Why Texas primary care doctors are dropping patients and moving to concierge care

Good health comes from regularly visiting a good doctor. A good primary care physician. But insurance pays the most important doctor in your life the least.
This discrepancy between payments for preventing illness versus the huge rewards for doctors who treat illness is at the heart of our healthcare problems in the United States. And it’s why family doctors are rebelling and switching to what they call concierge medicine.
My doctor explained that to make a living and pay staff, he needed to see 32 patients a day. To reach that level, he needed to sign up 3,000 regular patients. He said neither he nor the patients were happy with the quality of care.
So he joined the ten percent of family doctors who say they have or will switch to concierge services. He still takes insurance, but he charges patients an additional several thousand dollars a year to get better check-ups and same-day appointments among other benefits.
Now he only has 600 patients and spends more time with each one. He can also spend more time treating them and believes he will save patients money in the long run by keeping them healthier.
The problem is that only rich people can afford to pay, and doctors who switch to concierge care are making the primary care physician shortage worse. Maybe it’s time that insurance companies try paying family doctors more and focusing on prevention rather than treatment.
Everyone will be healthier in the end. If you want to read more or check my facts, read my latest Tomlinson’s Take. There is a link in my bio.

Видео Why Texas primary care doctors are dropping patients and moving to concierge care канала Chris Tomlinson