Doctors with more patients than time can try the concierge concept (it sort of implies to me that their patients have been being shortchanged; my doc takes whatever time is needed). I favor what other doctors are experimenting with: payment by cash/credit card only, payable at the time of service. No more micromanagement by insurance companies or government for “pre-approvals”. No three month delays getting paid and keeping up with 50 different price schedules. No need for 3 employees to process insurance and Medicare/Medicaid claims, and chase after deadbeats. In theory, they are able to actually practice medicine and charge significantly less. Not sure how it is working out for them.
Separation of consuming versus paying for services created much of the chaotic mess that is the American medical system. The government will definitely try to stop doctors from escaping institutional bondage. What if something like that caught on?
I have asked about using cash (before I got insurance last year) and they would only give me a 5% discount off full price care. Having worked in insurance, I would have thought the least they could offer is whatever an insurance company would pay after adjustments, but, nope. smh