — Only $11.95 (Reg. $17.95)

Be friendly, not pushy.

Whenever you are talking to a prospective patient, show excitement about what you have to offer, smile and be easy-going. If they are not very receptive of your new service offering, do not irritate them further.

Train employees in personal selling.

Any employee of your medical practice can and should be involved I ‘selling’ your practice. Train your service window or front-office team as well as all of your back-office staff to engage patients with a smile. Encourage them to smile when they talk to someone on the phone. Believe it or not, people on the other side of the phone can tell whether or not you’re enjoying what you do when they talk to you over the phone. Additionally, provide patients with business cards (preferably with print on both sides and a low-risk offer) on promotional services, events, etc., which they can distribute to their friends, family and co-workers. This will help boost sales, and it will also increase your employees’ enthusiasm tremendously if they are truly excited about your practice also.

Use good body language.

Any time you are in public (i.e. when patients are in your practice facility), you should represent your practice with your image. White coats, professional, clean-cut hair-styles, etc., are just one way to do this.  It’s important to use good body language and sit up straight when you talk to people. Make eye contact, smile and do not cross your arms or put your hands in your pockets. If you are talking to someone on the phone, remember to smile while you are doing it, because the smile will come through in your voice.

Get involved with the community.

The more activities you are personally involved with, the more people you will meet. Almost every person you meet is a new potential patient. You do not need to turn your whole social life into a sales pitch, but you can make a point of good-naturedly mentioning your practice to friends and new acquaintances – particularly on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Single-Serve Coffee Brew Stations Making Big Impression With Concierge Patients

Occasionally you might run out of the house without your hot cup of tea or favorite blend of coffee at your side. If you’re like me, you love the convenience of a fresh, cup of tea or coffee when you’re running late.

The Keurig K-Cup coffee makers and other single-serve and pod coffee/tea brewers have come into businesses with a flury of excitement over the past two years. Patients spending any amount of time in your office will appreciate the convenience and employees of concierge medical practices love the easy, no mess — clean up they provide.

Use Facebook “CHECK-IN” At Your Practice

Virtually every brand and business today has a Facebook Page. Unfortunately, medical practices are one of the last to adopt-a-page and jump into the social media-sphere. As most people are looking to fill idle time with smart phone usage, few medical practices have made their Facebook Business Page “local.” All that practices have to do to make their Page “local” is to add an address to their Facebook Page settings.

Once an address is added, Facebook users will be able to check-in by either tagging their location in a post or by navigating to your page and clicking “check-in.” Note that users must be within a certain radius before the “check-in” button will appear. tip; Make sure to change your Facebook Page “type” to “BRAND” or “LOCAL BUSINESS” in order to enable users to check-in. Otherwise, some Page types will not have an option to add an address.

Next Step, Prepare A Tablet Strategy For Your Practice

More and more people are using tablets like the iPad to surf the web during business hours, waiting rooms, meetings and at home. Searches among tablet users have increased exponentially in the past year and more PR agencies and small business promoters are encouraging business owners to stay updated in the latest technology trends by creating web sites, blogs and geo-targeted advertisements specific for tablets. This also includes the use of videos. So, while creating a tablet marketing strategy for your practice might seem like a time vacuum, it would be wise for you to consider talking to a web professional to help you prepare for the next phase in social connection.

Earlier Hours Inside “Modern” Medical Practices Becoming The Norm

If your mornings are anything like mine, you prefer to schedule the majority of your health exams and check-ups right away. Infact, the earlier the better! I’ll take the first possible appointment or even the second visit of the day because I know that I that my physician(s) are revving up for a busy day — and they and I, need to get our day moving.

I’m a big fan of practices which cater to the patient with hours starting at 6:30am or even 7am. Just last week, I visited a few into a concierge practice in North Atlanta area and was pleasantly surprised at the early morning or after 6pm appointments they’ve made available to their patients every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.

Refreshment Service Tips For Your Concierge Practice

• Keep a fresh assortment of tea and coffee flavors — don’t limit your lobby coffee maker to one or two flavors.
• Have one of your staff monitor the water tank twice a day (or more, in some cases) and fill the water tank with filtered or distilled water routinely.
• Use throw-away, to-go cups with lids. Lids show that you’ve gone the extra mile to provide convenience for your patients — plus, it helps prevents spills around the office!
• Don’t bring out the old coffee mugs from the break area.
• We all know the health factors that go along with drinking soda. Because you’re trying to promote good health, only in rare circumstances, offer soda to your guests if they ask for them. Have them chilled inside a small refridgerator in your lobby or in the break room.
• Have chilled, bottled water readily available for your patients.

• As many people are aware, this type of boutique medicine or direct relationship medical practice delivery model concept is still relatively new. The greatest amount of data compiled to date on the loyalty or renewal rates of concierge medicine patients year after year tells us that these practices have an annual renewal rate of about 90.%. Additionally, these types of practices are mainly considered Hybrid business models, which means these doctors and their offices accept insurance and charge an annual retainer fee to their patients for enhanced access. This number is based on data from approximately 100,000 patients nationally.
• Retention figures inside concierge medical care practices have proven consistent since the year 2000 but Concierge Medicine Today sources have informed us that these retention numbers are slowly declining due to one major factor — some doctors are over-promising and under-delivering. This inturn, leaves the patient unsatisfied. On the positive side, these patients leaving their concierge care physician are overwhelmingly still choosing concierge-style medical care — albeit just from a another physician in their geographic area.
• Long term data on these particular kinds of patients is currently still being compiled but our data supporting the cost effectiveness and affordability of these healthcare models is intriguing. According to various physician journals, a patient will remain a patient of a traditional primary care doctor in a typical family practice or general medicine practice, barring an altering event (like a geographic move, death, loss of job, or other unforeseen circumstance) for 5-7 years.
• Based upon the data listed above, it appears that retainer medicine or boutique physicians that have a long, relational-history with their patients are reporting higher retention levels that exceed traditional primary care and family practice expectations. This data combined with the fact that this model of medicine provides for closer communication and relationship with people — we expect that the majority of patients will continue to remain with a retainer-based practitioner even longer than seven (7) years.
• The information provided here gives more evidence that these types of medical practices are not just for the deep-pocketed executive. In fact, we have recently learned that over 50% of these types of healthcare consumers make a combined household income of less than $100,000 per year.
• All of this data should be very encouraging to the public, as well as the practicing physician anywhere in America. This concept, initially thought of by many as healthcare for the rich — is now accessible and very affordable for couples, seniors on Medicare, young families and individuals.

To learn more about the benefits and services concierge physicians provide to their patients, go to Concierge Medicine Today’s patient education and resource center at http://www.ConciergeMedicine101.com.

“Mr. HSA” Finalizes 2017 HSA Amounts

Roy Ramthun President & Founder, HSA Consulting Services, LLC

Published on April 14, 2016

Roy Ramthun President & Founder, HSA Consulting Services, LLC

As many of you know, I track the data needed to make inflation adjustments for Health Savings Accounts from one year to the next. I have accurately predicted the annual adjustments by the Internal Revenue Service for the past 10 years.

RELATED STORY

The difference between HSAs and FSAs (plus 9 ways to use them)

August 12-13, 2016 | Atlanta, GA – The Concierge Medicine Assembly — View Speakers Here …

With today’s release of the March inflation figures by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, I am finalizing my projections for the 2017 HSA amounts.  As I predicted in January, only one amount will change for 2017, and that is good news for single individuals who will see their contribution limits rise by $50. All other amounts will remain unchanged for 2017.  You can find my final projections on my website AskMrHSA.com.

RELATED STORY

Can Physician “Concierge Fees” be Reimbursed From a Health FSA or HSA?

BUY THE HSA OWNER’S MANUAL HERE … (All-New Edition!)

