I Love Capitation

Yea that's right.

I love capitation. But I do it a wee bit different from my colleagues.

You see, my colleagues accept capitation from a third party. You know the Aetna's, Blue Cross, and Cigna's of the world. If I left any other third parties out, I am not sorry ;) My colleagues sign 50-plus page contracts that they do not read, that give the third parties authority and power. Seems a little like the 2000+ page congressional healthcare reform package that is supposed to improve patient care. Well at least both of the above contracts accomplish the same goal. More bureaucracy, longer waits for care, and declining fee schedules.

So why do I love capitation?

The answer is fairly simple. I am capitated to my patients. I have a cash practice that offers yearly retainer options, or payment at time of service for those that do not want a retainer. The retainer options can be paid all upfront, or with a downpayment and monthly checking account autopay. This monthly autopay is essentially a capitation for my services. My services are spelled out in a two-page contract that I drew up, with a little help from my attorney. There are no hidden clauses, no HEDI's audits, or chart reviews.

I do what I can to improve the health of my patient's without any third party intruder in the exam room. I average 10-15 patient visits a day, instead of 25+ when I went by the name of "healthcare provider" instead of doctor or physician. That is actually pretty funny. When I was a kid, and people asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I didn't say, "I want to be a healthcare provider." I think, no, I am positive, I said I wanted to be a doctor!

In essence, I am a physician (doctor) who loves being capitated to my practice.

DoctorSH

I'll be back!!

After recently being a part of a CME on practice transitions away from third parties, I will need to resume my transition posts.

I will be able to present end of year numbers on my transition sometime in January 2010.

If I find the time, I will also work on a second year 3rd quarter update before the end of the year.

As for now, I am on vacation in Florida, glued to the tv, watching to see whether the House of MisRepresentatives will pass the extremely liberal government takeover of healthcare.

As many of you know, we need healthcare reform, but not a government takeover!!!

Maybe, at some point, our elected government representatives will decide to ask independent physicians how to reform the system, instead of political and bureaucratic pseudo physician organizations, such as those that sold themselves out to a government takeover!

That's all for now !!

Keep on the lookout for updates.

DoctorSH