Opinion: ‘Concierge’ is another word for bribe

[meow2u3]

One sure sign that something is very broken in America’s health care system is the rise of so-called “boutique” or “concierge” medical practices.

These are arrangements where doctors expect patients to pay extra premiums to see them, on top of what insurance pays. There are already some 5,000 primary care physicians in the United States who’ve shifted to this model.

Why is this notion of first-class medicine for an extra fee a bad idea? There are two reasons. First, you shouldn’t have to pay a bribe to get decent service from your doctor. And, second, the expansion of these fee-based practices means fewer doctors left for those who cannot pay the luxury rates.

Letters have gone out to tens of thousands of patients across the country in the past few years, solicitations from doctors shifting to concierge care.

It works like this: The family doctor, general practitioner or internist writes to say that if patients don’t pony up a fee of $1,500, $2,000, or more, then they’ll be dropped from the practice.


http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2009/11/23/3536028-opinion-concierge-is-another-word-for-bribe?threadId=731411&commentId=10870665#c10870665

This is literally criminal! :grr:

[imdjh]

1. It has a side benefit, I would think.

It might siphon off those incredibly inconvenienced and super important people who sit in the doctor's office and look at their watch and huff and puff every five minutes. Hopefully it will siphon off the very important people who can't go to the doctor's office without taking "business" calls on the cell phone.

BTW, 90% of my doctor's practice is Medicare HMO patients. He makes a good living, sees people on time (unless there is a patient problem ie not a golf emergency) within 5 minutes max, and no, he doesn't waste any time in the office visit, but if you need more time then he's got it because he didn't waste it schmoozing people like me who honestly don't care how short the visit is as long as we get the work done.

[noiretextatique]

3. i had to cancel an appointment after waiting for an hour

when i was informed the doctor was running another hour late. my time is as valuable as any doctor's and if i make an appointment, i expect to be seen in a reasonable amount of time.

[imdjh]

2. PS- I have no problem seeing a nurse practitioner. Some of them are more up on the articles, skills,

, and news than the doctors are. Also, some of the nurse practitioners or physicians assistants are doctors.

[prole_for_peace]

5. I always make my appointment with a nurse practioner in my doc's office.

They seem to listen better and explain things more clearly than my doc does. And they are almost always nice and in a good mood.

[Demeter]

4. This IS What My Dad in DC Area Ran Into

The doctors shake people down for thousands of dollars apiece, EVERY YEAR, just to be a potential patient. On the Admit list. Then there's the appointment and fee for service.

It ought to be outlawed. Or people should refuse to pay extortion money.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

6. On the other hand, there are a couple of doctors in the Twin Cities

who see uninsured people for either a flat fee per month on a yearly "subscription" basis or a low price per single office visit.