New Book Now Available For A LIMITED TIME … What Every Accountholder, Employer, and Benefits Consultant Needs to Know about Health Savings Accounts—and How to Use Them Strategically
| by Todd Berkley — updated last Fall for the new 2016 limits and slight changes such as VA eligibilty and same sex marriage changes.

The good news for insurance carriers is that they will not need to make any changes to their HSA-qualified insurance plan designs for 2017 — the minimum deductibles and annual out-of-pocket limits will remain at 2016 levels. So carriers can now to finalize their plan designs for next year.

The IRS will publish the official 2017 HSA amounts in May.

CONTINUE READING MORE …

SOURCE: Roy Ramthun President & Founder, HSA Consulting Services, LLC;

New Book Now Available For A LIMITED TIME … What Every Accountholder, Employer, and Benefits Consultant Needs to Know about Health Savings Accounts—and How to Use Them Strategically
| by Todd Berkley — updated last Fall for the new 2016 limits and slight changes such as VA eligibilty and same sex marriage changes.

New Book Now Available For A LIMITED TIME … What Every Accountholder, Employer, and Benefits Consultant Needs to Know about Health Savings Accounts—and How to Use Them Strategically
| by Todd Berkley — Updated last Fall (’16) for the new 2016 limits and slight changes such as VA eligibilty and same sex marriage changes.

This book is the owner’s manual that did not come with your HSA. Health Savings Accounts are becoming a more common part of average Americans’ lives. Paired with HSA-qualified health plans, they cover a growing number of Americans’ health care costs. And the trends indicate that they’ll become an even more important part of more people’s health care in the future.

RELATED STORY

Can Physician “Concierge Fees” be Reimbursed From a Health FSA or HSA?

So where do you turn for complete information on remaining compliant with HSA rules and regulations and maximizing the short-term and long-term tax advantages of your HSA? Right here, with this book. HSA Owner’s Manual is the most comprehensive guide to HSAs available anywhere.

RELATED STORY

“My projections for the 2017 HSA amounts.” ~Mr. HSA Guy

This book is the owner’s manual that did not come with your HSA. If you follow the advice in this book, you’ll keep your HSA in compliance with current HSA rules and regulations. You’ll also learn about sources of updated information as the IRS releases new rules and interpretations and as the Department of Health and Human Services issues health care reform regulations that impact HSAs. Your HSA trustee may offer similar information, but probably not in an easy-to-understand format and certainly not in a single volume.

BUY THIS BOOK HERE (limited availability, first come first served) …

By Erin Havel, Huffington Post

MARCH 25, 2015 – Growing up, my entire family went to one local family physician. That doctor gave my mom medical care when she was pregnant, delivered me when I was born, gave school shots, wrote prescriptions for any virus that came up, and helped my grandparents with geriatric care. A well rounded, down to earth physician who managed our overall health at each stage of life.

When she retired, she transferred her patients over to a new local doctor starting out. His office fielded all the same responsibilities our original doctor took care of. The difference was, now there were nurse practitioners who took on the lions share of seeing patients. We very rarely saw the doctor himself, and honestly, it was not a problem. The nurse practitioners, in most situations, knew how to take care of the basics, and get us to specialists if we needed them. This is where my family has received their care since the 1980s.

Learn more about Concierge Medicine, Myths, FAQs, Insurance, HSAs, Medicare and more … On Sale Now in our Bookstore

My childhood town has changed in the last thirty years. It used to be a small community that had all the basics and not too much fluff. Then came the day when the town showed up on a national list as one of the top places to raise children. All of a sudden, my small town turned into an affluent community with expensive specialty stores, high end eateries, and all the arrogance money can buy. The “been there for 200 years” town folks, including my family, are still there, though not as prevalent. The town has little collective memory of the charm it once possessed without all the added expense. I think this is why that town was a perfect target for the burgeoning concierge medicine model.

With all the wealth of the town, and an aging population, there is a tendency for people to be afraid of change. The Affordable Care Act, and the debates around it, scared the heck out of many older folks. Especially the folks who stuck to only one or two news sources, and never met anyone who struggled with insurance coverage. “If it ain’t broke, why fix it?”

What many people did not understand was that a lot of the fear mongering about Obamacare, was based in political rhetoric and insurance share holder worries. Publicly traded health insurance companies had a financial interest for things to remain as they were. The push back had little to do with people having access to their doctors, and more to do with where the money would fall.

So, back in my home town, in walks a company offering a concierge medicine setup for my family’s doctor. All the doctor needs to do is choose 600 select patients from his client list, and those people buy into a VIP program. The program costs about $1,600 a year per person (that varies from state to state). The basic breakdown is that $1,000 goes to the doctor, and $600 goes to the company setting up the concierge service. The patients who shell out the cash upfront, can continue to see their doctor. Those patients are special, because others have not been given the opportunity to join the “club” and therefore must find a new general practice physician.

Here’s the important part though; What kind of treatment do the VIP patients get for the extra money they pay? The answer is, the exact same coverage they are entitled to through their regular insurance policy that they have already purchased. From the doctor’s point of view, this concierge service allows them to have less clients to care for, without losing income, and that is nice for them, but it doesn’t change much for their select patients. Should my parents choose to buy in to this system, my mother will still only see the nurse practitioner once a year for her annual physical, and my father will still avoid going to the doctor altogether unless something is broken. For an average individual, it makes more financial sense to switch doctors than join the “club.”

Dr. Marcy Zwelling, an internist and critical care doctor in Los Alamitos California, thinks I’ve got it all wrong. She charges patients $2,000 a year and takes no insurance. Insurance is for catastrophic illness, she said, and in many cases patients should carry just that and pay for smaller services out of pocket. “They’ll save money if they do,” she said. Mammograms can be had for $75, and an MRI costs $200 cash — tops, she said. According to Zwelling, if you have a copay and deductible on top of a high monthly insurance premium, chances are it is less expensive for you to just pay out of pocket for these and other tests. I wrote about how this was certainly the case with filling prescriptions: It’s often cheaper to not put it through your insurance company but just pay out of pocket. Michael Tetreault, editor in chief of Concierge Medicine Today, a trade journal covering the industry, said that there are about 12,000 physicians in the U.S. who now run concierge medical practices — offices that charge annual fees, generally in the $1,200 to $2,500 range, for providing “enhanced” care.

For me, I think concierge medicine has its place. It makes sense when there is universal health care coverage in a country, and everyone is treated exactly the same. In that system, if someone would like a little extra attention, concierge medicine is a perfect fit. Here in America, we do not have universal health care, we have private insurance with different levels of coverage a person can purchase to fit their needs. Private insurance should be our “concierge medicine” because we are paying for it in the same way other countries would pay for additional coverage beyond universal care.

It seems to me, concierge medicine within the American health care system is essentially paying two companies, for what one already entitles you to have. I can not tell someone if concierge medicine is worth it. Everyone has their own opinion, and the choice is yours. However, I would encourage everyone to do some major research on the topic, if the option is given to you.

I do wonder if concierge medicine becomes more prevalent, how that will impact those who could never afford $1,600-a-year above their health insurance plans. That is something we will have to watch.

SOURCE: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/erin-havel/concierge-medicine-is-it-_b_5023220.html

The new clinic is the first to open of the several planned retail clinics Meijer announced in April.

April 19, 2016

Contact: Christina Fecher, 616-540-6108, christina.fecher@meijer.com

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Meijer is expanding its partnerships with healthcare providers and hospital systems, which includes adding a relationship with a health system in Wisconsin and a fourth health system in Michigan, to increase community access to services through in-store and store campus medical clinics.

The Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer’s current in-store clinics are located:

• Bronson FastCare Clinic at the Portage, Mich. Meijer
• Beaumont FastCare at the Royal Oak, Mich. Meijer
• Reid Health Ready Care Walk-in Clinic at the Richmond, Ind. Meijer
• Family Quick Care at the Normal, Ill. Meijer

This year, Meijer will join forces with Milwaukee, Wis.-based Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin health network to open in-store clinics at the Waukesha and Sussex Meijer stores, and Sparrow Health System in Lansing, Mich. to open similar clinics at Meijer stores in the Lansing area. The clinics will offer convenient, affordable access to care for many minor health problems, such as cold and flu symptoms, sore throats, and ear, sinus and urinary tract infections, Meijer Health and Wellness Director Jacquelyn DeBruler said.

The effort is the latest way Meijer is strengthening its commitment to health and wellness by providing its customers with opportunities to lead healthier lifestyles through access to service and care.

“Meijer is committed to expanding convenient access to health care providers,” DeBruler said. “These partnerships give us an opportunity to connect local providers and patients, ultimately meeting people where they are.”

Illnesses rarely present themselves at convenient times, DeBruler said and these medical clinics provide a great solution for customers. The clinics are staffed by the partnering healthcare provider or hospital systems’ physicians or physician assistants, and offer a variety of clinical and acute care services.

The retailer began establishing these types of partnerships several years ago, which resulted in four in-store medical clinics, seven hearing centers and 75 optical centers. A full fact sheet on the retailer’s enhanced healthcare services can be found here.

“We know that access to immediate medical care is very important to our community,” said Florence Steinberg, director of business development for Bronson Healthcare. “That means making sure we are doing all we can to provide the right care, in the right place, at the right time. Having Bronson FastCare inside a Meijer store helps area families get expert medical attention quickly and without having to go out of their way.”

“Patients constantly praise how quickly we are able to see them and how convenient it is to have us right there in the store,” said Melanie Harrison, FNP-C, practice manager for Reid Urgent Care and Reid Ready Care Clinic. “Many patients have their family members do the shopping while they are at our clinic. They also love that they can leave our clinic and take a few steps to the pharmacy to get their prescriptions filled.”

Additionally, Meijer partnered with Spectrum Health in November 2015 to open a full-service Meijer retail pharmacy on-site at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids, Mich. Spectrum Health has also purchased property from Meijer in front of its stores in Ionia and Grand Haven to build medical centers. Construction on the center in Ionia is slated to conclude this spring.

AUGUST 12-13, 2016 – Presented by EXL/Concierge Medicine Today — Atlanta, GA

About Meijer:

Meijer is a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer that operates 223 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin. As a pioneer of the “one-stop shopping” concept, Meijer stores have evolved through the years to include expanded fresh produce and meat departments, as well as pharmacies, comprehensive apparel departments, garden centers and electronics offerings. For more information, please visit www.meijer.com. Follow Meijer on Twitter @twitter.com/Meijer or become a fan at www.facebook.com/meijer.

# # #

SOURCE: http://newsroom.meijer.com/news/meijer-adds-medical-clinics-inside-several-stores-to-increase-access-to-services

BY Albert Fuchs, MD | Physician | December 30, 2012

The idea that patients are better off paying their doctor directly and using their insurance only for unaffordable catastrophes is gaining some traction. With implementation of the Affordable Care Act looming in 2014 many patients are looking at their doctor’s already crowded waiting room and wondering how their care will be impacted when their doctor is responsible for even more patients. And doctors who even now are swamped and frustrated with insurance bureaucracy are wondering how much worse things will get when they have less time for more patients.

Bloomberg Businessweek published an article which asks, “Is Concierge Medicine the Future of Health Care?” The headline lifted my spirits because of its happy presumption that healthcare has a future. The article interviews several concierge doctors. It makes the important point that practices in which patients pay doctors directly are now thriving at many different prices. From practices charging tens of thousands of dollars a year targeted to the very affluent to practices charging $50 per month for blue collar workers, doctors have found that they can take better care of patients by caring for fewer of them and by concentrating on practicing medicine the way they were trained, not by focusing on what’s covered by a policy.

The article brings up some very common criticisms of concierge medicine that deserve to be answered.

One objection is that concierge medicine leads to a two tiered system in which the affluent get attentive care and everyone else doesn’t  That’s nonsense. The whole point of the article is that direct-pay care is working at many different prices and that some of the practices are targeted to middle class patients. There are already many more than two tiers of healthcare — the county system and Medicaid for indigent patients, private HMO insurance, staff model HMOs, PPOs, direct-pay practices, etc. How many tiers are there in other marketplaces, like food, housing, or clothing? A practically uncountable number. One characteristic of robust marketplaces is that they offer goods at widely varying prices. That means that those who need to save can still afford some access to the marketplace but those who can afford more can get better comfort, or better quality, or more reliability. I can get across town for the price of a bus ticket or the price of a BMW. (I ride my bike.) How many tiers is that?

Another objection is that by shrinking their practices to only those who can afford them, doctors who switch to the concierge model are exacerbating the coming primary care physician shortage. Of course the opposite is true. The physician shortage in primary care is fueled by the fact that people aren’t choosing to go into primary care. Nothing will attract more students into primary care than examples of happy doctors who are making a living practicing in a way that is both ethical and enjoyable. Concierge doctors are not the cause of the shortage; we’re the fix. What would the critics prefer? That we stay in the insurance model and tell medical students how miserable a career in primary care is? That we drop out of medicine all together?

I think the main barrier to even faster growth of concierge medicine is the name. Another problem is that the insurance model is so entrenched in our understanding that we now think of getting routine care through insurance as the “regular” way it works. We don’t have a name for it anymore. If someone says “I saw my doctor” we just assume that someone else paid for it. If she says “I saw my concierge doctor” we understand that she paid herself. But it should be the other way around. We don’t have a word for an accountant or a plumber or a lawyer who gets paid directly by his clients. They’re not concierge accountants or concierge plumbers or concierge lawyers. We need to get to the point that paying a doctor directly doesn’t deserve an adjective before the noun “medicine”. Paying your doctor is just medicine. Having someone else pay for you is insurance medicine.

The Buisnessweek article quotes Josh Umbehr, a concierge doctor in Whichita.

“Health insurance should work more like car insurance,” says Umbehr. “We have car insurance for all the big stuff, but we pay for gas, tires, and oil changes ourselves.”

He’s right. I wish I’d thought of that.

Albert Fuchs is an internal medicine physician who blogs at his self-titled site, Albert Fuchs, MD.

SOURCE: http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2012/12/common-criticisms-concierge-medicine-deserve-answered.html

According to Dr. Marcy Zwelling of Choice Care in California and Michael Tetreault, Editor of Concierge Medicine Today, if you have a copay and deductible on top of a high monthly insurance premium, chances are it is less expensive for you to just pay out of pocket for these and other tests.

By Ann Brenoff, Senior Writer, The Huffington Post

AUGUST 22, 2014 – Some doctors seem to have embraced the airlines’ model for doing business — you know, the one where they now charge fees for things they used to just do for free.

I’ll leave it to the experts to figure out if this is born of physician greed or physician frustration, but there is no doubt that an increasing number of doctors are jumping on board the concierge medicine train.

Michael Tetreault, Editor-in-Chief of Concierge Medicine Today, a trade journal covering the industry, said that there are about 12,000 physicians in the U.S. who now run concierge medical practices — offices that charge annual fees, generally in the $1,200 to $2,500 range, for providing “enhanced” care. The total is up from just 4,000 physicians doing it in 2007, according to Tetreault. Some of them still work in-network for insurance companies, and others won’t take insurance at all — leaving it to their patients to file claims and wait for reimbursement.

And then there are those docs who don’t have concierge-designated offices per se, and who nobody is counting, who have begun to charge extra fees for services that were previously part of the care they provided.

