Doctor stops accepting insurance, lowers prices and posts costs online (health care, Obama)

[Little-Acorn]

Why isn't this done more often?

People can still pay with insurance - just send them the receipts afterward.

Way, way too simple for the Brave New World Obama wants us in today, maybe.

-----------------------------------------

Doctor stops accepting insurance, lowers prices and posts costs online

Doctor stops accepting insurance, lowers prices and posts costs online

By Mike Krumboltz

A family practice doctor in Maine is refusing all forms of health insurance, including Medicare, in order, he says, to provide better service to his patients.

Dr. Michael Ciampi told the Bangor Daily News that he wants to practice medicine without being dictated to by insurance companies.

On April 1, Ciampi lowered his prices and posted the costs online. For example, an office visit in which patients discuss "one issue of moderate complexity or 2-3 simple issues" costs $75. When Ciampi accepted insurance, the visit would run $160, according to the Bangor Daily News.

The fact that Ciampi lists the prices, he says, means no surprises for his patients.

Say you're an established patient who can't make it to the doctor's office but wish to speak to him over the phone? A 10-minute conversation will run you $20. Each additional five-minute block will cost you $10. A minor surgery, like the draining of a boil will cost between $100 and $150.

Dr. Ciampi told the paper that some patients have left his practice, but that all seem to understand what motivated him to make the change.

Via the Banger Daily News:
______________________________________

Insurance companies no longer dictate how much he charges. He can offer discounts to patients struggling with their medical bills.

He can make house calls. "I’m freed up to do what I think is right for the patients," Ciampi said. "If I’m providing them a service that they value, they can pay me, and we cut the insurance out as the middleman and cut out a lot of the expense."
______________________________________

Ciampi told the paper that he collects payment at the end of each session (he doesn't send bills), and he sees each patient himself. Patients with insurance can submit their receipts to their insurance company for reimbursement, if the insurance company allows for that, according to Ciampi's family practice site.

[stan4]

$75 bucks?!!!!

That's way more than the insurance company would ever give him. Nice.

[Little-Acorn]

Originally Posted by stan4

$75 bucks?!!!!

That's way more than the insurance company would ever give him. Nice.

Link? Reference?

[Rakin]

Originally Posted by Little-Acorn

Link? Reference?

She's a Doctor.

This is what more medicine will become. Let's clean it all up.

[Little-Acorn]

Originally Posted by Rakin

Let's clean it all up.

I think that doctor just did.

I hope more do likewise.

[Jasper03]

Good for him. He insurance company would gave paid him less and then he would have to split it up to cover his overhead.

[Chaffeetrekker]

I think this Doc is a genius...It's basic "Fee for Service"...That system worked succesfully for years at the Mustang Ranch in Reno.....

[Frank DeForrest]

Between the patient and the doctor just as health care should be.

[MTAtech]

Originally Posted by Little-Acorn

Why isn't this done more often?

People can still pay with insurance - just send them the receipts afterward.

Way, way too simple for the Brave New World Obama wants us in today, maybe.

Doctor visits are a minor cost in medical care. The big costs are hospital care, cancer treatment and operations.

The belief that we can do away with insurance and just pay out-of-pocket is unrealistic.

[middle-aged mom]

Nothing new, here. There are plenty of MDs who do not accept any insurance and expect to be paid in full, including tests, when service is rendered. Some of them will even file the claim for their patients with benefits being paid directly to the patient.

Most folk with insurance are used to paying a nominal co-pay, not go out of pocket for the full cost of the visit.

Family Practice is going the way of the do-do bird. Increasingly, Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners working under the high level supervision of an Md, have practices within practices.

Another trend in Family Practice is " Concierge Program" For an annual fee same day priority appointments are available with no wait time. Emphasis is placed on preventative care.