(C) The Concierge Medicine Research Collective | Concierge Medicine Today, LLC | June 2016

Infographic by Concierge Medicine Today (C) 2016

By Concierge Choice Physicians, Wayne Lipton

MARCH 23, 2016 – Concierge Medicine Today recently posted a graphic highlighting the movement of specialists into concierge care.   This is certainly a trend we’ve witnessed at Concierge Choice Physicians.   Over the last few years, we’ve had a steep increase in the number of specialists who have enrolled with us—mostly cardiologists, but also specialists like endocrinologists, rheumatologists, gynecologists and even hematology.

How does concierge care work for specialists?

Primary care physicians were the first to explore the concierge model because they were the first to suffer the effects of declining reimbursements and increasing requirements and overhead.  Unfortunately, specialists are no longer exempt.

 But specialists are not primary care physicians—the nature of their practices is fundamentally different.  They only see a portion of their patients on an ongoing basis, and they rely on referral networks.   For many specialists, a full model concierge program can be a risky endeavor.  Do they have the patient base to support such a model?  How will other doctors refer them new patients if everyone must become a member?

Fortunately there is a way for specialists to reap the benefits of a membership model without putting their practice at risk.   The blended model of concierge care, known as the Hybrid Choice ™ model, is the solution.  We are the national leader in hybrid concierge, and now are also the national leader in concierge care for specialists.

We understand the specific needs of specialists.   They need to see patients for episodic care and consults.  They serve as the go-to doctor for only a portion of their patient base.  Often, they work in large group practices or they are affiliated with a large delivery system and can’t make structural changes to their practice without upsetting the larger business model.   That’s why the Hybrid Choice model works so well for specialists.   It blends seamlessly into any business model and allows the specialist to continue to see all their patients, and maintain important referral sources and insurance plans.   The concierge program simply becomes an optional service within the practice the patient can choose.

And patients of specialists are making the concierge choice in high numbers.  Patients, especially those managing chronic or serious conditions, need and want personalized, coordinated care.  They want peace of mind knowing they have a strong relationship with a physician who knows them. Something that today’s healthcare landscape isn’t always able to make time for.  As a concierge member, they can receive that high-level of service and advocacy from their trusted physician and the medical staff if it’s important to them.   The Hybrid Choice model is one in which everyone wins—the specialist is able to experience the benefits of a new, private revenue stream and the patients get to choose a level of service that feels right for them.

SOURCE: http://www.choice.md/#!Specialists-and-Concierge-Care/c1f5s/56f2d9020cf266a29257471f

(C) Concierge Medicine Today, LLC | The Concierge Medicine Research Collective | JUNE 2016

All-New | Distance Learning and Mentor Program — The Docpreneur Institute (DPI) Learn More

‘Health Savings Accounts Should Be Expanded and Protected.’

By Alexander Hendrie on Thursday, May 26th, 2016, 1:37 PM

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.

Health savings accounts, or HSAs are tax-advantaged accounts which are used to pay for routine, out-of-pocket medical expenses.  They are used in conjunction with insurance plans which tend to cover large and/or unexpected health events and allow individuals to make choices that best fit their needs. Expanding and protecting HSAs is one component to ensuring Americans have access to patient centered health care that best fits their needs and keeps costs low.

The importance of HSAs is why Congress should pass H.R. 5324 and S. 2980, the Health Savings Account Expansion Act of 2016, legislation introduced this week by Congressman Dave Brat (R-Va.) and Senator Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.). This legislation contains a number of important reforms that will make HSAs even better.

First, the legislation more than doubles HSA contribution limits. Current HSA contribution limits are $3,350 for a single filer and $6,750 for a joint filer, and this legislation increases that to $9,000 for single filer and $18,000 for joint filers per year.

Second, the HSA expansion act lifts Obamacare restrictions on over the counter purchases and penalties placed on certain withdrawals.

Third, the bill allows HSA funds to be used to pay premiums and direct primary care expenses.

Lastly, superfluous regulatory requirements would be streamlined with the high deductible health plan mandate eliminated.

In addition to these important reforms, the HSA Expansion act protects existing tax provisions that enable people to pay for and access their healthcare in the way that they prefer, prevents the removal of HSA-eligible plans from Obamacare exchanges, streamlines health care financing, and expands choices for personalized medicine including direct primary care.

Clearly, this legislation makes many important, commonsense improvements to HSAs that increase healthcare freedom for families. As such, ATR supports this important legislation and encourages all Members of the House and Senate to co-sponsor and support the Health Savings Account Expansion Act.

SOURCE: https://www.atr.org/health-savings-accounts-should-be-expanded-and-protected

Making a big decision for physicians feel like a small step in the right direction. DocPreneur Institute (DPI) Experts Know ‘How and When to Give Advice’ (Hint: It’s Not as Simple as You Think) … DPI Mentors/Coaches help aspiring “docpreneurs” find solutions to industry challenges.

MAY 29, 2015 | ATLANTA, GA – The Direct Primary Care Journal’s sister publication, Concierge Medicine Today announced the national launch of its mentoring and coaching network called The DocPreneur Institute (DPI). The DocPreneur Institute is a facility based in Atlanta, GA which will provide physicians, their staff, business leaders, investment organizations, startups and established Membership Medicine physician operators with an industry-centric place to which healthcare practitioners and professionals can come to learn and pursue success strategies used in free market healthcare today. This includes, both Concierge Medicine and its demographically diverse companion, Direct Primary Care (DPC). The DocPreneur Institute is now offering Mentor Meetings, Coaching Classes, and its educational learning material through relationships with industry experts, practicing physicians and Concierge Medicine Today’s digital and print library of resources and educational materials.

“You can’t grow professionally without connecting relationally,” says Catherine Sykes, Founder and CEO of The Docpreneur Institute. “After years of talking with physicians one-on-one we’ve found that if you want to be successful in this space [I.e. Membership Medicine], you need to have intentional relationships with other people who have the same goal. DPI is the ideal place for that. We have crafted educational environments to help doctors meet other physicians and industry experts who share the vision for affordable healthcare delivery. Young or old, physician or non-physician, dentist, family medical practitioner, or getting ready to retire, we have a place for you to connect, grow and learn.”

RELATED STORY

Docpreneur Institute 2015 mp3 New Release: (mp3 – TIME: 1 Hour, 18-Minutes) “Move With A Plan: Writing Your Own Membership Medicine Business Plan” | mp3 Download

In 2014, The Docpreneur Institute began developing its faculty of leading experts to provide Concierge and Membership Medicine physicians and their key staff and with expertise and insight to make better, more informed business decisions in the areas of Concierge Medicine, Direct Primary Care and other unique membership medicine healthcare delivery models. During its market research phase, Concierge Medicine Today received more than 300 inquiries from physicians. Offering weekly and monthly educational training calls; 1, 2 and 3 hour coaching calls; mentor meetings without any sales-pitch/pure information; and access to leading industry physicians and business experts, makes DPI an innovative industry resource and business connection through its vast network of faculty advisors and access to Monthly Coaching Classes, Physicians and others can greatly accelerate their learning curve.

Terry Bauer, a DPI Mentor, leads the Strategy Practice at Stroudwater Associates and dedicates his efforts to strategy, affiliations and partnerships, and physician-hospital alignment. With a background of three decades as a healthcare executive, entrepreneur, and consultant, Bauer shares his insight at DPI in the areas of: Strategy, M&A, Capital Raising, Healthcare and more.

“DPI offers an innovative resource for Physicians and those interested in this industry to receive easy access to a wealth of expertise provided through the panel of faculty mentors vetted by DPI. Oftentimes doctors and others can receive out-dated and poor advice from those they thought understood the industry. DPI has brought together a faculty of respected thought leaders who are immersed in this field. I’m proud to be associated with it [The DocPreneur Institute],” says Terry Bauer, one of DPI’s Mentors with over 25 years in success having worked with physicians and expertise in primary care clinic management. Bauer leads the Strategy Practice at Stroudwater Associates and dedicates his efforts to strategy, affiliations and partnerships, and physician-hospital alignment. With a background of three decades as a healthcare executive, entrepreneur, and consultant, Bauer shares his insight at DPI in the areas of: Strategy, M&A, Capital Raising, Healthcare and more.

“Physicians are also a large part of our mentor and coaching network as well. The Docpreneur Institute is a great example of how the healthcare community-at-large can step up and in big ways to provide educational resources that support entrepreneurial success for physicians,” said Sykes. “Atlanta is one of a number of strong markets in Concierge Medicine and Direct Primary Care that is well-suited for startups, incubators and accelerators. We applaud our mentor faculty and partners for encouraging a rise in great entrepreneurial healthcare ecosystems throughout the U.S.”

Mentor Meet-Up | Atlanta, GA — by The Docpreneur Institute

DPI provides a space for physicians and entrepreneurs to collaborate with other healthcare providers, investors, mentors and resources that are crucial to accelerating the launch, entry and/or planned growth of a Concierge Medicine or Direct Primary Care businesses and to identify and develop solutions to pressing industry challenges. DPI clients include: primary care and family medicine physicians; specialty medical providers; investment firms; professional services firms; attorneys; consultancies; corporations; and non-profit organizations. The DPI faculty, staff and mentor network include: Concierge Medicine physicians; Direct Primary Care doctors; industry consultants; lawyers, senior and former c-level executives; and others bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to clients of DPI. DPI divides its experts by field of expertise, focusing on specific industries or disciplines serving the private medicine marketplace. DPI areas of capability include: Accounting and Financial Analysis; Products and Services; Financial and Business Services; Legal and Regulatory Affairs; Real Estate; Technology; Marketing, Public Relations; and Media Communication and Public Relations.