Here are a few examples of what is going on:

Fees for talking to you outside the office.
During a recent visit to a specialist, I was handed a notice suggesting that instead of coming to the office next time, I should consider asking the doctor my questions on the phone — for a $50 fee. If that’s too rich for my blood, a less expensive conversation could be conducted via email. (I’m thinking that a tweet, with just 140 characters, might eventually be the real medical bargain in the future. “Hey @drjones — I think my blood pressure is up.”)

The notice said that much of what patients generally want to talk about with the doctor could actually be handled quite effectively by phone or email, thus saving both time and money if we didn’t need to see each other face-to-face.

Fair enough — the part where he asks me how his daughter can blog for The Huffington Post can certainly be handled by email. But I think we are missing the larger point here: Wasn’t answering an email or spending three minutes with me on the phone part of what he did because he was my doctor? What the notice was really saying is that he’s going to start billing me for this time instead of letting me have it for “free” — just like the airlines now charge me for checking my luggage or the crappy meals they offer. What was once considered part of the ticket price is now splintered off separately and has a dollar sign in front of it.

Fees for same-day or next-day appointments.
My husband’s cardiologist sent him a letter that began by asking how he felt about the service and care he had received during his most recent visit. And then it asked if he’d be willing to pay between $150 and $250 a month out of pocket for a “Concierge Care” system that would ensure next-day appointments and give him the doctor’s cell phone number. It’s a program “for patients who want the doctor to act in an enhanced capacity,” the letter noted, and would be available “to only a limited number of patients.” The letter explained how “each day, special hours would be set aside for members of the program.”

Nothing like the appeal of exclusivity, right? But putting that aside, are we to assume that this doctor has not been giving my husband the best care possible up until now and that “enhanced” care could be ours for an extra $3,000 a year? And just to be clear: If someone else pays $3,000 a year and we don’t, will the doctor see that other patient first even when we are the ones with the greater medical emergency and need?

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Fees for new patients and an annual fee to “join” the practice.
If those two personal examples weren’t enough, I hit the audacity jackpot with a Los Angeles pediatrician in my Cigna network. Her office told me that in order to see my son as a “transfer” patient, I would have to pay a $500 one-time fee, and that the practice charged everyone a $200 annual fee every Jan. 1. I asked what was covered by the $500 “transfer” fee; would the new doctor’s office run and fetch my son’s records from the old practice? No, the patient must do that still. So what is covered? Well, nothing. (Roy DeLaMar, manager for Cigna’s business communications office, declined to comment.)

So for the annual fee of $200, you basically get the right to make an appointment with this practice. You still pay your copays, your deductibles, and any other costs that your policy doesn’t.

I was upfront in my shock. “This is all just extra money you want to collect, even though you are a network provider and are supposed to take what the insurance company pays you, right?” Righto. And if I don’t like it and don’t want to sign the papers that commit me to paying it, I can just go find some other doctor, even though — and this bears repeating — this doctor is an in-network provider of my insurance company.

For the uninitiated in the ways of the health insurance world, by agreeing to be an in-network provider, the doctor agrees to accept what the insurance company pays and not charge the patient any additional administrative fees.

But before we envision going postal on doctors, let’s take a breath and figure out who we should really be mad at. I nominate the insurance companies — who know this is going on and are turning a blind eye.

Consumers pick a health care plan based on the representation that certain doctors will accept what is paid to them, and that if you go to that doctor, according to the rules, you shouldn’t have to pay a little something extra to just get in the door.

Jerry Flanagan, lead staff attorney with Consumer Watchdog, an advocacy agency based in Santa Monica, California that’s been hounding the insurance industry for nearly 30 years, said the reason insurers play dumb about what’s going on is that these direct-to-patient fees discourage people from seeking medical care. And if patients just ignore what ails them, the insurance company winds up paying out less. It makes perfect sense. The same disincentive occurs when there are higher co-insurance and co-payment costs. Even insurers know this to be true: A Kaiser Family Foundation report from 2006 found that “[O]nce patients bear some of the economic costs of receiving medical care, they are more likely to use only those health care services that are worth the additional cost that they must pay.” The sad part, of course, is that when coinsurance amounts are too steep, people avoid getting the medical care that is actually necessary to their health, the report notes.

In other words, it’s good for the insurer — unless you get, well, really sick.

Flanagan doesn’t mince words. You paid your premiums based on the promise that you wouldn’t have to pay more to the doctor out of pocket. So your insurer is violating the agreement you made with the company when they don’t enforce the in-network rules, Flanagan said.

It’s fraud, he said, and one reason that nobody is doing anything about it is that it’s really hard to sue your health insurance company. If you get insurance through your employer or a government entity, you are barred from suing the insurer, Flanagan said. Change will come when someone who is insured as an individual sues their insurance company for letting a doctor get away with charging extra. (Flanagan said to call him if you’d like to discuss.)

Now, not to be one-sided here: If your doctor doesn’t want to talk to you on the phone at 10 p.m. because your kid’s fever is up to 104 or the medicine he prescribed caused hives, I suppose no one can hold a gun to his temple and make him. But medicine isn’t a 9-to-5 job. And yes, I understand that it’s a pain for doctors to deal with insurance companies and try to wrangle money out of them. Doctors have grown increasingly frustrated, and some medical practices have had to hire full-time staff just to handle paperwork. I get it; what a drag.

But, from where I sit, what doctors are doing now is all kinds of gawd-awful. They are creating a multi-tier medical services delivery system where those who can afford to pay them more will get better care.

Marcy Zwelling-Aamot, M.D. is a respected member of the California medical community and a prominent voice in the crusade to improve the broken healthcare system. Dr. Marcy Zwelling is part of a growing trend, physicians who work on a cash only basis. Her Los Alamitos concierge practice is off the insurance grid in an effort to combat regulators and government involvement.

For what it’s worth, Dr. Marcy Zwelling, an internist and critical care doctor in Los Alamitos California, thinks I’ve got it all wrong. She charges patients $2,000 a year and takes no insurance. Insurance is for catastrophic illness, she said, and in many cases patients should carry just that and pay for smaller services out of pocket. “They’ll save money if they do,” she said. Mammograms can be had for $75, and an MRI costs $200 cash — tops, she said. According to Zwelling, if you have a copay and deductible on top of a high monthly insurance premium, chances are it is less expensive for you to just pay out of pocket for these and other tests. I wrote about how this was certainly the case with filling prescriptions: It’s often cheaper to not put it through your insurance company but just pay out of pocket.

In the case of concierge medicine, Zwelling said, it’s not about better care for the rich or a case of doctors being greedy. It’s doctors who want to provide an enhanced level of care — spend time with patients, not keep them waiting for hours, coordinate their care with specialists, do research and stay abreast of new treatment options. And that doesn’t happen in a 15-minute office visit, she said. Concierge medicine “allows me to concentrate on the patients, not the paperwork,” she said. The fees she charges go to hiring additional staff.

And doctors aren’t the rich dudes we all think they are, she said. “This is about doctors trying to stay in business. When their bottom line gets near zero, they can’t continue.”

So consider me schooled, Dr. Z. But I just keep coming back to the airlines, which want to charge me $35 to bring my clothes along on vacation with me. Is taking my call for a simple question really that big a deal?

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ann-brenoff/doctors-and-insurance_b_5606971.html

By Janet Palcko

BOOK + EDU. RESOURCE: The Doctor’s Guide to Concierge Medicine (nearly 400 pages of industry insight plus, over two dozen physician contributions compiled in one book) — On Sale $129.95 (Reg. $189.95)

Nov 25, 2014 –  As “concierge medicine” gains popularity, we are getting a lot of inquiries as to whether such fees can be reimbursed from a Health FSA or HSA.  The answer is not always clear.

What is Concierge Medicine?

