Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

As Obamacare Deadline Looms, Doctors are Opting for “Cash Only” Clinics
benswann.com ^ | August 16, 2013 | Ben Swann

Posted on 08/23/2013 1:23:49 PM PDT by NCjim

Physicians across the country are attending seminars that teach doctors how to start their own direct primary care practices. Direct primary care practices take no health insurance, only cash. In a recent survey conducted by the DPMA Foundation, 2 out of 3 doctors say they are “just squeaking by or in the red,” and 83% say they are “thinking about quitting the business.” With the looming threat of Obamacare, many doctors are planning to ditch the traditional business model for a more simple and straightforward one.

Dr. Jerome Aya-Ay from Palmetto Proactive healthcare in South Carolina uses the “Direct primary care,” model which is successful because it eliminates the bureaucratic hassle of insurance and lowers prices for the consumer.

Dr. Jerome Aya-Ay charges his patients via a price list similar to a restaurant menu. He also charges a monthly fee of $60 for routine services which most doctors cannot do. Listen to the interview below.

Chiropractors have been using the cash only business model for many years and are experiencing great success. Dr. Scott Baker, owner of Upper Cervical of Spartanburg, S.C. said, “We started to go 100% cash in May 2012 and are experiencing great success, now we are moving into a state of the art facility 3 times bigger than our current venue, and we will be hiring a new doctor.” Dr. Scott said he is creating a patient-driven practice. His new clinic will have a “health-spa feel” with digital touch screens for patient check-ins, flat screens TVs, and a paperless office so he can have more time to focus on his patients.

The Heritage Foundation’s Ed Haislmaier said, “I think we are going to see primary care doctors increasingly moving to a cash-only arrangement, where they opt out of insurance rules.” The simple truth is that doctors want to get off the insurance grid not only because of the risky regulations and economic factors, but because they want better relationships with their patients.

Dr. Tom Kendall of Greenville, S.C., a practicing physician and the president of the Association of American Surgeons and Physicians said, “Obamacare is not about healthcare, it’s about control. Obamacare puts the relationship of the patient and physician under the jurisdiction of the government. This means more government control and less patient choice. Under Obamacare, healthcare will be rationed, healthcare costs will increase, and bureaucrats will decide medical treatments instead of the physician and patient.”

Upstate doctors who are moving to a direct primary care are creating win-win solutions for medical professionals and their patients. It would be a move from a bureaucracy-driven model which is enamored with red tape and creates a wedge between the doctor and patient, to a patient-driven model with no insurance interference, less government intrusions, and no wasted time dealing with paperwork. It is a model that will create lower fees for patients and will allow doctors to foster better relationships with patients. The real solution to healthcare is to give patients more control over their health care dollars, and unchain doctors from the shackles of government control and regulations.


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 0carenightmare; cash; cashonly; concierge; conciergedoctors; doctors; obamacare; payment
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-72 next last
To: NCjim

If physicians are *allowed* to provide private health care without insurance, Medicare or Medicaid, one more thing is essential to their well being: exemption from Title II of HIPAA.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.

Title II of HIPAA, known as the Administrative Simplification (AS) provisions, requires the establishment of national standards for electronic health care transactions and national identifiers for providers, health insurance plans, and employers. And *mandatory* compliance with these standards by everyone practicing medicine.

Despite what this says, in practice it means that all doctors must keep patient records in a standardized electronic format that can be accessed at will by numerous government agencies and others.

It totally eliminates the “doctor-patient privilege”, and cleared the path for single payer national health care.

N.B.: Many Republicans supported this law, so have to be considered as untrustworthy to oppose Obamacare. They *want* socialized medicine.

In any event, if private physicians, who take neither insurance, Medicare or Medicaid patients, want to continue to be free, they must someone get exemption from Title II of HIPAA.


41 posted on 08/23/2013 2:42:27 PM PDT by yefragetuwrabrumuy (Be Brave! Fear is just the opposite of Nar!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mr Ramsbotham

Great thought—better than casinos!


42 posted on 08/23/2013 2:44:20 PM PDT by 9YearLurker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: ArmstedFragg
Looks like there’ll be a new job market for people to go to the hospital and do “on the spot” insurance sign-ups.

In my state -- not sure about other states -- insurance will take effect on the first of the next month or, if you apply after the 23rd of the month, coverage will commence on the 1st of the second month following. Much the same as commercial policies currently.

43 posted on 08/23/2013 2:46:57 PM PDT by steve86 (Some things aren't really true but you wouldn't be half surprised if they were.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: blackdog
Hillary’s attempt at healthcare made fee for service illegal. I expect Obama’s HHS Emperor would deem it the same.

Yes it did, that was on about page 840 of her plan.

I was in the midst of a major problem back then and went to a second doctor for his opinion. I paid out of pocket, and as I did so I told the receptionist that if HillaryCare was in effect (It was still all up in the air) I would be faced with a$10,000 fine for that cash payment I was making and her doctor would be facing 5 years in prison.

She gave me a look of shock, but kept her mouth shut. I don't know if she believed me or not.

44 posted on 08/23/2013 2:48:22 PM PDT by Balding_Eagle (When America falls, darkness will cover the face of the earth for a thousand years.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: silverleaf
The government wants cash only doctors... where do you think liberal elites are going to get medical care? Liberal elites aren't going to go to the equivalent of medicaid clinic - nope - only the best for them.

