Cleveland Clinic Florida offers ‘concierge medicine’ — for $4,000 a year
How about for "the ability to reach your physician 24 hours a day, 365 days a year"?
Cleveland Clinic Florida is betting its new Concierge Medicine program will attract at least 300 patients willing to pay
Although the definition of concierge medicine varies, it typically refers to an arrangement between a patient and a primary care physician in which a patient pays an annual fee in exchange for more personalized access. Several models offer longer visits and faster appointments, including same-day visits. Providers typically do not accept health insurance, and fees are charged for additional services such as diagnostic tests.
Concierge medicine can also refer to a highly specialized membership model marketed to affluent patients as a way to jump the line and access a higher level of care. A
Those results, along with...
Those results, along with...
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In an emailed statement,
Staffed with a single physician and support staff, the program debuted this month and is currently enrolling patients, Barsoum said. "Our goal is to accommodate 300 patients this year. We will explore expanding the program when we reach capacity."
But a proponent of a more moderately priced "pay-as-you-go" physician-access model called Direct Primary Care says he doesn't see much extra value in the feature list promoted on the program's website.
Dr.
While the Cleveland Clinic Florida program promises members around-the-clock access to its physician, many hospital systems and health insurance plans now offer remote access to physicians via telehealth programs.
Other features of the Clinic's new program include:
Comprehensive annual physical examination, including an electrocardiogram and blood draw on-site.
Dedicated phone number to access the Concierge Medicine healthcare team.
A customized wellness plan for members' personal health goals
Coordination of care with specialists and hospitalists (that's a physician who specializes in caring for patients in hospitals).
Assistance with medical records in case of emergencies away from home.
"Always ample time" with your physician for in-office visits.
Use of the Clinic's "private fleet of land and air ambulances in an emergency" (for an additional transportation charge).
Eskew said
Cleveland Clinic Florida joins other hospital groups in
Baptist Health spokeswoman
In
"Concierge care and direct care is still mostly done by physician practices, but some health systems with a prestigious reputation to uphold have been getting into the model,"
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Floridians may no longer need health insurance for office visits, basic lab work and other routine medical costs under a bill that looks likely to pass when the
The bill would allow doctors to offer patients basic health care in return for a monthly...
Floridians may no longer need health insurance for office visits, basic lab work and other routine medical costs under a bill that looks likely to pass when the
The bill would allow doctors to offer patients basic health care in return for a monthly...
(
"Health care services are become more commoditized as regions coalesce around a handful of health systems. To separate themselves from the competition, health systems are working on branding and loyalty. Some health systems market their ubiquity and convenience, and others show off their prestige," Cherry said.
But for members seeking reimbursement from their insurance plan, the clinic will "facilitate completion of paperwork" on their behalf "as a courtesy."
Eskew and other supporters promote Direct Primary Care not as white-glove treatment for the affluent but as a way for lower- and middle-income patients with high-deductible health insurance plans to have access to more frequent care.
Patients can reduce their annual insurance costs with a Direct Primary Care membership that costs
Eskew said expansion of concierge medicine programs for the affluent doesn't help his organization's mission of encouraging state governments to pass laws shielding Direct Primary Care plans from being regulated as health insurance.
"Politically it's a nuisance," he said. "We constantly have to distinguish ourselves from concierge medicine practices."
Supporters of a proposed
At last count, 756 physicians operated Direct Primary Care nationally. A handful have opened in
According to Sen.
Physicians, meanwhile, "don't have to spend 30 percent of their time and their staff's time dealing with insurance companies," Lee said.
Concierge plans targeted to the affluent, he said, don't "move the needle in terms of saving people money, providing additional value. It's just extorting more money from people who can afford to pay for it."
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