Concierge medical practices provide a personalized focus to healthcare.   Patients may experience longer visits, an emphasis on preventive care, greater access to their physician, more patient education, and insurance management services.  Patient loads are less than in traditional medical practices.  The patient pays an additional fee for these “concierge services”; fees vary widely, but average $1,000-1,800 annually for a Family.

RELATED STORY

Why Doing an FSA Makes More Sense Than Ever

Can Concierge Fees be reimbursed from a Health FSA or HSA?

A quick rule of thumb is if the expense is directly related to a qualified medical service that has been provided, it is reimbursable.  If it is only for access to services, or the right to “get in the door,” then it is not a qualified medical expense for HSA/FSA reimbursement purposes.

Who decides whether an expense is reimbursable under a health FSA or an HSA?

Not the claims administrator and certainly not the doctor. It depends on whether it meets the IRS definition of a qualified medical expense and whether it is a permitted expense under the employer’s plan.

RELATED STORY

HSAs, the Affordable Care Act and Concierge Medicine

New Book Now Available For A LIMITED TIME … What Every Accountholder, Employer, and Benefits Consultant Needs to Know about Health Savings Accounts—and How to Use Them Strategically | by Todd Berkley — updated last Fall for the new 2016 limits and slight changes such as VA eligibilty and same sex marriage changes.

In practical terms, to determine whether an expense is for medical care, an administrator (NEO) must ask: what, who, when, and why?

• What is the expense for? The expense must fall within the legal definition of medical care as defined in Code §213(d) and be permitted under the employer’s plan. The expense must be for the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, or for the purpose of affecting any structure or function of the body. It must primarily be to alleviate or prevent a physical or mental defect or illness. This is the basis for all eligible medical expenses.
• Who is the expense for? The expense must be for the participant, his or her spouse, a tax dependent, or a child who has not attained age 27 as of the end of the taxable year.
• When was the expense incurred? It must be within the Plan Year (for a health FSA) or after the account was established (for an HSA).
• Why was the expense incurred? It must be primarily for a medical purpose (e.g., generally not for cosmetic purposes).

About the Author

Janet Palcko is a partner at NEO Administration Company, a benefits consulting firm that provides FSA, HRA, HSA and COBRA administration and compliance services to area employers. As managing partner, she is responsible for all aspects of NEO’s business, from fiscal planning to practice development, compliance, and client services. Ms. Palcko is a member of the National Association of Professional Benefit Administrators (NAPBA) and the Employer’s Council on Flexible Compensation (ECFC)in Washington DC and is one of a select number of practitioners in the U.S. who have earned the designation of Certified in Flexible Compensation (CFC) from ECFC’s Academy of Professional Standards & Ethics. The CFC designation is the highest professional certification available for practitioners in flexible compensation. Janet is also certified in FSA, HRA, HSA and COBRA administration.

Theo Thimou Monday, May 16 ^th 2016

Skin care is a multi-billion industry in the United States. By 2018, the market is expected to reach nearly $11 billion, according to industry estimates.

If you’re a consumer, you know that health & beauty aids can take a big bite out of your wallet already. So it’s important to make sure you’re not wasting money by overdoing your hygiene routine.

Read more: 8 foods you should never reheat in the microwave

How often should you wash your face?

Experts are split on the question of how often to do something as basic as wash your face each day!

Some like Gervaise Gerstner, a Manhattan dermatologist and consultant for L’Oréal Paris, says once a day is fine as long as you do it at night to remove that day’s worth of exposure to the elements.

“Your skin has just slept on a pillow, it is clean, it doesn’t necessarily need to be washed,” Gerstner says.

Others say two times a day is the optimal washing schedule — once in the morning and once in the evening.

“I’m always cautious and try to prevent people from over-cleansing and creating dryness and irritation,” says Dr. Terrence Keaney, a dermatologist working with Dove Men+Care.

There is, however, one caveat to the Noah’s Ark rule of two washes a day. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says it’s acceptable to squeeze in a third wash if you sweat heavily after physical activity.

Perspiration can cause irritation, and wearing a hat or helmet can exacerbate the perspiration problem. So the AAD recommends washing as soon as possible after heavily sweating.

Why all the difference in opinion?

The surfactants present in most cleaning products are there to remove dirt and oil from your face. But they can also remove beneficial oils from the outermost layer of the skin, known as your stratum corneum.

It’s similar to what happens when you wash your hair too much; you remove all the sebum, which is healthful oil secreted from your scalp.

So washing your face without over-washing it is actually a delicate balancing act!

“When you wash your face, the soap or cleanser that you’re using not only strips away the oil and sweat, but also strips away some of the natural lipids in the skin, so it can be potentially irritating,” Keaney told Business Insider.

Here are some tips from the AAD to help improve your face-washing experience:

1. Use a gentle, non-abrasive cleanser that does not contain alcohol.
2. Wet your face with lukewarm water and use your fingertips to apply cleanser. Using a washcloth, mesh sponge or anything other than your fingertips can irritate your skin.
3. Resist the temptation to scrub your skin because scrubbing irritates the skin.
4. Rinse with lukewarm water and pat dry with a soft towel.
5. Apply moisturizer if your skin is dry or itchy. Be gentle when applying any cream around your eyes so you do not pull too hard on this delicate skin.
6. Limit washing to twice a day and after sweating. Wash your face once in the morning and once at night. Also wash your skin as soon as possible after sweating.

SOURCE: http://www.clarkhoward.com/how-many-times-should-you-wash-your-face-each-day

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AMEDNews — Containing costs is becoming “a matter of survival” in the current economic climate, right down to paper clips.

By Victoria Stagg Elliott, amednews staff. Posted Jan. 7, 2013.

Physician-owned practices are keeping a tight rein on costs, with the amount of money spent per doctor in operating expenses going up only 1.3% from 2010 to 2011, according to data released Dec. 12, 2012, by MGMA-ACMPE.

“For the private practice physician, keeping costs down is a matter of survival,” said Kenneth Hertz, principal with MGMA Health Care Consulting Group. “Private practices have to be extraordinarily vigilant about costs.”

Analysts with MGMA-ACMPE, an organization of medical practice managers, collected data on physician salaries, support staff costs and other expenses from 2,100 multispeciality groups with 46,800 doctors. Physician-owned practices spent $528,182 per doctor in 2011.

Researchers believe physician-owned groups were able to hold down cost growth because those who run them say they have a pressing need to do so.

“It’s just very expensive to practice given the current environment,” said Shawn Moyer, MD, a solo family physician who owns Pinchot Family Medicine in Warrington, Pa. “I have to make sure my costs are low. Even paper clips are not something you can buy willy-nilly.”

Technology trends also may have helped physician-owned practices keep a lid on costs. For example, Dr. Moyer has been able to hold down his rent primarily because he has an electronic health record that eliminates the need to have space for storing paper charts.

In addition, the emergence of social media may have played a role. The MGMA-ACMPE report found a decline in marketing and promotion expenses. Practice management consultants say this is a result of physicians shifting from paying for radio and print advertising to various social media outlets. These online promotion efforts take staff time, but the cash outlay is generally minimal.

“Billboards and other forms of traditional advertising are typically pretty costly,” Hertz said. “The nature of communication is changing, and practices are increasingly savvy in the use of social media.”

Meanwhile, MGMA-ACMPE said practices owned by hospitals and integrated delivery systems spent $387,586 per doctor in 2011. Consultants say overall operating costs for physicians at hospital-owned practices are lower, in part, because of economies of scale. Operating costs per doctor went up 6.5% at practices run by hospitals or integrated delivery systems.

“The private practice physician is a small business, and their business costs are going to be a little bit higher,” said Vic Arnold, managing director with Huron Healthcare’s physician services division in Chicago. “They don’t necessarily have access to the supply and labor contracts that a larger institution has.”

Different accounting strategies that mean costs are attributed in various ways also are playing a role. The cost to a hospital or integrated delivery system to acquire a medical practice is not included in the operating costs tallied by MGMA-ACMPE.