Here's how the plan will work - each doctor will charge $1,500 per year per family member ( think 'club membership) - after the annual entry fee's paid, each visit's a flat hundred bucks.

In short, if you're NOT a member of your local exclusive golf club or Yacht Club you won't have access to the best doctors...ever again. And your kids won't either. But the BIGS at the IRS will work out a deal - as will all the other liberal elites... their kids will be protected too... yours - not so much.

45 posted on 08/23/2013 2:50:38 PM PDT by GOPJ (- - NSA - The only part of government that actually listens...Joe Kovacs)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: silverleaf

“I would assume the government will not tolerate cash for pay medical services and will demand that they serve anyone who walks in and demands it”

That is certainly what happened in several European countries, at least for a while -— although most are now permitting free enterprise.


46 posted on 08/23/2013 2:53:48 PM PDT by Jewbacca (The residents of Iroquois territory may not determine whether Jews may live in Jerusalem.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: GOPJ

My docotor is pretty much like that already. Makes house calls, too.


47 posted on 08/23/2013 2:56:27 PM PDT by Jewbacca (The residents of Iroquois territory may not determine whether Jews may live in Jerusalem.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: BruceS
Except they'll also have to fix your severed head after the cartels finish with ya! (:

Just kidding... Sorta.

My (once probably what they considered a "cadillac plan" is now useless. I now pay outta pocket for everything up to 6k. My husband just has gall bladder surgery and I joked that it probably will come in at 5999.99.

48 posted on 08/23/2013 2:58:37 PM PDT by riri (Plannedopolis-look it up. It's how the elites plan for US to live.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Appollo9919

But for a mello roos don’t they have the residents of the neighborhood vote for it before it is initiated since it is specific to a neighborhood?


49 posted on 08/23/2013 2:59:14 PM PDT by funfan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: NCjim

I was once told that one of my wife’s meds was $500 w/o insurance, but only $9 with it. That’s insane, but illustrates the problem of being without health insurance.


50 posted on 08/23/2013 3:12:18 PM PDT by rbg81
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: funfan

The individual is not required ever to purchase “health insurance”. Instead, payment of an annual fine in lieu of approved “health insurance” (really a protection racket) is a viable option for a while, until the fines get as high as actually buying the “health insurance” coverage.

In Islamic countries this is called “jizya”, a tax on the Dhimmi class paid to the Islamic authorities. You are allowed to not practice the Islamic religion, but only at a price.


51 posted on 08/23/2013 3:14:06 PM PDT by alloysteel (Unattended children will be given a Red Bull and a free Kazoo. Reminds me of Congress...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: NCjim

The ultimate trump of obamacare.


52 posted on 08/23/2013 3:32:11 PM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks ("Say Not the Struggle Naught Availeth.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NCjim

Every day I thank God that neither Osama Obama,his rich pals,Members of Congress and their staffs nor members of certain “special” labor unions will ever have to wait six months for heart surgery like Canadians do now and we,the Great Unwashed,will in the near future.


53 posted on 08/23/2013 3:34:08 PM PDT by Gay State Conservative (If Obama Had A City It Would Look Like Detroit)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GeronL

and if you pay in cash the price is a lot lower apparently.”

My internist was agreeable to my request for a negotiated fee based on cash only - not credit card or check. Rarely sick and don’t see her unless I absolutely have to. I have a copy of all of her chart notes on my visits even though they are almost impossible to read and no paperwork ever leaves her office. Works for both of us.


54 posted on 08/23/2013 3:43:42 PM PDT by Grams A (The Sun will rise in the East in the morning and God is still on his throne.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: rbg81

There are a variety of prescription savings clubs that the uninsured can join for a nominal fee, like with CVS, Walgreens, etc. Hubby’s medicine used to cost us 20 bucks when we had insurance, but without it would have been $252. With the prescription card, we pay about $132.

Insurance saved us a lot, but since we were paying over $600 for a family of 3 (including our 25-year-old daughter) just to be covered, we never really spent what we put into it. We certainly can’t afford ZeroCare’s price of $1250/month just for the 2 of us, so we probably won’t be insured again until we hit 65.


55 posted on 08/23/2013 3:48:56 PM PDT by Prince of Space (Be Breitbart, baby. LIFB.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: rbg81

what the didn’t tell you, is that there was a generic alternative for $1


56 posted on 08/23/2013 3:49:23 PM PDT by TexasFreeper2009 (Obama lied .. the economy died.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: Prince of Space

Be sure to underpay your income tax.
I believe garnishing tax refunds is currently the only mechanism in place to collect the fines.


57 posted on 08/23/2013 3:51:14 PM PDT by nascarnation (Democrats control the Presidency, Senate, and Media. It's an uphill climb....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]

To: yefragetuwrabrumuy

I was thinking along those same lines regarding HIPAA and I bet the more liberal states (to begin with) will require participation in government insurance programs as a condition for a license to practice


58 posted on 08/23/2013 3:55:24 PM PDT by ebersole
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

sfl


59 posted on 08/23/2013 4:07:58 PM PDT by phockthis (http://www.supremelaw.org/fedzone11/index.htm ...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: alloysteel

Ugh!


60 posted on 08/23/2013 4:21:31 PM PDT by funfan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-72 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson