Thursday, July 19, 2012
Stats at day 19
Continued stats on my Medicare transition.
As an intro, I am asking my regular Medicare patients to come in for a no obligation Medicare opt out meet n greet to review their options for continuing their care with me.
Three options are available.
1- payment at each time of service
2- prepaid yearly wellness plan for $649 or $55/month for individuals or $1099 or $90/month for couples.
3- for patients on low income, social security only, and who have been a part of my practice for many years, they are being offered the prepaid yearly wellness plan for only $25/month.
As of today, I have had 34 patients choose to remain.
14 qualified for the $25/month plan- option 3
14 also joined the prepaid yearly fee/monthly fee option 2
8 chose option 1, payment at time of service.
As of today 25 have chosen not to remain, or they are undecided. I have counted undecideds as leaving the practice.
So 59% of my Medicare patients met with so far have decided that my services to them are valuable enough to pay out of their own pocket, outside of Medicare.
I have many more patients yet to come in to discuss their intentions. I hope to get through all of them by the end of August.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Stats at day 12 of Opt out
Many have asked me for stats on my Medicare transition.
As an intro, I am asking my regular Medicare patients to come in for a no obligation Medicare opt out meet n greet to review their options for continuing their care with me.
Three options are available.
1- payment at each time of service
2- prepaid yearly wellness plan for $649 or $55/month for individuals or $1099 or $90/month for couples.
3- for patients on low income, social security only, and who have been a part of my practice for many years, they are being offered the prepaid yearly wellness plan for only $25/month.
As of today, I have had 23 patients choose to remain.
7 qualified for the $25/month plan- option 3
10 joined the prepaid yearly fee/monthly fee option 2
6 chose option 1, payment at time of service.
As of today 19 have chosen not to remain, or they are undecided. I have counted undecideds as leaving the practice.
I have many more patients yet to come in to discuss their intentions. I hope to get through all of them by the end of August.
Monday, July 9, 2012
Opt-out letter to my medicare patients
July 6, 2012
To all my present and future Medicare patients:
Most of you know me by now. In fact, most of you have known me for many years. As your physician, I greatly value the trust you have placed in me and I am dedicated to honoring that trust by providing you with the highest quality care and personal attention you deserve. But the healthcare system is changing, and in my opinion not for the better. Healthcare reform has made its way through the Supreme Court. But the fighting still continues. Both political parties are still battling out whether it's good law or a bad law. Honestly I am tired of being yanked back and forth between the two parties.
For many years, I have been deeply troubled by the changes that have taken place in our health care system, especially with private health insurers. Not a problem. I stopped working for them in 2008 and instead worked directly for my patients. The continued growth of my practice along with the feedback I get from my patients has proven it was the correct decision.
But there is not enough time in the day, week, month or year to wait for political parties to try to fix the healthcare system that they broke. They say they are trying to fix something, but they know nothing about how optimal healthcare is delivered. Both major political parties just keep getting in the way. So I have decided to create my own path.
So as of July 1, I have removed myself from participation with Medicare.
This is known as "Opting-out". Opting out allows me to provide the continued patient centered individualized service to all my patients regardless of their insurance. I am now free of many burdensome government regulations that not only distract from direct patient care but greatly increases its overall cost.
There is a caveat. In order to be treated by me starting July 1, 2012, it will be necessary (as dictated by Medicare) for patients covered by Medicare to sign with me a private contract. This is not a contract that I wrote. This "Medicare contract" comes directly from a Medicare template to ensure that we have a mutual understanding and respect for each other and our doctor-patient relationship.
You continue to have the freedom to choose your doctor. No one is being forced to do anything that they do not wish to do. I have made the choice, as a physician, to practice medicine in the manner in which I believe best serves my patients' healthcare needs. Continued participation in Medicare, in my opinion, interferes with my ability to perform these duties.
Here are some things that will not change:
I am still able to refer you to others that participate in Medicare.
I am still able to prescribe your medications as before.
I am still able to order lab testing and radiologic studies as before.