Source: http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2013/01/07/bisc0107.htm

“In the operating hours of each day, they have the unique opportunity to influence what could be and what should be …” ~Editor, Concierge Medicine Today, Spring 2016

By Staff Writer, Concierge Medicine Today | editor@conciergemedicinetoday.com

March 28, 2016, ATLANTA, GA – Although much has changed in the last 20 years in Concierge Medicine, women in the business of healthcare, management and healthcare delivery space are impacting the lives of countless people and guiding big brands in the space towards the future. Last year, Concierge Medicine Today brought you thirteen female influencers in the business of Concierge Medicine. This year, we are pleased to update the list and add another thirteen additional names of women who have produced incredible work, succeeded in overcoming challenging business hurdles, and today, are helping transform healthcare and influence others. Most importantly, they are paving the way for other females and serve as inspiring role models for younger generations seeking to enter the innovative and early adoption space of Concierge Medicine and Free Market Healthcare Delivery.

J. Catherine Sykes, Publisher of CMT & The Direct Primary Care Journal.

“We know that there will be great innovation produced through this impressive group of influencers,” says Catherine Sykes, Publisher of Concierge Medicine Today.

KNOW SOMEONE (a Women in this industry) YOU THINK SHOULD BE LISTED HERE NEXT YEAR …
Tell Us About Her and Her Business …

RELATED STORY | 2015 Recipients
PART 1 of 2 (2015): Concierge Medicine Today’s (CMTs) Industry Leading Women In The Business of Healthcare.

The Editors and Staff at Concierge Medicine Today and our partner publications are pleased to recognize these “Industry Leading Women In The Field of Concierge Medicine,” which include:

Leslie Mitchell, Vice President of Physician-Client Services at Specialdocs Consultants, Inc., Chicago, IL.

Leslie Mitchell, Vice President of Physician-Client Services
Specialdocs Consultants, Inc. — Chicago, IL

Leslie Mitchell joined Specialdocs in 2012, and was quickly recognized as a valued and integral member of the senior management team. Leslie is a peerless, passionate advocate for the promise of concierge medicine and a true innovator in a space known for innovators. Her commitment to meeting the needs of Specialdocs’ physician-clients has earned her a place as most trusted advisor. She’s the knowledgeable, responsive guide whom physicians depend on throughout their relationship with Specialdocs. Leslie’s goal with every transition is crystal clear: to create the physician’s dream practice and the patients’ best experience. As the compassionate voice patients hear when they are considering the transition, Leslie has encouraged thousands of people to consider the benefits of concierge medicine.

At the CMT/Exl Concierge Medicine Assembly in August 2015 she said … “We work very hard behind the scenes to create the right message and educate patients so they understand it’s not just an unexpected expense. It’s an investment in their health. Once you can flip the thought process from expense to investment, they understand the value…after all, what better investment can you make in life than in your health?”

Leslie brings decades of marketing, sales and client servicing experience to her work at Specialdocs. As a graduate of Kelley’s School of Business at Indiana University and Loyola University’s MBA program, Leslie worked in marketing strategy and sales growth for several large corporations before creating and managing her own successful sales group for 16 years. During this time, she developed an expertise in small business growth and entrepreneurship, client servicing and operational excellence. Additionally, for six years Leslie taught business/marketing courses at Northeastern Illinois University.

Lauren Griffin | Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Lauren Griffin | Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Griffin Concierge Medical — Tampa, FL

Lauren Griffin, a former magazine journalist, co-founded Griffin Concierge Medical in 2008. She works alongside her husband, Concierge Physician, Dr. Radley Griffin. Under her direction, Griffin Concierge Medical in Tampa, Florida grew from the ground-up to an over 7 figure company. Patient retention and revenue collection are above 95% as a result of Lauren’s oversight and direction.

Under her direction, Griffin Concierge Medical in Tampa, Florida grew from the ground-up to an over 7 figure company.

Lauren is a true leader in the growing Concierge Medicine marketplace.

Editor, Michael Tetreault

“Leadership is not about making all the decisions,” said Michael Tetreault, Editor-in-Chief of Concierge Medicine Today. “It is making sure the right decisions are made. As company leaders and influencers, all of these women make it their job to protect the missional integrity of the organization to which they serve. In the operating hours of each day, they have the unique opportunity to influence what could be and what should be. That is what makes this industry and this years list great. Congratulations to the 2016 CMT Industry Leading Women in the Business of Concierge Medicine recipients.”

“I see this as an opportunity to build stronger relationships with my patients and help keep them healthy overall, instead of focusing only on treating a specific disease or problem.” ~Dr. Dena Lacara

Dena Lacara, DO, Medical Director
Continuum Care at Mecca Integrated Medical — Fairfield, NJ

“Dr. Dena Lacara is one of the most selfless, hard working, thorough and diligent doctors I have ever encountered,” says one of her team members on staff. “She works tirelessly to ensure that her patients receive the best, most comprehensive care available, no matter what time of the day. It was not a surprise to me when she was voted one of the Top Docs of 2015 by NJ Monthly Magazine. Now that she is offering “Comprehensive Family Medicine Minus the Red Tape” to her patients, I know that she will be able to use her role as a health educator to promote health and disease prevention and to keep them healthier overall … rather than only focusing on treating a specific disease or problem.

“I hope to give my patients the tools and education they need to overcome many of their health-related issues with proper diet, exercise and lifestyle modification. My patients deserve the peace of mind from having a primary care family doctor they are comfortable with; one who really cares about them and someone they can turn to when they are scared and confused or facing a serious medical issue or life event – regardless of the day or time. More like the old-time family doctor who made house calls, a trusted partner in your care through sickness and health.”

“I cherish the little things – family time in the morning and evening. In my spare time, I enjoy spa-ing and The Bar Method workout, which to me is part therapy, part workout, part addiction. I want my patients to feel like they have a doctor in the family. I want them to feel they have a direct relationship with a true partner who is committed to them and their health.” ~Dena

Dena Lacara, DO is a board certified diplomat of the American Board of Family Medicine. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Rutgers College of Pharmacy, earning her bachelor’s degree in Pharmacology in 1997 and continues to maintain a valid New Jersey pharmacists license. She went on to pursue her medical degree from The University of Medicine and Dentistry, School of Osteopathic Medicine where she graduated with Highest Honors in 2002. Dr. Lacara completed her training in Family Medicine at Overlook Hospital where she had the honor of serving as Chief Resident during her final year of training. Since then, she has undergone extensive training in aesthetic medicine with specifics in Botox and filler injections, laser procedures, and chemical peels.

Pam Hogan | Director, Practice Transition at MDVIP, Inc.

Pam Hogan | Director, Practice Transition
MDVIP, Inc.

At MDVIP, Pam oversees a Field Team that supports physicians who are converting to a personalized preventive model of healthcare. Her expertise includes: analysis of opportunities; cultivation of key relationships with the community; and, the execution of business plans that lead to an enhanced market position for the physician. As Director, Hogan facilitates communication across the MDVIP Network and integrates sustainable practice solutions for each physician and his/her staff through training and collaboration.

Her volunteer interests include the Junior League, Hospice, Girl Scouts of America and an annual team captain for the “Walk to Cure Alzheimer’s” in honor of her dad who is currently on his journey with that disease.

Prior to joining MDVIP, Pam held multiple leadership and sales positions. Her experience has largely been in the medical space managing sales personnel in multiple regions and offices. Originally from Upstate NY and currently living at the Jersey Shore with her two daughters, Pam enjoys outdoor activities, including the beach, boating, kayaking and paddle boarding.