“It is extremely important to us that each of our trade publications continue to remain objective and serve as independent news and information resources, Sykes said. “In turn, by creating a Mentor and Coaching network that has independence and no allegiance to one company, model or strategy … and with the help of many physicians and business faculty, DPI can provide objective, unbiased and independent thought to those physicians exploring a career in free market medicine. I am personally very pleased with the institutional growth potential and market receptivity that The Docpreneur Institute has shown in our development phase. Since the initial collaboration with Concierge Medicine Today and The Direct Primary Care Journal readers, we are exploring opportunities to expand our class scope, coaching network and share this network of entrepreneurial resources more broadly with the healthcare community. Through these creative collaborations and the support of private interests aligned with this goal, we will continue to help physicians across the country and even in parts of the U.K., South America, Australia and in Canada move forward with their docpreneurial endeavors in the delivery of free market healthcare.”

DPI’s web site, www.TheDocpreneur.org receives new inquiries for assistance, weekly.

For more information about The Docpreneur Institute, upcoming classes, their Mentor Matchup Program, and more, visit: www.TheDocpreneur.org.

About The Docpreneur Institute

The Docpreneur Institute (DPI) is an entrepreneurial support system dedicated to bringing together the resources, support and opportunities that physician entrepreneurs need to start, build and grow their businesses in the areas of: Concierge Medicine and Direct Primary Care. Launched in 2015, The Docpreneur Institute connects physicians of all specialties with other like-minded physician mentors, corporations, investors, educators and other business and community leaders in order to advance the economic interests of the local Membership Medicine community. The Docrepenur Institute is headquartered in Atlanta, GA.

Learn More at: www.TheDocpreneur.org or call (770) 455-1650

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 2016 Concierge Medicine Assembly in Atlanta, GA August 13 2016. Photo Credit: http://www.peachpundit.com/2011/08/22/congratulations-congressman-tom-price/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Save 15% by Using Code: “C840CMT”

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER …

June 8, 2016
Contact: Michael Tetreault
Phone (770) 455-1650 ext 151
Email: editor@ConciergeMedicineToday.com
Web: www.ConciergeMedicineAssembly.com

Conference Info.:  August 12-13, 2016 in ATLANTA, GA

The Marriott Century Center (Emory Area), Atlanta, GA
REGISTRATION Contact: Exl Events
Phone: (866) 207-6528
Email: registration@exlevents.com
REGISTRATION WEB SITE: www.TheMedicalEvent.com

6 Smart Habits of Successful DocPreneurs Whether you’re in medicine or not, here are six smart habits from great leaders in healthcare that will help you succeed in any area of your practice and in life. READ MORE …

August 12-13, 2016 | ATLANTA, GA — Hear Terry Bauer and dozens of others share their expertise and thoughts on the Concierge Medicine industry. LEARN MORE …

Georgia Assembly on Concierge Medicine Announces Congressman Tom Price, MD and Former CEO of MDVIP, Dan Hecht as Keynote Speakers

Atlanta plays host to Concierge Medicine leadership, August 12-13, 2016 at The Marriott Century Center.

Atlanta, GA | JUNE 8, 2016 – 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 13^th, 2016. Joining the event will also be Former CEO of MDVIP and Former Leader/Executive at Procter & Gamble, Dan Hecht.

Dr. Price will address “The Current State of Healthcare and Emerging Entrepreneurial Forms of Healthcare Delivery in America.” Dan Hecht will discuss “Challenges, Opportunities, Expectations and Recommendations for the Industry Moving Forward.” Other nationally recognized speakers include: Dr. Lanalee Araba Sam, Co-Founder of Concierge Pregnancy Group in Florida; Dr. Thomas LaGrelius, President of the American College of Private Physicians (ACPP); Editor and bestselling Author Michael Tetreault; Direct Primary Care Physician Dr. Robert Lamberts, MD and many others. They are among nearly two dozen accomplished physicians, industry professionals and leaders who will address the Conference. Additional 2016 speakers are listed on the event web site, www.ConciergeMedicineAssembly.com.

The Conference will be hosted at the Marriott Century Center in Atlanta on Friday, August 12 – 13, 2016. The annual Conference is Georgia’s largest event for Concierge Medicine, attracting specialty physicians, general internists, family medical practitioners, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, practice management advisors, hospitals, telehealth providers, law firms and others who come together for two days of relational learning, education, networking, professional development and personal growth opportunities.

Dr. Price and other speakers will share their experience and expertise on a range of topics including: industry trends; summary of business models; employer partnerships; succession planning; patient retention strategies; adding cash revenue services; overview of emerging Direct Primary Care (DPC) business models; Specialty Concierge Care; Future Perspectives; and other Telehealth Technologies; Entrepreneurship; Media Relations; Marketing; Branding and more. This year’s conference theme “What Great Doctors Do” encourages physicians to take a closer look at their role in changing the course of history and emerge as a change agent for free market healthcare delivery in their communities.

“We are thrilled to host Congressman Tom Price, MD, Nina Grant, Dr. Robert Lamberts, Richard Doughty, Dr. Patrick Tokarz, Leslie Mitchell, Dr. Thomas LaGrelius, Terry Bauer, Dr. Jeff Puglisi, Dr. Ellie Campbell and other inspiring physicians and healthcare professionals at this year’s Assembly,” said Catherine Sykes, Publisher of Concierge Medicine Today and organizing partner alongside Exl Events and Practice Builders. “This event is about where medicine is going in the future, not about where it is today. Concierge Doctors have a unique and different set of needs. They are early adopters in two critical areas: technology and testing. What makes this event unique is that we have a wide variety of relevant faculty discussing these topics. Not to mention, the significant number of the industry’s leading female voices we’re bringing to the gathering as well. Dr. Ellie Campbell, Charlene Jessup, Nina Grant, Julie Robinson, Leslie Mitchell, Dr. Lanalee Araba Sam and Mindy Koloff. Each of these women are respected industry influencers, experts and leaders in their respective fields and they will share their collective wisdom with us all.”

CMT Launches “Docpreneur Institute” — opening up vast library of learning thru DPI Mentor Calls and Coaching Classes with help of industry leaders.

DOWNLOAD FULL AGENDA … August 12-13, 2016 | ATLANTA, GA — Hear from dozens of industry experts as they share their expertise and thoughts on the delivery of Concierge Medicine, technology, innovation, care and more. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE …

Another unique feature to the 2016 Concierge Medicine Assembly in Atlanta is the Mentoring-in-Minutes Session at the conclusion of the event on Saturday. It offers attendees the chance to have one-on-one conversations with industry professionals, successful Concierge Medicine physicians as well as industry thought leaders and provide an intimate expert exchange session with Concierge Medicine veterans.

“Physicians who find refuge in Concierge Care as a career find more time in their schedule for their patients” notes Michael Tetreault, Editor of Concierge Medicine Today. “In a culture that praises busyness, they are finding themselves on the right side of history. The data coming out of the industry from practices is proving the model works.”

The exhibit area will also showcase industry leading companies dedicated to Concierge Medicine, technology and tele-health.

“Conference attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in a Marketing Diagnostic consultation at no-charge,” says Nina Grant, Vice President of Practice Builders. “It features an online practice reputation assessment, a web site evaluation and a mystery shopper call to determine your staff’s abilities to convert callers.  This assessment and follow up consultation is complimentary to you, as part of your registration fee for the Concierge Medicine Assembly.”

The 2016 Concierge Medicine Assembly is presented by Exl Events along with organizing partner Concierge Medicine Today and platinum sponsor, Practice Builders. The event is co-chaired by Concierge Medicine Today and Practice Builders. It is also generously underwritten by industry-leading organizations which include: Cypress Concierge Medicine; Specialdocs Consultants, Inc. and many others.

“We are thrilled to once again be supporting this movement by developing one of the nation’s leading Concierge Medicine events,” said Bryon Main, CEO of Exl Events. “The Concierge Medicine Assembly celebrates the growth of free market healthcare delivery expanding across America and the visioneering spirit of a diverse community of healthcare practitioners of which we are proud to be a part.”

USE PROMO CODE: C840CMT and Save 15%

A special discount code for physicians and office managers is available through Concierge Medicine Today To obtain the code, register or to learn more about the 2016 Concierge Medicine Assembly, explore the web site, www.ConciergeMedicineAssembly.com.

To apply for Media Credentials, please contact Bryon Main 1 (866) 207-6528 or registration@exlevents.com or Michael Tetreault at editor@conciergemedicinetoday.com.