Medicare will still cover all outside testing and consultations that it did before
Medicare will still cover any emergency room or hospital visits
Medicare is still necessary for you to receive your care outside of my office and I will do the best I can to help you utilize your coverage.
Very little will change other than my freedom to do more and offer you more than when I was a participant in Medicare.
So what now?
If you have not already done so, I ask only that you schedule a no obligation 5-10 minute Medicare meet-n-greet at my office to review a few options that will allow us to continue to care for you, including our Optimal Wellness Plans which not only limit your financial exposure, but also provides more preventive and wellness opportunities for you. During this Medicare meet-n-greet session, you may also use this time to ask all of your questions about this transition. I deeply regret any trouble this change may cause you but to continue to serve your medical needs with the high quality I like to give, it could not be avoided. While my office policies concerning Medicare have changed, my commitment to you and to providing the highest quality care remains the same!
Please call the office to schedule a time convenient for you to review all of your options.
Thank you for your time and your confidence in me and my practice over the years. I hope to continue to earn your trust in the many years to come.
To Good Health!
To all my present and future Medicare patients:
Most of you know me by now. In fact, most of you have known me for many years. As your physician, I greatly value the trust you have placed in me and I am dedicated to honoring that trust by providing you with the highest quality care and personal attention you deserve. But the healthcare system is changing, and in my opinion not for the better. Healthcare reform has made its way through the Supreme Court. But the fighting still continues. Both political parties are still battling out whether it's good law or a bad law. Honestly I am tired of being yanked back and forth between the two parties.
For many years, I have been deeply troubled by the changes that have taken place in our health care system, especially with private health insurers. Not a problem. I stopped working for them in 2008 and instead worked directly for my patients. The continued growth of my practice along with the feedback I get from my patients has proven it was the correct decision.
But there is not enough time in the day, week, month or year to wait for political parties to try to fix the healthcare system that they broke. They say they are trying to fix something, but they know nothing about how optimal healthcare is delivered. Both major political parties just keep getting in the way. So I have decided to create my own path.
So as of July 1, I have removed myself from participation with Medicare.
This is known as "Opting-out". Opting out allows me to provide the continued patient centered individualized service to all my patients regardless of their insurance. I am now free of many burdensome government regulations that not only distract from direct patient care but greatly increases its overall cost.
There is a caveat. In order to be treated by me starting July 1, 2012, it will be necessary (as dictated by Medicare) for patients covered by Medicare to sign with me a private contract. This is not a contract that I wrote. This "Medicare contract" comes directly from a Medicare template to ensure that we have a mutual understanding and respect for each other and our doctor-patient relationship.
You continue to have the freedom to choose your doctor. No one is being forced to do anything that they do not wish to do. I have made the choice, as a physician, to practice medicine in the manner in which I believe best serves my patients' healthcare needs. Continued participation in Medicare, in my opinion, interferes with my ability to perform these duties.
Here are some things that will not change:
I am still able to refer you to others that participate in Medicare.
I am still able to prescribe your medications as before.
I am still able to order lab testing and radiologic studies as before.
Medicare will still cover all outside testing and consultations that it did before
Medicare will still cover any emergency room or hospital visits
Medicare is still necessary for you to receive your care outside of my office and I will do the best I can to help you utilize your coverage.
Very little will change other than my freedom to do more and offer you more than when I was a participant in Medicare.
So what now?
If you have not already done so, I ask only that you schedule a no obligation 5-10 minute Medicare meet-n-greet at my office to review a few options that will allow us to continue to care for you, including our Optimal Wellness Plans which not only limit your financial exposure, but also provides more preventive and wellness opportunities for you. During this Medicare meet-n-greet session, you may also use this time to ask all of your questions about this transition. I deeply regret any trouble this change may cause you but to continue to serve your medical needs with the high quality I like to give, it could not be avoided. While my office policies concerning Medicare have changed, my commitment to you and to providing the highest quality care remains the same!
Please call the office to schedule a time convenient for you to review all of your options.