Mitra Pakdaman, Founder LA Healthcare Design, a Los Angeles-based Healthcare Interior Design Company

Mitra Pakdaman, Founder
LA Healthcare Design, a Los Angeles-based Healthcare Interior Design Company

Mitra Pakdaman is the founder of LA Healthcare Design, a Los Angeles-based interior design studio, utilizing over ten years of in-field experience to provide her signature elegant, fresh, and balanced design concepts to large-scale projects. She received her B.S. in Interior Design and her MBA at CSUN and is a member of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA).

“Smaller waiting rooms, with more flexible, comfortable furnishings, similar to a home environment; coupled with aquariums as calming distractions, and toys and spaces for children to play are the major changes adopted in the interior design of primary care or concierge clinics.” ~Mitra

Mitra built the foundation and received the bulk of her interior design experience at the award-winning company HLW. As a member of their design team, she was involved in design development for Walt Disney®, ESPN®, HBO®, Intuit®, and Equinox®. She has since expanded her career by working independently on successful upscale hospitality, commercial, and residential projects, as well as on state-of-the-art healthcare facilities in Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Brentwood, West Los Angeles, and Palm Spring.

Mitra volunteers her time to philanthropic projects, such as the recent design consultation and space planning for the New Design Charter School in downtown Los Angeles and bathroom remodeling for the Santa Monica Aquarium: Heal the Bay project.

Courtney Greenwood, MBA | Product Marketing Analyst Pri-Med InLight EHR

Courtney Greenwood, MBA | Product Marketing Analyst
Pri-Med InLight EHR

Courtney Greenwood, MBA, is the Product Marketing Manager for the new InLight EHR, designed with the Membership Medicine physician in mind. Greenwood has worked closely with this community to understand the needs and wants of the physician community. Packaged in the cloud-based InLight EHR is the paradigm-shifting perspective of a problem-oriented medical system which relieves the cognitive burden physicians feel during a clinical encounter. Greenwood has worked in healthcare her entire career in various roles and received her MBA from Suffolk University, with a concentration in Marketing.

“The time physicians would rather spend with patients is being taken up with government regulations and insurance company mandates,” said Courtney Greenwood, MBA, Product Marketing Analyst at Pri-Med/InLight EHR in a recent interview with MedScape. “Physicians are sick of it, and the primary practice is in trouble as a result. InLight EHR tracks the details of each [Concierge Medicine] patient’s membership plan, and allows doctors to order medications, laboratory tests, and radiology, and to make referrals to specialists all from one box in the software program. And the program can make modifications on the basis of a physician’s previous behavior. In the way that Pandora or Spotify learn what you like to listen to … this learns how you practice medicine. For example, the program might recommend a medication a physician has frequently prescribed for a particular condition.”

Dana R. Walsh | Director, Insurance Services and Medical Centers of Excellence MDVIP, Inc.

Dana R. Walsh | Director, Insurance Services and Medical Centers of Excellence
MDVIP, Inc.

Dana is an experienced healthcare professional with over twenty years of industry experience. She has been an integral member of the MDVIP Management Team since 2009, serving to guide her teams by providing excellence through consultative support and ensuring exceptional above-and-beyond customer service to members.

Dana has facilitated the expansion and growth of MDVIP’s Medical Centers of Excellence Program which consists of the nation’s top tertiary facilities. She also assists in developing a competitive malpractice offering for affiliated physicians. Dana has managed teams in various healthcare arenas including: educational institutions; physician practices; hospital – revenue cycles services; auditing to confirm quality and compliance standards were met; and a federally funded insurance carrier prior to joining MDVIP.

Dana also volunteers her time to help clean-up Florida’s natural resources through numerous efforts such as beach and waterway clean-ups.  In addition, she volunteers her time with Hospice, Boca Helping Hands, and Women in Distress.

Dana holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from Florida Atlantic University. She has been an active member of AHIMA and HFMA for both the national and local chapters. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, exercising, reading, and dabbling with photography.

Debbie St. Clair, M.D. | Board-Certified Family Physician | Team Member | Griffin Concierge Medical

Debbie St. Clair, M.D. | Board-Certified Family Physician | Team Member
Griffin Concierge Medical

“Having practiced medicine for ten years in larger, traditional family medicine practices, I have often felt like I couldn’t spend the amount of time that my patients deserved. For me, Griffin Concierge Medical’s approach is a welcome change.  I am excited to work in a practice where I can get to know my patients personally. Whether my patients are sick or well, I hope to interact with them regularly.  I am committed to healthy living. I played college basketball and now enjoy being outdoors, whether training for a half marathon or just exercising with my family.”

“I really want to get to know my patients and their families and to care for them through different phases of their lives.” ~Debbie

“Dr. St. Clair started her Concierge Medicine Practice in April 2014 and her practice will be close to half full by her first year in practice (300 patients will be a full practice). She’s left an existing traditional practice to practice concierge medicine after years of the “hamster wheel” medicine. Her immediate success speaks of the demand for concierge medicine and the demand for a female concierge physician in South Tampa. Kudos to Dr. St. Clair!” ~Radley Griffin, M.D. Board-Certified Family Physician Founder, Griffin Concierge Medical

Karin Hennings, Executive Director of St. Luke’s Family Practice, a nonprofit Concierge Medical Clinic in Modesto, CA.

Karin Hennings, Executive Director
St. Luke’s Family Practice — Modesto, CA

St. Luke’s Family Practice, located in Modesto, California, is quite unique in the marketplace of Concierge Medicine. St. Luke’s Family Practice is actually a nonprofit Concierge Medical Clinic with an extremely strong charitable focus.

Until Karin’s arrival the practice was administered by the two physicians who were getting close to burn out.

Karin joined St. Luke’s in 2010 as the inaugural Executive Director.  Until Karin’s arrival the practice was administered by the two physicians who were getting close to burn out. Hennings streamlined the business and patient operations inside the medical practice and doubled the amount of charity care the practice provided. This allowed the physicians to focus more on patient care. Karin completed her MBA in Health Systems Management, is involved in her local MGMA chapter, a member of Rotary, and a single mother of two — including a teenage autistic son.

Ashley Rudnick | President
Boca VIPediatrics — Boca Raton, FL

Ashley Rudnick & Chad Rudnick, M.D. of Boca VIPediatrics in Boca Raton, FL, a Pediatric Concierge Medical Clinic.

Ashely is President of a Pediatric Concierge Medicine Practice alongside her husband and practicing pediatric physician, Chad Rudnick at Boca VIPediatrics in Boca Raton, Florida. Ashely handles all aspects of marketing and has successfully built the Concierge Pediatric Practice which now has a waiting list [in certain age groups], after only being open for 1 year. Ashley coordinates press releases, media interviews, and more in order to get the word out about the “pediatric smart office” and the digital health products that they work with. So far, they have appeared on both local and national news outlets over a dozen times in 18 months (January 20, 2016).

“When my husband and I developed the idea for Boca VIPediatrics, there were so many ‘Disney-style’ ideals I wanted to incorporate, to change the current ‘assembly line’ approach that is taken in most pediatric offices. I handle all aspects of creative marketing and personalizing the VIP experience for our families.  As a mom, I’m more in tune to what is missing from the current state of pediatric care. And, because our business is family owned and operated, we offer that personalized, family-style approach!”

“We researched and spoke to a lot of people about the current state of pediatric care, which we feel doesn’t work. The long waiting room times, the rude staff, the rushed appointments, the answering services to reach the doctor, and the overall feeling of being “a number” or “a chart” are all part of the frustration most families feel when they go to the pediatrician’s office. My husband and I combined our ideas to change and improve the state of pediatric care,” answered Ashley. “When it comes to children, their care needs to be monitored closely in an un-hurried way with great attention to detail, to lead to earlier prevention and diagnosis in their formative years,” said Ashley.

Molly Martin | Counsel at MDVIP, Inc.

Molly Martin | Counsel at MDVIP, Inc.
MDVIP, Inc.