About Congressman Tom Price, MD

Congressman Tom Price was first elected to represent Georgia’s 6th district in November 2004.  Prior to going to Washington, Price served four terms in the Georgia State Senate – two as Minority Whip.  In 2002, he was a leader in the Republican renaissance in Georgia as the party took control of the State Senate, with Price rising to become the first Republican Senate Majority Leader in the history of Georgia. In Congress, Rep. Price has proven to be a vibrant leader, tireless problem solver and the go-to Republican on quality health care policy.  He serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means. In the 114th Congress, Price was named Chair of the House Committee on the Budget. In previous Congresses, he has served as Chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee and Chairman of the Republican Study Committee. Committed to advancing positive solutions under principled leadership particularly in healthcare, Price has been a fierce opponent of government waste and devoted to limited government and lower spending. For nearly twenty years, Dr. Price worked in private practice as an orthopedic surgeon. Before coming to Washington he returned to Emory University School of Medicine as an Assistant Professor and Medical Director of the Orthopedic Clinic at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, teaching resident doctors in training. He received his Bachelor and Doctor of Medicine degrees from the University of Michigan and completed his Orthopedic Surgery residency at Emory University.  For more information, visit: www.TomPrice.House.gov.

Dan Hecht, Keynote Speaker, Atlanta, GA | August 12-13, 2016

About Mr. Dan Hecht

Dan Hecht has had a dynamic and successful career as a leader and executive at Procter & Gamble and is the former CEO of MDVIP, the country’s largest concierge medicine provider.  Dan has worked with countless companies and individuals over the past 25 years and gathered those experiences to create relevant lessons from the crossroads of Leadership and Mindfulness, of which Dan now delivers through coaching, speaking, and writing with CEOhm.

MEET THE 2016 LIST OF “TOP DOCS in CONCIERGE MEDICINE” …

About Concierge Medicine Today

Concierge Medicine Today (CMT) is a news organization and the Concierge Medicine industry’s oldest national trade publication for the Concierge Medicine and Membership Medicine marketplace. Its web site is the online destination for businesses, consumers, physicians, legislators, researchers and other stakeholders to learn about the history of this industry, various business aspects of the marketplace, trends, breaking news and more that drives the conversation that Concierge Medicine and free market healthcare delivery is creating on a national and international level.

For more information, visit: www.ConciergeMedicineToday.com.

(C) Concierge Medicine Today | The Concierge Medicine Research Collective | June 2016

President’s Message 5/10/16

A year ago in April, 2015 Congress passed and the President signed the repeal of the SGR formula doctors have lived with for decades. SGR was never really enforced however, since each year Congress passed temporary delays in its implementation and kicked the can down the road. Medicare participating doctors did not usually get any rate increases, but at least the draconian rate cuts the SGR would have mandated were usually blocked. The permanent repeal of SGR was hailed by many as a great advance since it directed CMS to devise ways for doctors to get paid not by the visit, but by our results. However, it still mandated that the new procedures be “budget neutral”, so there will have to be as many losers as winners. If patients were kept well and out of the hospital where the huge costs reside, doctors were to be paid more and paid less if not.

The new law is called the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). If you want to read the law, it is not that long, here it is: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/2/text .Enjoy.

Trouble is there are lots of ways to implement such a plan. With Obama’s CMS troops in charge of writing the new rules, the expected happened. CMS has written a 960 page rule, many times longer than the Act itself, that nobody likes. It will force doctors into large groups and ACOs because small organizations cannot possibly comply with its complex reporting regulations. It will kill insurance and Medicare payment based solo and small group practice which will be totally unable to comply and will lose 9% of its revenue for failing to do so. Such practices are already running on very narrow margins with 70% plus overheads and a 9% cut will put many of them out of business and force the rest into contractural arrangements with hospitals that protect them at the price of dictating what they do.

The real irony is that clearly, solo and small group practice are the practices that are currently doing the best job of keeping people out of the hospital and out of emergency rooms. Why on earth would Obama’s CMS what to kill them. (In fact, they should be exempted from this law, and efforts are underway to make that exemption reality.)

2nd Annual American College of Private Physicians (ACPP) Meeting at The Vdara in Las Vegas, NV September 24th and 25th, 2016

The shortage of doctors will increase as more retire prematurely. As others take salaried jobs production and access will drop further since such employment arrangements always result in doctors behaving like employees rather than entrepreneurs, with a predictable loss of productivity.

There is a third option. Solo and small group doctors can do what we have done and form direct financial relationships with their patients in concierge practice and other forms of direct practice so the drastic cuts coming in the next few years will not affect them. Already the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) has resulted in a massive increase in concierge and direct practice conversions, and that trend will accelerate.

Employees of large companies are now actively looking for concierge and direct practice access arranged by their employers, because in this brave new world since the passage of the ACA and now MACRA their deductibles and co-pays have soared so high that they might as well not have insurance at all. Furthermore, when they try to make an appointment with a physician there are higher and higher barriers to access delaying care, which essentially amounts to denied care. So, the emergency room has become the default location of care for millions. However, investing in membership in a concierge or direct practice once again gives them immediate and affordable access to care.

ACPP should be the organization that helps these new concierge and DP doctors improve and refine their practices, give them a voice in state and federal government, and provide them with a network of like minded physicians with whom to collaborate.

So, we hope to see all of you in September at our second annual ACPP meeting September 24-25 in Las Vegas. It will be a fabulous meeting with amazing speakers and networking opportunities. I hope to see you there.

Dr. Thomas Lagrelius of Skypark Preferred Family Care, a Direct-Pay Medical Practice
Skypark Preferred Family Care.

Thomas W. LaGrelius, MD, FAAFP
President, ACPP

The 2nd Annual American College of Private Physicians (ACPP) Meeting
Healthcare for Patients, Not Payors
September 24th and 25th
at the Vdara, Las Vegas, NV

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER, click here

Welcome to registration and information for the 2nd Annual American College of Private Physicians (ACPP) meeting which will be held at the Vdara in Las Vegas, Nevada on September 24th and 25th, 2016. 

You may register online or print off the registration and fax or email it to the ACPP.  We have prepared a very interesting and informative educational agenda for this meeting and look forward to seeing you in Las Vegas in September.

SEPTEMBER 24-25, 2016 LAS VEGAS REGISTRATION

Register by August 15, 2016 for Early Registration rates.

Online Registration

Click here to start the Online Registration Process.

Written registration

Please mail or fax the registration form to:

ACPP
2501 Cherry Avenue, Suite 265
Signal Hill, California, 90755
Fax: (562) 424-8680

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations will be granted until August 30,2016. All cancellations must be sent in writing to ACPP via mail, fax or email. A $300.00 charge will be subtracted from your refund to cover processing fees. No refunds will be issued for cancellations received after August 30,2016.

http://www.acpp.md

By Kathryn Mayer

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — APRIL 1, 2014 — Mike Huckabee believes that some of the ideals of Obamacare — such as getting the uninsured insured — are noble.

But, unfortunately, the law is lacking, he says, in one particularly important concept: common sense.

“The reason Obamacare was never designed to work is because it was (written) by people who have not a clue as to what they were doing to the industry and health care in this country,” Huckabee said in his keynote speech Tuesday at the 2014 Benefits Selling Expo.

Common sense isn’t reflected in the 37 changes the administration has made to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act since it passed. Common sense isn’t having premiums soar for those who can’t afford it. Common sense doesn’t involve passing a health care law that doesn’t have the support of doctors. And common sense isn’t having the federal government be in control of something it knows nothing about.

“I felt from the very beginning that Obamacare was the wrong approach — not because I’m a Republican but because I was a governor for 10.5 years,” he said.

The former Arkansas governor and current Fox News host believes government works best on a state level — especially in insurance, where states set up the insurance commissioner, the insurance commission and, of course, understand the regulatory environment for insurance.

Huckabee said he particularly feels for Americans who struggle with chronic health issues and, as a result, a constant flood of too-high health bills.

“We could have done things about the chronically uninsured and we should have,” he said. “People are in a world of hurt, through no fault of their own, faced with extraordinarily medical expenses — most of us would accept we have a collective opportunity (to help). In a country like ours, what makes us unique is we don’t mind helping neighbors.”

What he thinks should be done to help that group is to put them in their own special subsidized group. The market should be split into a normal risk and an extraordinary-risk pools, he said. Those paying “extraordinary” bills would be helped because of the subsidies, and the normal risk people would be helped because they aren’t stuck paying for other consumers’ high premiums.

Though there is the responsibility to help, he stressed that no one should get insurance, or benefits, for free.

“The biggest mistake is when you give people benefits for which they have no investment in whatsoever,” Huckabee said, to a clapping audience. “You have to apply common sense.”

Another part of the law that lacks common sense is to try to get young adults enrolled in insurance, but then tell them they can stay on their parents’ plan until they are 26. That, he said, “knocks the legs from a big part of the market.”

There is also the continued problem that young people struggle with rationalizing buying insurance, often believing they are too healthy or young or would simply rather spend their money on something else.

And little — or no — doctor support isn’t helping the cause, either. After talking to roughly 200 family doctors over the years about PPACA, Huckabee anticipates in five years “your basic family physicians will either be in concierge medicine or ‘God help you medicine.’”

Without changes to the law, Huckabee said PPACA is an “unsustainable animal that will eat us alive.”

But he’s still optimistic that things can change for the better. For example, he said, “Republicans have put a lot of ideas out there but the problem is they are just not under one umbrella.” Once they work together to submit ideas, they could make more headway.