Thank you for your time and your confidence in me and my practice over the years. I hope to continue to earn your trust in the many years to come.
To Good Health!
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
First two days status-post Medicare Opt-out!
It's July 2, 2012
First two days status-post Medicare Opt-out!
I can tell you I feel a sense of freedom. Every patient that walks through the door to see me, does so of their own free will because they value my service. They do not visit me because I am part of an insurance cartel. They visit me for the value I give to them! It is really refreshing.
I have spoken to quite a few of my present Medicare patients. I will get to most of them hopefully by the end of July. None of them will be abandoned. If they choose to leave me, that is their option. But I plan on giving 10-15 minutes of my time to each of them in my office to hear me out, and hear my options for them.
Since I received my officially opted out letter from Medicare, which is presently at the framing studio getting the nicest possible frame around it, I have signed 14 private contracts with patients. Almost half signed onto a wellness plan, similar to a retainer package but with other benefits.
My wellness option allows Medicare patients my services for the year for about $55/month autodebited from their bank account monthly. Married couples get my services for $90/month. But wait!!! What about all those Medicare patients on a fixed income. I have a reduced fee wellness plan version for them. So far I have not been turned down yet when I have had the opportunity to first chat in person about the reasons for dropping Medicare as well as the continued opportunities to stay within my practice.
Just a few minutes before writing this post, I received an angry voice mail message from a Medicare patient who I see about twice a year, but I get probably triple that many phone calls and pharmacy refills, etc... She never asked to speak to me. She only spoke to my medical assistant. The patient never gave my MA the opportunity to explain the options still available to her. I will get these patients as well. They are free to leave and I will arrange follow-up care for them as well as forwarding their records.
I have no issue with my Medicare population. I enjoy treating them. I learn plenty from them. I also know that many feel "entitled" to receive care for no cost outside of their Medicare premium. I value myself and my services different from that. The entitled may go elsewhere.
After the 4th, I have 4-5 more Medicare meet-n-greets scheduled to review options. I will surely let you know how it goes.
I hope everyone enjoys the July 4th Holiday!
Stay safe and healthy!!
First two days status-post Medicare Opt-out!
I can tell you I feel a sense of freedom. Every patient that walks through the door to see me, does so of their own free will because they value my service. They do not visit me because I am part of an insurance cartel. They visit me for the value I give to them! It is really refreshing.
I have spoken to quite a few of my present Medicare patients. I will get to most of them hopefully by the end of July. None of them will be abandoned. If they choose to leave me, that is their option. But I plan on giving 10-15 minutes of my time to each of them in my office to hear me out, and hear my options for them.
Since I received my officially opted out letter from Medicare, which is presently at the framing studio getting the nicest possible frame around it, I have signed 14 private contracts with patients. Almost half signed onto a wellness plan, similar to a retainer package but with other benefits.
My wellness option allows Medicare patients my services for the year for about $55/month autodebited from their bank account monthly. Married couples get my services for $90/month. But wait!!! What about all those Medicare patients on a fixed income. I have a reduced fee wellness plan version for them. So far I have not been turned down yet when I have had the opportunity to first chat in person about the reasons for dropping Medicare as well as the continued opportunities to stay within my practice.
Just a few minutes before writing this post, I received an angry voice mail message from a Medicare patient who I see about twice a year, but I get probably triple that many phone calls and pharmacy refills, etc... She never asked to speak to me. She only spoke to my medical assistant. The patient never gave my MA the opportunity to explain the options still available to her. I will get these patients as well. They are free to leave and I will arrange follow-up care for them as well as forwarding their records.
I have no issue with my Medicare population. I enjoy treating them. I learn plenty from them. I also know that many feel "entitled" to receive care for no cost outside of their Medicare premium. I value myself and my services different from that. The entitled may go elsewhere.
After the 4th, I have 4-5 more Medicare meet-n-greets scheduled to review options. I will surely let you know how it goes.
I hope everyone enjoys the July 4th Holiday!
Stay safe and healthy!!
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