Molly is Counsel at MDVIP, Inc. She has been a key member of the MDVIP Legal Team since 2010, assisting in protecting the company’s rights, obligations and privileges as well as its legal interests. Molly provides key legal direction, ensuring the legal activities meet the current and future needs of the MDVIP organization. Molly also provides counsel to the business operations and privacy and security compliance at MDVIP, working closely with middle and upper management.

Molly holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Criminology (cum laude) from Florida Atlantic University, and a Juris Doctorate (magna cum laude) from Nova Southeastern Shepard Broad Law Center and an LL.M. (Masters of Law) from the University of Miami, School of Law. While attending law school, Molly was research assistant to several professors and received five Book Awards (the highest academic achievement at the course level.)

She clerked at Broad & Cassel on healthcare and regulatory compliance.  Molly volunteers with the Palm Beach County Guardian Ad Litem appointed by the court to protect the rights and advocate the best interests of a child involved in a court proceeding. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and painting. She is also an avid organic farmer raising free range chickens for healthy and nutritional egg production.

RELATED STORY | 2015 Recipients
PART 2 of 2 (2015): Concierge Medicine Today’s (CMTs) Industry Leading Women In The Business of Healthcare.

Dr. Julie is a Board Certified Family Physician in Boise, ID and Owner of SparkMD.

Julie K. Gunther, MD | Owner
SparkMD in Boise, ID

Dr Julie Gunther grew up in Boise Idaho, graduated from high school in Boise and attended Harvard and Washington University for her undergraduate and medical school educations. She is board certified in Family Medicine.

Dr. Gunther started a innovative, patient-centered practice in her hometown of Boise in 2014. She believes the administrative demands of modern medicine have marginalized the physician’s role and are eroding the physician-patient relationship. Like many Family Physicians, she is experienced in caring for a wide variety of life’s stages, ages and dilemmas. She is trained in caring for the whole family, through the many phases of life. She provides urgent care services, wellness services, and focuses on mental and physical well being.

“The delivery of medical care has become complicated and costly. Nobody likes going to the doctor anymore, not even your doctor. We can change this.” ~Julie

She founded sparkMD in 2014 to take back her relationship with her patients and to empower herself to be the doctor she set out to be.

Monica Sarang, MD
Sarang Medical in Southern (Burbank) California

“I have always loved the challenge of practicing good medicine…putting the puzzle pieces together to form an accurate diagnosis. For me, being a primary care physician offers a blend of the best science and critical thinking combined with a healthy partnership between doctor and patient. Throughout my 16 years in private practice, I’ve always felt that the time I spend listening to you and working together to determine the best course of action is the best medicine, achieving the best outcomes.” ~Dr. Monica Sarang

Monica Sarang, MD…offering concierge care in southern California.

Even in the star-studded environs of Burbank, California, home to the country’s best-known movie and television studios, Dr. Monica Sarang proves to have star power of her own. The 16-year veteran of private practice recently made the change to concierge medicine, assisted by Specialdocs Consultants.  Dr. Sarang says ever longer wait times for physical exams and acute appointments, continually seeing more patients in less time, and spending too many hours on non-care tasks spurred her decision to jump off the treadmill to a new model of medicine.

“The current healthcare environment rewards speed and technology, not listening, thinking and compassion.  I was certain there must be a better way to provide the kind of care and attention I set as my standard in 1999…but it required a change,” explains Sarang. “I couldn’t be more excited about the promise of my new practice and the opportunity it brings to address multiple issues in one visit, focus on prevention and wellness and serve as my patients’ medical advocates whenever and wherever needed. It’s the way medicine used to be practiced, and it’s the way we know it still should be practiced.”

Dr. Sarang opened the doors in early 2015 at 201 South Buena Vista Street Suite 250 in Burbank, California.

Jeff Livingston, MD | Tech | January 4, 2013

There has been an explosion in health apps. Patients are using them for weight loss, calorie counting, exercise monitoring, ovulation calculation and for many other health needs. But to truly integrate the concept of health apps in the health care system healthcare providers will need to get involved. There is discussion in the health IT world lately regarding physician adoption of technology specifically mobile health apps, electronic record systems and patient portals. Doctors have now been plugged into the equation for technological innovation. This represents a paradigm shift for doctors. Life was much simpler when all we had was a pager and a stethoscope.

On the other hand, incorporating new innovation is nothing new for doctors.  Physicians are constantly exposed to innovation. We are approached with new medications, new surgical devices, new equipment and new lab tests. Frequently, doctors are pitched a new product and have to decide whether to integrate it into practice or to pass for now. With medications, medical devices and lab tests the decision to accept and adopt is complex. It involves analyzing safety, efficacy, cost and other factors.

Some physicians have the early adopter mentality.  At home, we are the first to buy the latest iPhone (even though our current one works fine). We also rush out and buy a 3D television. Early adopters are the first to try a new surgical technique. Other physicians are more likely to wait and view the success or failures of the early adopters before deciding to jump in.

In many ways physicians are already leading the way in mobile health. The majority of doctors are using smart phone and physicians are early adopters of the iPad. Physicians are using apps clinically within the daily workflow. I use Airstrip OB daily to monitor my patients in labor and Epocrates to check medications.  Using medical apps has gone mainstream and health apps are flooding the market.  This trend will continue as the internet itself moves from the laptop to mobile. We know physicians will use health apps but will they prescribe apps to their patients as a direct part of patient care?

It is very important that app developers understand the physician mindset if you expect us to use apps and to recommend your product to patients. We will not utilize or recommend a health app just because it is cool or just because we can. Adoption is unlikely to be based on cost, efficacy and safety. Your app needs to meet two simple criteria. First, the app needs to make physician’s lives easier. Second, it needs to make the care we provide our patients better.

Currently I prescribe a few in clinical practice. I suggest Tweetwhatyoueat for weight loss. I like iPregnancy for my pregnant patients. I suggest HealthTap for access to physician driven health information (disclosure: I am Medical Director of HealthTap).

So will physicians recommend apps to patients?  Absolutely!  Give us something worthwhile and we will be all over it. We ask very little in return – make our lives easier and make the care we provide better.

Jeff Livingston is an obstetrician-gynecologist at MacArthur OB/GYN, also on Facebook.  He can be reached on Twitter @macobgyn.

Source: http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2013/01/doctors-recommend-health-apps-patients.html

LUNCH PROVIDED by A & S Culinary Concepts
WHEN: Friday August 5 11AM – 3PM
WHERE: Forsyth Conference Center, 3410 Ronald Reagan Blvd, Cumming, GA 30041
Topic: New Markets in Healthcare: Using Free-markets and Honest Pricing to Reduce Costs and Improve Quality
Keynote Speaker: Jed Constantz will discuss how self-insured employers can “Leveraging Direct Pay Models to Enhance Benefits and Lower Costs”
Conference Sponsor: iDirectDoc
Other sponsors: Encompass Health Direct

LEARN MORE …

SOURCE: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7015203/7015203-6139793246932459523

ABOUT The GA FMMA

The Free Market Medical Association is dedicated to bringing together physicians, surgeons, providers, facilities, and support businesses; providing necessary resources to promote a successful industry; and defending the practice of free market medicine without the intervention of government or other third parties.

ALSO in ATLANTA in 2016 … DON’T MISS THE AUGUST 12-13, 2016 | “2016 Concierge Medicine Assembly” | Atlanta, GA

U.S. Congressman Tom Price, MD, Member of the Congressional Healthcare Caucus, Chairman of the House Committee on the Budget and Member of the House Committee on Ways and Means, will be the keynote speaker at the Concierge Medicine Assembly in Atlanta, GA August 12-13 2016. Photo Credit: http://www.peachpundit.com/2011/08/22/congratulations-congressman-tom-price/