Huckabee told brokers in the audience that he sympathizes with them for being in a “difficult position” because of PPACA.

But, at the same time, they have a unique business opportunity, he said.

“You may be in a different position than doctors, hospitals and others who are taking a direct frontal hit from Obamacare,” Huckabee said. “You’ll have to market creatively and differently but I’d like to think in many ways you are in a unique opportunity moment. You may have some of the best opportunities to know what (products) consumers need and want as opposed to what the government thinks they want and makes them pay for.”

Source: http://www.benefitspro.com/2014/04/01/huckabee-calls-obamacare-the-wrong-approach

(C) Concierge Medicine Today, LLC | The Concierge Medicine Research Collective | JUNE 2016

The Sessions-Cassidy Bill would “Allow HSA funds to be used to pay monthly fees for concierge medicine, which would expressly not be considered health insurance under federal law …” – DOWNLOAD BILL …

Up until now, there has never been such a plan because no such blueprint ever had anywhere close to the votes needed to pass … ~Fox News, May 2016

By Timothy Jost, June 1, 2016

(C) 2016 by Concierge Medicine Today — Statistical Characteristics and Qualities of Today’s Concierge Medicine Physician

On May 23, 2016, Congressman Pete Sessions (R. Texas) and Senator Bill Cassidy (R. La.), introduced the “Healthcare Accessibility, Empowerment, and Liberty Act of 2016,” (HAELA), which with Trumpian exuberance they christened “the World’s Greatest Health Care Bill Ever.” Although Affordable Care Act (ACA) opponents and presidential candidates of both parties have in recent months offered general proposals for health system change, they have avoided reducing these proposals to specific legislative language. It takes some courage to propose specific legislation, as once a bill is reduced to text, it becomes an easy target for critics who can begin to project how it would actually work out in reality.

For the past six years we have experienced how the ACA—which was not only reduced to legislative language but actually adopted into law—has worked in reality. It has in fact been an easy target for relentless criticism. An honest and realistic appraisal of the law must acknowledge that it has achieved much. It has reduced the proportion of the population that remains uninsured to historic low levels—to 9.1 percent according to a recent government report. It has offered secure health coverage to many Americans previously excluded from insurance markets by pre-existing conditions or by the cost of coverage. It has done this without significantly increasing national health expenditures, indeed health care expenditures have grown at historically low levels for most years since its adoption. Medical debt borne by consumers and the uncompensated care burden of providers have been reduced. Consumers enrolled in marketplace plans report generally being satisfied with their coverage.

On the other hand, the ACA is incredibly complicated and its implementation has proven difficult. These difficulties were most obvious in the problem-plagued launch of the marketplaces in 2013, but are also evident in the problems that tax credit recipients have experienced in dealing with the tax reconciliation process. The ACA has also been disruptive: previously insured individuals lost ACA non-compliant coverage; young, healthy consumers have experienced substantial premium increases; enrollees in narrow network plans have had to find new health care providers. Many middle and moderate income Americans remain without truly affordable coverage — facing high cost-sharing and increasing premiums.

Any ACA replacement plan must be judged as to how it compares to the ACA. Would it maintain or build on the coverage expansion achieved by the ACA? Would it be more or less successful in restraining cost growth? Will it make care more or less accessible and affordable? Does it increase or reduce complexity? Is it more or less disruptive of current arrangements than the ACA?

What’s In—And Not In—The Sessions-Cassidy Bill?

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The HAELA is a bold and unconventional proposal. It is 117 pages long  — far shorter than the ACA, but also far less comprehensive in its reach. Unlike most Republican proposals it does not purport to repeal the ACA. It would repeal the individual and employer mandates and a number of the consumer protections of the ACA, but would leave much of the infrastructure in place, including the ACA’s marketplaces and income-based premium tax credits, Medicare reforms, and tax increases.

The HAELA omits many Republican health reform hardy perennials. It does nothing about limiting malpractice litigation and says almost nothing about abortion (other than that Medicaid is prohibited from funding any abortion — no exceptions). It does not promote sale of insurance across state lines; indeed, it gives states almost absolute authority to regulate insurance within their borders, including allowing the imposition of coverage mandates which interstate sales are meant to undermine.

It does not embrace high risk pools or association health plans. It does promote health savings accounts (HSAs), but “Roth” HSAs with back-end tax benefits rather than traditional HSAs with front-end benefits. It imposes a per-capita cap on Medicaid funding, but does so using an incredibly complex approach that would ease the transition from the current program and in the short-run ease the burden on the states. It undermines the current tax exclusions that support our employer-sponsored health coverage system, which covers most Americans, but leaves tax-exclusion-financed employer coverage available as an option for existing employers who still want to offer it.

The contents of the Sessions-Cassidy bill are spelled out in detail in the appendix below.

The HAELA vs. The ACA

So how does the Sessions/Cassidy HAELA plan stack up against the ACA? Without more detail it is impossible to know whether it would increase or decrease coverage. Certain aspects of HAELA should expand coverage — universal tax credits; auto-enrollment by the states; penalties for not maintaining continuous coverage; and the availability of low cost (but low value) insurance. Moreover, in the short term, individuals and families currently covered by income-based tax credits and the Medicaid expansions would be grandfathered.

On the other hand, provisions of the HAELA cutting Medicaid eligibility levels, imposing a per-capita cap on and eventually reducing Medicaid funding to the states, limiting access to income-based tax credits, repealing the individual and employer mandates, and encouraging employers to drop tax exclusion subsidized employer-sponsored coverage, would tend to increase the number of the uninsured.

A lot would depend on how the geographic and age adjustments to the tax credits were handled. Similar Republican tax credit proposals tend to provide more generous subsidies for young people, less help for older people. In the end, the legislation, like most Republican proposals, would provide more generous help for wealthier Americans, who benefit most from tax shelters like HSAs and from flat dollar tax credits, but provide less help for the low-income Americans who have benefited most from the ACA and would have to pay substantially more for coverage and for care.

It is also difficult to determine how the HAELA would affect health care costs. Imposing a per-capita cap on Medicaid funding clearly puts some limit on federal Medicaid expenditures, although it may simply shift those costs to the states, providers, and poor people. It would seem that adding fixed-dollar tax credits on top of the income-based tax credits that are already available, and leaving employers the option of continuing to offer tax-exclusion-financed employer-sponsored coverage subject only to the Cadillac excise tax, would increase rather than decrease federal spending, at least in the short run. Limited benefit plans (and skimpy coverage plans that will blossom with the repeal of the essential health benefit requirements) would offer reduced premiums but mainly shift costs to consumers who need health care as medical debt and to providers as uncompensated care. Price transparency may encourage individuals who are wealthy enough to save money in health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) to shop for lower cost services, but most health care expenditures are for high-cost services whose cost will substantially exceed any HSA savings.

The ACA has been much criticized for its complexity and the regulatory burden it imposes. The HAELA seems far more complicated, however, and if anything imposes a greater regulatory burden. Under the HAELA the IRS has not only to administer an income-based tax credit system, but also to manage the flat-dollar, age and geography-adjusted tax credits and their relationship with employer coverage tax exclusions. Beyond that, it would need to monitor expenditures from the ROTH HSAs and, together with HHS, transparency requirement compliance by providers.

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The individual mandate would go away but states could auto-enroll individuals in health plans and in Roth HSAs. Federal EHB requirements would be abolished, but only to be replaced by state mandates. Creditable coverage would need to be defined and then continuously tracked for establishing eligibility for Roth HSAs and for guaranteed enrollment in coverage without penalties. If it were even possible to design a risk adjustment program that can work without benefit and actuarial value mandates, such a program would likely add significantly to the cost healthy individuals would pay for low-premium coverage.

Finally, the HAELA would likely to be even more disruptive of current arrangements than the ACA has been. The ACA has been loudly criticized for the disruptive effects it has had on the individual and small group markets. However, it wisely left largely untouched employer-sponsored health benefits, through which most Americans get health coverage. The HAELA would likely cause many Americans to lose employer coverage, leaving them to find whatever coverage they could in the individual market using their tax credits. Individuals who lost employer coverage might well also lose existing provider relationships as they move to the nongroup market. One lesson of the ACA (and of the Clinton plan before it) is that politicians pay a high political price for disrupting, or even threatening to disrupt, existing health care arrangements with which voters are satisfied.

While congressional Republicans continue to promise further details on ACA replacement plans, the HAELA demonstrates why it might be wise rather to stick to vague generalities at least until after the fall elections. Specific legislative language clarifies the specific impacts that legislation will have on specific individuals and interests. The HAELA would reduce costs and regulatory requirements and increase access for some, but would increase costs and regulatory requirements and reduce access for others. It is an interesting—and bold—proposal. But it would likely face political headwinds at least as great as those that have faced the ACA if it were to move toward enactment.

