TN_Vixen
Rear Window
- Joined
- Sep 24, 2000
- Posts
- 7,710
As reported in the Wall Street Journal today, a growing number of physicians are now offering VIP care to those patients willing to pay a fee anywhere from $1200 - $20,000 year. These patients will be catered to at the highest level by the physicians - given up to 2 hours of the doctor's time at some sessions, 24 hour care, home visits, and even personal transportation to the hospital in an emergency.
So what, you say. If you can afford it, what seems to be the problem?
Well, the problem exists when physicians in fairly rural areas demand their patients to pay this fee in order to keep their family doctor. They must pay this fee along with any insurance costs they may have, or they must go elsewhere for health care.
The other problem is when these providers accept payment from Medicare. "If you accept Medicare money, you cannot contract to accept money outside the system," says AMA's ethics expert Herbert Rakatamsky.
Currently controversy on this burgeoning practice by physicians (mainly in the Florida area) has caused investingation by the Department of Insurance as to its legality.
So what, you say. If you can afford it, what seems to be the problem?
Well, the problem exists when physicians in fairly rural areas demand their patients to pay this fee in order to keep their family doctor. They must pay this fee along with any insurance costs they may have, or they must go elsewhere for health care.
The other problem is when these providers accept payment from Medicare. "If you accept Medicare money, you cannot contract to accept money outside the system," says AMA's ethics expert Herbert Rakatamsky.
Currently controversy on this burgeoning practice by physicians (mainly in the Florida area) has caused investingation by the Department of Insurance as to its legality.