Appendix: Drilling Down Into The HAELA

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The key provisions of the Sessions-Cassidy bill would:

• Repeal the ACA’s employer and individual mandate and related reporting provisions;
  .
• Repeal the ACA’s consumer protections other than:
  .
  • the elimination of lifetime and annual limits (except for limited benefit insurance plans, described below);
    .
  • The ACA’s requirement for coverage of dependents up to age 26;
    .
  • Guaranteed availability (but only if an individual has been continuously insured for the 12 months preceding enrollment. If an individual has not been continuously enrolled, premiums would have to be increased by 20 percent for each prior consecutive 12-month period during which the individual was without coverage for up to 3 times the length of the most recent time the individual was without coverage. States may seek waiver of this provision if they have alternative means of securing continuous coverage).
    .
  • Guaranteed renewability;
    .
  • The prohibition against preexisting condition exclusions;
    .
  • The prohibition against health status underwriting, subject to exceptions; and
    .
  • The ACA’s prohibition against discrimination based on professional licensure type.
    .
• Permit states flexibility to:
  .
  • Establish open enrollment periods (including an initial open enrollment period without penalties), permit premium differentials based on age and other factors, and impose other requirements to stabilize their non-exchange market;
    .
  • Continuing to enforce other ACA insurer reforms;
    .
  • Waive exchange provisions imposed by the ACA.
    .
• Allow states to auto-enroll uninsured residents in “default health insurance coverage” defined as high-deductible coverage that covers limited generic drugs, qualifies for payment of premiums from a health savings account (HSA), has an “adequate” provider network, and covers childhood immunizations without cost; as well as in a “Roth HSA” (described below). Individuals could opt out of this coverage.
  .
• Repeal the ACA’s essential health benefit requirements, although states could continue to require EHB coverage. (Note two ramifications of this—first although continuous coverage would be required to avoid an increased premium penalty for noncoverage, an individual could maintain continuous coverage in a minimal cost plan with minimal benefits and then upgrade to a comprehensive plan once high medical costs were incurred. That is, adverse selection would be permitted. Second, nothing in the legislation would allow insurers to evade state mandates by selling across state lines, a common proposal in other Republican plans.)
  .
• Establish a risk adjustment program that would apply to insurers in the individual market modeled initially on the Medicare Advantage risk adjustment program (subject to transitional provisions for new insurers). A risk adjustment program makes sense as a means for addressing adverse and favorable selection, but it would seem that in the absence of standardized benefits and cost-sharing designing such a program would be very difficult and would result in large transfers from inexpensive plans to more comprehensive plans.)
  .
• Create a “basic health insurance” program to offer limited benefit health coverage.
  .
  • This is one of the bill’s most creative proposals. Basic health insurance would have low annual limits as specified by regulation. Although the bill does not say this specifically, this coverage could also have low cost sharing since the insurer would be protected from risk exposure for high-cost claims. Many low-income people with limited assets might prefer low-cost-sharing, low annual limit coverage.
    .
  • Once an insured with limited benefit health insurance coverage reached the coverage limit, the insured would only be liable for the cost of subsequently incurred health care services to the extent that the bankruptcy valuation of the insured’s estate (taking into account exemptions allowed under the bankruptcy law) exceeded the annual limit on the policy. (Thus if an individual had a bankruptcy estate with $100,000 and coverage to $100,000, the individual would owe nothing.) Providers, on the other hand, would have no obligation to treat individuals protected by this provision without advance or guarantee of payment once coverage was exhausted, except in emergencies. Although one would expect that providers would routinely obtain payment guarantees, thus evading the law’s protections, interesting ethical conundrums involving abandonment would arise for providers who failed to do so.
    .
• Offer all individuals with creditable coverage an annual “universal tax credit” of up to $2500 for an individual and an additional $2500 for a spouse, plus $1500 for child dependents, payable on a monthly basis either directly to an insurer or into a Roth HSA, up to the amount the individual paid for premiums or into an HSA.
  .
  • The tax credit is reduced for individuals who purchase only limited benefit coverage. It would also be adjusted for age and geographic location, although the aggregate amount of the tax credits would not be changed by these adjustments. Tax credits would be reduced by any income or payroll tax subsidies allowed for employer-sponsored coverage.
    .
  • Tax credits would be reconciled on an annual basis to recapture any income and payroll tax subsidies afforded taxpayers for employer-sponsored coverage that exceed the amount of the universal tax credit, unless the employer opted to provide health coverage subject to current tax exclusions in lieu of the tax credit, in which case the credit would not be available.
    .
  • Tax credits received through advance payments for premiums or into an HSA would be reconciled at tax filing time, as they are under the ACA, with repayment of excess advance payments subject to caps. The amount of the credit will be adjusted annually for growth in the gross domestic product (not growth in health care costs).
    .
  • Employers in existence before the adoption of the HAELA could opt to retain existing tax exclusions, but remain subject to the high-cost, “Cadillac” plan excise tax. The tax exclusion for employer coverage would not be available for new employers and their employees.
    .
  • Individuals who purchased through the exchanges could continue to receive the ACA’s income-based tax credits, but if they opted at any time for the universal tax credit could return to income-based credits.
    .
• Allow employers to offer HRAs to allow employees to purchase individual coverage. It is not clear to me how the tax subsidies afforded HRAs relate to the other tax credit provisions.
  .
• Distribute one quarter of any tax credits that remain unclaimed by the residents of a state to that state for purchasing indigent care.
  .
• Establish “Roth HSAs.”
  .
  • Deposits into Roth HSAs would be taxed, although their income would not be not subject to taxation. Monthly deposits into Roth HSAs would be limited to 1/12 of $5000 for each family member covered by “creditable coverage,” plus $1000 for each member over age 55. Contributions would be reduced by amounts contributed to other tax-favored health accounts.
    .
  • Roth HSAs would only be available to individuals who maintained “creditable coverage,” some form of public or private, group or individual, health insurance coverage. Absent disability or death, if an individual with a Roth HSA became uninsured, any contributions made during the time the individual lacked creditable coverage would become taxable and subject to a 10 percent penalty.
    .
  • Funds from a Roth HAS spent on qualified medical expenses, including health insurance premiums, would not be subject to taxation. Roth HSA distributions not spent on qualified medical expenses would be taxable and subject to a 10 percent excise tax. After an individual reached Medicare eligibility age, Roth HSA funds could be spent for any purpose without imposition of the excise tax.
    .
• Permit no further pretax contributions to be made to traditional HSAs after the end of 2016 except for individuals who were covered by tax-subsidized employer coverage rather than tax credit coverage.
  .
• Eliminate the current medical expense tax deduction.
  .
• Allow HSA funds to be used to pay monthly fees for concierge medicine, which would expressly not be considered health insurance under federal law.
  .
• Require health care providers to post prices for purchasing services from Roth HSAs. Payments cannot be made from HSAs to providers who fail to post prices. Health care providers would be prohibited from charging prices in excess of these amounts (or, if less, 110 percent Medicare payment rates or 85 percent of UCR for physician services) for services provided in an emergency.
  .
• Grant HHS authority to waive any provision of the Stark self-referral law or state licensure or certification laws if doing so would increase competition within or reduce the cost or improve the quality of health care.

Finally, the legislation would impose a per-capita cap on Medicaid funding using a complicated formula under which the federal government would initially bear three quarters of the cost, the states one quarter, but with the growth of federal contributions limited and federal per-capita contribution rates gradually equalizing among the states. In general, non-pregnant, non-disabled adults under 65 would only be eligible if their income did not exceed 100 percent of poverty, although the current Medicaid expansion population would be grandfathered in as long as beneficiaries maintained continuous coverage.

SOURCE: http://www.lifehealthpro.com/2016/05/23/sessions-cassidy-ppaca-overhaul-bill-dissected

By Greenwich Police Department

Dr. Sarah M. Gamble, our Police Surgeon, has after six years moved on to other professional pursuits. Dr. Gamble’s OFFICE: (203) 869-2800 – http://greenwichpuremedical.com/ (PHOTO: Greenwich, CT Police Dept.)

March 9, 2016 at 12:22pm ·  Dr. Sarah M. Gamble, our Police Surgeon, has after six years moved on to other professional pursuits.

Dr. Gamble has established through both word and deed a reputation of superior professional deportment which epitomizes the finest tradition of the medical community.

Thank you for your compassionate attention to the health of the officers of the Greenwich Police Department and we wish you good luck in the future.

Meet Dr. Sarah Gamble of Greenwich, CT

Congratulations to the following physician named to Concierge Medicine Today’s 2014 list of ‘Top Doctors in Concierge Medicine.’

Sarah Mildred Gamble, D.O.
Specialty:  Board Verified Internal Medicine
222 Railroad Avenue, Suite B
Greenwich, CT 06830
TEL: 203.869.2800
Office@greenwichpuremedical.com
www.greenwichpuremedical.com

Dr. Gamble’s reach extends beyond her practice in Greenwich. Since 2003, as part of the federal NFP organization—Friends In Africa, she and a team of volunteers travel to Senegal and Kenya to provide free medical and dental care. She currently serves as Medical Director on the organization’s Board of Directors. She is also assists The Stamford Hospital Foundation Board where she helps to raise awareness and funds for the healthcare needs of our local underserved population. She volunteers her medical skills two Saturday mornings a month at the AmeriCares Free Clinic located in South Norwalk, CT.

“We are proud of the physicians named to this year’s ‘Top Doctors in Concierge Medicine’ list,” said Catherine Sykes, Publisher of Concierge Medicine Today. “The listed physicians, are singular representatives of a modern era of healthcare delivery that is representative of old-fashioned values. These physicians and their staff, in our opinion, provide some of the most innovative approaches, ideas, educational treatments and therapies available to patients today. Together, with their healthcare teams, they are bringing patient-care and affordable access to their communities in a new level of excellence.”

• See the Entire Top Docs List in 2016 …

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 2016 Concierge Medicine Assembly in Atlanta, GA August 13 2016. Photo Credit: http://www.peachpundit.com/2011/08/22/congratulations-congressman-tom-price/

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Save 15% by Using Code: “C840CMT”

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER …

June 8, 2016
Contact: Michael Tetreault
Phone (770) 455-1650 ext 151
Email: editor@ConciergeMedicineToday.com
Web: www.ConciergeMedicineAssembly.com

Conference Info.:  August 12-13, 2016 in ATLANTA, GA

The Marriott Century Center (Emory Area), Atlanta, GA
REGISTRATION Contact: Exl Events
Phone: (866) 207-6528
Email: registration@exlevents.com
REGISTRATION WEB SITE: www.TheMedicalEvent.com

6 Smart Habits of Successful DocPreneurs Whether you’re in medicine or not, here are six smart habits from great leaders in healthcare that will help you succeed in any area of your practice and in life. READ MORE …

August 12-13, 2016 | ATLANTA, GA — Hear Terry Bauer and dozens of others share their expertise and thoughts on the Concierge Medicine industry. LEARN MORE …

Georgia Assembly on Concierge Medicine Announces Congressman Tom Price, MD and Former CEO of MDVIP, Dan Hecht as Keynote Speakers

Atlanta plays host to Concierge Medicine leadership, August 12-13, 2016 at The Marriott Century Center.

Atlanta, GA | JUNE 8, 2016 – 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 13^th, 2016. Joining the event will also be Former CEO of MDVIP and Former Leader/Executive at Procter & Gamble, Dan Hecht.

Dr. Price will address “The Current State of Healthcare and Emerging Entrepreneurial Forms of Healthcare Delivery in America.” Dan Hecht will discuss “Challenges, Opportunities, Expectations and Recommendations for the Industry Moving Forward.” Other nationally recognized speakers include: Dr. Lanalee Araba Sam, Co-Founder of Concierge Pregnancy Group in Florida; Dr. Thomas LaGrelius, President of the American College of Private Physicians (ACPP); Editor and bestselling Author Michael Tetreault; Direct Primary Care Physician Dr. Robert Lamberts, MD and many others. They are among nearly two dozen accomplished physicians, industry professionals and leaders who will address the Conference. Additional 2016 speakers are listed on the event web site, www.ConciergeMedicineAssembly.com.

The Conference will be hosted at the Marriott Century Center in Atlanta on Friday, August 12 – 13, 2016. The annual Conference is Georgia’s largest event for Concierge Medicine, attracting specialty physicians, general internists, family medical practitioners, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, practice management advisors, hospitals, telehealth providers, law firms and others who come together for two days of relational learning, education, networking, professional development and personal growth opportunities.

Dr. Price and other speakers will share their experience and expertise on a range of topics including: industry trends; summary of business models; employer partnerships; succession planning; patient retention strategies; adding cash revenue services; overview of emerging Direct Primary Care (DPC) business models; Specialty Concierge Care; Future Perspectives; and other Telehealth Technologies; Entrepreneurship; Media Relations; Marketing; Branding and more. This year’s conference theme “What Great Doctors Do” encourages physicians to take a closer look at their role in changing the course of history and emerge as a change agent for free market healthcare delivery in their communities.

“We are thrilled to host Congressman Tom Price, MD, Nina Grant, Dr. Robert Lamberts, Richard Doughty, Dr. Patrick Tokarz, Leslie Mitchell, Dr. Thomas LaGrelius, Terry Bauer, Dr. Jeff Puglisi, Dr. Ellie Campbell and other inspiring physicians and healthcare professionals at this year’s Assembly,” said Catherine Sykes, Publisher of Concierge Medicine Today and organizing partner alongside Exl Events and Practice Builders. “This event is about where medicine is going in the future, not about where it is today. Concierge Doctors have a unique and different set of needs. They are early adopters in two critical areas: technology and testing. What makes this event unique is that we have a wide variety of relevant faculty discussing these topics. Not to mention, the significant number of the industry’s leading female voices we’re bringing to the gathering as well. Dr. Ellie Campbell, Charlene Jessup, Nina Grant, Julie Robinson, Leslie Mitchell, Dr. Lanalee Araba Sam and Mindy Koloff. Each of these women are respected industry influencers, experts and leaders in their respective fields and they will share their collective wisdom with us all.”

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Another unique feature to the 2016 Concierge Medicine Assembly in Atlanta is the Mentoring-in-Minutes Session at the conclusion of the event on Saturday. It offers attendees the chance to have one-on-one conversations with industry professionals, successful Concierge Medicine physicians as well as industry thought leaders and provide an intimate expert exchange session with Concierge Medicine veterans.

“Physicians who find refuge in Concierge Care as a career find more time in their schedule for their patients” notes Michael Tetreault, Editor of Concierge Medicine Today. “In a culture that praises busyness, they are finding themselves on the right side of history. The data coming out of the industry from practices is proving the model works.”

The exhibit area will also showcase industry leading companies dedicated to Concierge Medicine, technology and tele-health.

“Conference attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in a Marketing Diagnostic consultation at no-charge,” says Nina Grant, Vice President of Practice Builders. “It features an online practice reputation assessment, a web site evaluation and a mystery shopper call to determine your staff’s abilities to convert callers.  This assessment and follow up consultation is complimentary to you, as part of your registration fee for the Concierge Medicine Assembly.”

The 2016 Concierge Medicine Assembly is presented by Exl Events along with organizing partner Concierge Medicine Today and platinum sponsor, Practice Builders. The event is co-chaired by Concierge Medicine Today and Practice Builders. It is also generously underwritten by industry-leading organizations which include: Cypress Concierge Medicine; Specialdocs Consultants, Inc. and many others.

“We are thrilled to once again be supporting this movement by developing one of the nation’s leading Concierge Medicine events,” said Bryon Main, CEO of Exl Events. “The Concierge Medicine Assembly celebrates the growth of free market healthcare delivery expanding across America and the visioneering spirit of a diverse community of healthcare practitioners of which we are proud to be a part.”

USE PROMO CODE: C840CMT and Save 15%

A special discount code for physicians and office managers is available through Concierge Medicine Today To obtain the code, register or to learn more about the 2016 Concierge Medicine Assembly, explore the web site, www.ConciergeMedicineAssembly.com.

To apply for Media Credentials, please contact Bryon Main 1 (866) 207-6528 or registration@exlevents.com or Michael Tetreault at editor@conciergemedicinetoday.com.

About Congressman Tom Price, MD

Congressman Tom Price was first elected to represent Georgia’s 6th district in November 2004.  Prior to going to Washington, Price served four terms in the Georgia State Senate – two as Minority Whip.  In 2002, he was a leader in the Republican renaissance in Georgia as the party took control of the State Senate, with Price rising to become the first Republican Senate Majority Leader in the history of Georgia. In Congress, Rep. Price has proven to be a vibrant leader, tireless problem solver and the go-to Republican on quality health care policy.  He serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means. In the 114th Congress, Price was named Chair of the House Committee on the Budget. In previous Congresses, he has served as Chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee and Chairman of the Republican Study Committee. Committed to advancing positive solutions under principled leadership particularly in healthcare, Price has been a fierce opponent of government waste and devoted to limited government and lower spending. For nearly twenty years, Dr. Price worked in private practice as an orthopedic surgeon. Before coming to Washington he returned to Emory University School of Medicine as an Assistant Professor and Medical Director of the Orthopedic Clinic at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, teaching resident doctors in training. He received his Bachelor and Doctor of Medicine degrees from the University of Michigan and completed his Orthopedic Surgery residency at Emory University.  For more information, visit: www.TomPrice.House.gov.

Dan Hecht, Keynote Speaker, Atlanta, GA | August 12-13, 2016

About Mr. Dan Hecht

Dan Hecht has had a dynamic and successful career as a leader and executive at Procter & Gamble and is the former CEO of MDVIP, the country’s largest concierge medicine provider.  Dan has worked with countless companies and individuals over the past 25 years and gathered those experiences to create relevant lessons from the crossroads of Leadership and Mindfulness, of which Dan now delivers through coaching, speaking, and writing with CEOhm.

MEET THE 2016 LIST OF “TOP DOCS in CONCIERGE MEDICINE” …

About Concierge Medicine Today

Concierge Medicine Today (CMT) is a news organization and the Concierge Medicine industry’s oldest national trade publication for the Concierge Medicine and Membership Medicine marketplace. Its web site is the online destination for businesses, consumers, physicians, legislators, researchers and other stakeholders to learn about the history of this industry, various business aspects of the marketplace, trends, breaking news and more that drives the conversation that Concierge Medicine and free market healthcare delivery is creating on a national and international level.

For more information, visit: www.ConciergeMedicineToday.com.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE About 2017 Patient Education Handbook for your patients …

By David Crooks  President, Easy Pay Solutions, Inc., CMT Special Contributor

David Crooks President, Easy Pay Solutions, Inc.

JUNE 3, 2016 – We all have individuals who, from time to time, and for whatever reason, refuse to see things our way. Some of them find their way into our concierge practices. In some cases, they refuse to see or do what is clearly best for their own well-being. If they are patients, their stubbornness could in some cases cost them their lives. Our goal is to help them see their condition and the best way to avoid or lessen any negative effects of that condition.

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Persuading a stubborn, non-compliant patient is an art. As with any art form, there are tools to use. In most cases chisels don’t work well with canvas, paint brushes are made for canvas. In the case of stubborn patients (or people in general), emphatic statements don’t tend to work well while questions are more inviting. Like the chisel on canvas, a statement is often too sharp and final, leaving no room for the patient’s opinion or desires. The patient doesn’t feel ‘heard’. Whereas a question is an invitation for the patient to tell you his or her perspective.

It is good to hear the patient’s perspective, even if it is not relevant to his or her condition. If we can learn to ask questions artfully, we can lead the conversation and often persuade patients to another point of view. Once we know the patient’s point of view we can craft questions to help them see ours and begin to move them toward it. Below are three questions that will help you overcome the barriers and move them to a conclusion that’s closer to what is best for them and for your concierge practice.

The ‘x’ and ‘y’ represent two differing points of view or courses of action. The ‘x’ is what the patient wants and the ‘y’ is what we believe is best for the patient and our practice. Your practice probably has some complex ‘x’ and ‘y’ equations that may take several steps to help the patient see a different point of view. Some obvious examples are ‘diabetes vs. diet’ (eating for comfort or socially drinking), ‘medication vs. memory’ (patient forgets to take meds), ‘medical necessity vs. money’ (patient resources are challenged). If you can win the patient over to take a small step, you may set them up to take bigger steps later. As we said before, it’s an art! You’ll get better with practice.

The hardest part of this communication style is to train yourself to ask questions instead of make statements. Asking questions usually takes longer and is more difficult until it becomes habit, but the results are so much more rewarding and lasting. Try your hand at these questions by applying them to some typical scenarios in your office.

I can help you with ‘x’ (i.e., pain reduction, reactions to meds, payment) if you can help us with ‘y’ (i.e, agree to rest more, try different meds, agree to a card-on-file membership plan).  Would you be willing to consider ‘y’ if it helps you with ‘x’?

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EDITOR: If Concierge Medicine is about “Super Servant-hood,” then it has nothing to apologize for.

Your decision to ‘x’ (i.e., not change diet, not get lab work done, not pay the invoice) may cause ‘y’ (i.e., continuation of symptoms, delay in diagnosis, practice to discontinue treatment). Can you help me understand your decision?

You seem determined to do ‘x’ (i.e., not attend physical therapy, not undergo surgery, continue destructive behaviors). How can we help you to do ‘y’ (i.e., give physical therapy a try, learn more about the surgery, see a counselor or help group)? After they answer you may have to set some boundaries, ‘Ok, let’s try that for the next week, 30 days, etc., and see how it goes.’ If you can ‘do it their way’ but set limits, then you have a chance to revisit the topic if the patient does not adjust their behavior.

RELATED STORY

EDITOR: “You have to define what “exceptional” means … You want patients to come back in the following days for another round of offending. Present the truth of medicine in uncompromising terms, rally hard against couch potatoes, and tackle the most emotionally charged topics in their lives, while providing an “environment” where people feel cared for.”

Working with stubborn or non-compliant patients will require you to think creatively. Questions that bring out the real reason for the stubbornness or non-compliance are often difficult to think of and ask. Like we said before, practice, practice, practice. Remember that your questions may uncover deeper issues that need to be addressed. They may serve as a bridge to bring a stubborn patient closer to a good decision. They may reveal that the patient has no intention of budging. Regardless the outcome, every question is a chance to get better at patient friendly communication. You’ll benefit even if the patient decides not to.

A simple patient friendly payment acceptance tool designed for healthcare to eliminate the high cost of patient collections. CONTACT INFO.: Jim Turner, VP Marketing Easy Pay Solutions http://www.easypaycollect.com | TEL: 877.715.7166

About David S. Crooks, President,Easy Pay Solutions, Inc.

CONTACT INFO.: David S. Crooks and/or Jim Turner, VP Marketing Easy Pay Solutions www.easypaycollect.com | TEL: 877.715.7166

Mr. Crooks is currently the president of Easy Pay Solutions, Inc., a Chicago-­‐based company focused on helping healthcare providers expedite patient payments while reducing bad debts and patient receivables. The company’s Easy Pay cloud-­‐based software provides an enhanced way to utilize credit/debit cards, storing the patient’s credit card information for later processing. This puts the provider in control of when he/she gets paid by patients. In addition, Easy Pay provides the traditional single payment feature, as well as the ability to use credit/debit cards for payment plans and phone collections.

Learn More About Easy Pay … CLICK HERE >>

Located in Atlanta, GA, The monthly PODCAST highlights innovation, trends and happenings in the free market healthcare delivery setting and also provides physicians, their staff and business leaders with industry intelligence and business advice. REG. $37 — SALE (Limited Time) Now $8.99/mo.

Concierge Medicine Today Launches New Business Education & Industry Insight Podcast Series, The DocPreneur

ATLANTA, GA | SUMMER 2016 — Concierge Medicine Today’s business education and resource arm, The DocPreneur Institute is pleased to announce the launch of a new online Podcast series, The DocPreneur, which takes the Institute’s visionary cast of physician thought leaders, DocPreneur Institute Mentors, Business Coaches and other healthcare innovators and distills their insight, expertise and thoughts it into monthly subscription podcast form.

Mitra Pakdaman, CEO of LA Healthcare Design

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PATIENT PSYCHOLOGY:

“Interior Design and Its impact on patients.” (LISTEN) Interview, with Mitra Pakdaman.

In Other NEWS: New Business Tool for Doctors, Healthcare Leaders and Staff Opens, The Docpreneur Institute, Atlanta, GA

Twice monthly, host and Editor Michael Tetreault invites listeners behind the scenes of a popular free market healthcare delivery topic, probing what inspired the call, exploring how it relates to physicians and other healthcare professionals, and dives into interesting anecdotes that come from discussing the topic and teaching it to others.

The DocPreneur will feature a wide variety of topics covering world-class brands, innovative start-ups, healthcare thought leaders, and early adopters. The series kicked off the week of Valentine’s Day, 2016 — and introduced listeners and readers to modern clinic design transformations happening in healthcare and interior designer, Mitra Pakdaman and where she sees patient care radically changing and becoming more relational and less complicated. The second in the series was a lengthy discussion about Concierge Medicine Physician Recruitment and the hiring and staffing challenges inside Concierge Medical environments today.

GET CAUGHT UP ON THE DOCPRENEUR PODCAST  | Subscribe Now (Reg. $37/mo.) SALE $8.99/mo. (Limited Time) >>

“One of the exciting aspects of our growing community is the large and diverse group of industry thought leaders that have joined The DocPreneur,” stated Catherine Sykes, Publisher of Concierge Medicine Today and Faculty Member at The DocPreneur Institute, based in Atlanta, GA. “In each episode of The DocPreneur, listeners will hear from some of the top minds in the healthcare industry on an incredibly broad range of topics.”

In 2014, Concierge Medicine Today launched The DocPreneur Institute. It is designed to provide physicians and various healthcare providers across the country and internationally with access to objective and experienced business coaches and healthcare thought leaders. These innovators are those who can answer their diverse questions, provide feedback, insight and guidance as they evaluate the various nuances needed to operate a successful medical practice in today’s economy. Today, The DocPreneur Institute’s business coaches, physician mentors and educational resources are utilized by thousands of physicians around the world, with Concierge Medicine represented as the leading topic in 80% of the consultative sessions.

Subscribe to The DocPreneur Podcast (Only $8.99/mo), Click Here ….

YOU MAY ALSO DOWNLOAD SINGLE AUDIO FILES Through Our DocPreneur Online Audio Library (both FREE and PAID versions)!

Users may access our (free & paid) online audio educational resources in three ways.

1. Visit Our Free Resources TAB — Click Here …
2. Subscribe To The DocPreneur Podcast & Receive An All-Access Pass to Current and Future Audio Lessons — Click Here …
3. Pay-As-You-Go by downloading one Audio Lesson at-a-time — Click Here …

TRY IT NOW …

Click Here To Listen To Pre-Recorded Interview.

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

[MP3] “Marketing Membership Medicine” (FREE!)

SUMMER 2016 – Editor-in-Chief of Concierge Medicine Today and the DPC Journal, Michael Tetreault tells us what works and doesn’t work for marketing a concierge medicine or direct care practice.

Membership medicine may be more similar to Uber and Netflix than your regular insurance-based practice, so the tactics are different. Do you think think ‘word of mouth’ is the best way to market? You might be surprised by the answer. Michael gives us numerous strategies to target your audience-patients who want to pay for a personal relationship with their physician.

LISTEN NOW …

SOURCE: Dr. Tommy McElroy; May 23, 2016; http://echelon-health.com/Ask-Dr-Tommy/podcast/tetreault-II/

Click Here To Listen To Pre-Recorded Interview.

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

SUMMER 2016 – Editor-in-Chief of Concierge Medicine Today and the DPC Journal, Michael Tetreault tells us what works and doesn’t work for marketing a concierge medicine or direct care practice.

Membership medicine may be more similar to Uber and Netflix than your regular insurance-based practice, so the tactics are different. Do you think think ‘word of mouth’ is the best way to market? You might be surprised by the answer. Michael gives us numerous strategies to target your audience-patients who want to pay for a personal relationship with their physician.

LISTEN NOW …

SOURCE: Dr. Tommy McElroy; May 23, 2016; http://echelon-health.com/Ask-Dr-Tommy/podcast/tetreault-II/

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE About 2017 Patient Education Handbook for your patients …

By David Crooks  President, Easy Pay Solutions, Inc., CMT Special Contributor

David Crooks President, Easy Pay Solutions, Inc.

JUNE 3, 2016 – Your concierge practice would be better with an empty front desk rather than one populated by  low or minimum waged employees. Why? Because anyone who can successfully shoulder the responsibilities of a good front desk person is worth their weight in gold! Your front desk person is no less important than your best medical assistant.

Leave your front desk empty rather than populate it with minimum waged employees.

RELATED STORY
BUSINESS and COLLECTIONS, Part 2: “Is your practice an Affordable Luxury? Keeping the mystique while remaining financially accessible. “

No, we haven’t been retained by the ‘front desk staff employees union’. We simply want to encourage you to make your concierge practice as professional and patient-friendly as possible. We believe one important way to do so is to retain the most professional, competent, and friendly front desk staff you can find. Why do we think it’s important?

• They are your first impression
• They must obtain vital patient information
• They are (or should be) customer service experts
• They are (or should be) payment experts
• They initiate good office organization

They are your first impression.

An article in the Association of Psychological Science Observer quotes a study done on first impressions that concluded it takes only one tenth (1/10) of a second to form a first impression. After that, our minds are generally trying to reinforce or bolster that first impression. The upshot is that your patients are forming an idea of what they think of you (the doctor) before they ever get to see you.

RELATED STORY

BUSINESS and COLLECTIONS: Double your patient base by reaching “The Untapped Market of Concierge Patients” ~David S. Crooks

A simple patient friendly payment acceptance tool designed for healthcare to eliminate the high cost of patient collections.

The question for you is, ‘Does my front desk staff favorably represent me?’ You may think that a bad impression from your staff stops there, and that when they meet you, that impression can be overcome. That may not be the case. Everyone in your practice represents you. They are a reflection of your professionalism, your care, and your overall personality. If a patient forms a negative impression of your practice via your staff, the patient will have a difficult time overcoming that impression when they meet you. Think about when you were at a restaurant or office and the receptionist ignored you or was rude…what got off to a bad start probably didn’t improve much.

The importance of first impressions emphasizes the importance of ‘hiring for first impression’. Hire people that will make your patients feel welcome…your patients are paying a premium to obtain the level of care you offer.  Your staff should reflect that level of care and your own expectations for service, along with your level of expertise, to avoid suffering from a bad first impression. Remember also that your patients will need to trust this person with some very private information. A good first impression will help put them at ease for the next role of the front desk staff

They must obtain vital patient information.

According to the article mentioned previously, a good first impression leads to a higher level of trust. Trust is essential in your relationship with your patients. You and your practice are privy to their most closely held personal information; their health and their finances (or at least their ability to pay their memberships and any additional fees). Your patients must be able to trust your front desk staff to handle such sensitive information.

The question here is, ‘Would I trust my personal information to this person?’ If your patients have the slightest hesitation then your practice could suffer in the long run. It is essential that your front desk staff be professional and trustworthy. These qualities are not easy to find in someone looking for a minimum wage job. Professionalism requires training, experience, and a level of maturity that isn’t easy to find in entry level job applicants. Trustworthiness is harder to discern, but as we referenced above, your first impression is probably correct.

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

RELATED STORY
3-Step Plan to Stress-Free Patient Collections

‘Would I trust my personal information to this person?’

You are an expert, a professional clinician who has spent grueling hours and large amounts of money to create a great concierge practice. Don’t risk all that hard work and investment on less than professional front desk staff. Hire experts like yourself.

They are (or should be) customer service experts

Customer service is both a skill set and an attitude. Your front desk staff should know how to serve (care for) people. Good customer service skills are acquired only by rigorous training, experience, and constant practice. Some folks are naturally better at customer service but everyone has to work hard to exercise good skills consistently. Skills though, have to be backed by concern for the person. Do your front desk staff members genuinely care for people?

If you will hire true customer service professionals with a genuinely caring disposition toward people you will set your practice up for success. Patients come to you to be cared for. If they feel they are being well treated from the moment they walk in the door they will not only keep you as their doctor but will recommend others make you their doctor. Great front desk staff may just be one of the most important investments you’ll ever make in your practice.

Remember that expertise doesn’t come cheap. Yours didn’t. Hire the best and pay them accordingly. In addition to being trustworthy, competent, friendly, and caring professionals they also need to know something about business and personal finance.

DOWNLOAD FULL AGENDA … August 12-13, 2016 | ATLANTA, GA — Hear Terry Bauer and dozens of others share their expertise and thoughts on the Concierge Medicine industry. LEARN MORE …

They are (or should be) payment experts

Why would your front desk staff need to know business and personal finance? Why would we suggest they be ‘payment experts’. For the same reason you probably became an expert in patient-centered concierge care. It’s not enough to generally know medicine if you are concentrated on delivering the best care. In the same way, it’s not good enough to be a generally competent and friendly person in order to man the front desk.

Front desk staff need to be experts in collecting payments from your patients.

Front desk staff need to be experts in collecting payments from your patients. This means they need to know that your practice is a business. They need to know that the business needs to be paid in order to be healthy. They need to take personal responsibility for the health of your business. Knowing how personal finance works will also be helpful when they speak to patients about their payments. Empathizing with patients while firmly obtaining payment is a difficult skill set to master. It takes expertise and experience.

A good front desk person is adept at obtaining payment without causing stress to the patient or practice. If you are not looking at your front desk as the ‘front line’ of payment, and ultimately, the health of your practice, then perhaps it’s time to take a fresh look. We’ve already mentioned several essential qualities that make your front desk staff more than entry level personnel but there’s one more that needs attention.

They initiate good office organization

A great front desk staff sets the rest of your practice up for success. An accurate patient schedule and timely appointment reminders are important so that you are not left waiting for patients to arrive…and patients don’t have extended wait times once they get to your office.

In addition to scheduling, your medical office has numerous documents, calls, emails, and other items that need to be routed or sent out to the right person at the right time. Many of these originate at the front desk. That makes careful organizational skills another necessary expertise for the front desk.

Have you ever wondered what is the cost of a misplaced document? According to Konica Minolta it can cost up to $20 in labor to file a document, $120 in labor to find a misfiled document, and 25 hours of labor to recreate a lost document. (http://www.amsimaging.com/blog/bid/154872/How-Much-Does-it-Really-Cost-When-You-Lose-a-Document) Imagine the cost of hiring a careless person and making them responsible to keep your office running smoothly!

Your front desk is your ‘front line’ to ensure the success of your practice.

The hard numbers concerning lost documents, coupled with the need for expertise in the above mentioned areas, should give concierge doctors pause when it comes to selecting the right candidate for the front desk. Can you really afford to settle for a minimum waged level candidate with little experience? Can you trust such an important job to someone you obtained on the cheap?

Take some time to reflect on the person(s) in your office you’ve trusted with this critical front desk job. Do they meet the qualifications? Can they be trusted to represent you? Do they ‘own’ their responsibilities for the health of your practice and the care of your patients? Are they truly professional, competent, trustworthy, and friendly in every aspect of their job? Take the time to evaluate your front desk, then make any changes needed, and you will be amazed at the results that run all the way through your practice. Your front desk is the “doorway” to the success of your practice.

A simple patient friendly payment acceptance tool designed for healthcare to eliminate the high cost of patient collections. CONTACT INFO.: Jim Turner, VP Marketing Easy Pay Solutions http://www.easypaycollect.com | TEL: 877.715.7166

About David S. Crooks, President,Easy Pay Solutions, Inc.

CONTACT INFO.: David S. Crooks and/or Jim Turner, VP Marketing Easy Pay Solutions www.easypaycollect.com | TEL: 877.715.7166

Mr. Crooks is currently the president of Easy Pay Solutions, Inc., a Chicago-­‐based company focused on helping healthcare providers expedite patient payments while reducing bad debts and patient receivables. The company’s Easy Pay cloud-­‐based software provides an enhanced way to utilize credit/debit cards, storing the patient’s credit card information for later processing. This puts the provider in control of when he/she gets paid by patients. In addition, Easy Pay provides the traditional single payment feature, as well as the ability to use credit/debit cards for payment plans and phone collections.

Learn More About Easy Pay … CLICK HERE >>

(C) Concierge Medicine Today, LLC | The Concierge Medicine Research Collective | JUNE 2016

All-New | Distance Learning and Mentor Program — The Docpreneur Institute (DPI) Learn More