Boutique Medicine

Boutique medicine is a term that is used more often and coming into our popular lexicon. By most definitions boutique medicine is used to describe a type of physician practice which has a few distinguishing characteristics that separate it from conventional physician practices. Typically a boutique practice is set up to cater to a limited number of patients who pay a premium, often times, an up-front enrollment fee ranging from $1,500 to $20,000 a year, in exchange for unlimited and unfettered access to the practice’s physicians. A boutique practice is usually comprised of two or three physicians who limit the number of patients they each treat to approximately 600 – 800 patients. By limiting the number of patients under their care, the physicians are able to spend more time with their patients, offer same day appointments, and usually increase their net income in the process. From the patient perspective, the annual premium is money well spent in exchange for this personalized and prompt care. Taken at face value, the boutique concept of a physician practice is American capitalism at its very best, free enterprise at work. At its very worst, the boutique concept is an elitist, unethical, and immoral business practice, which further divides the rich from the poor. Imagine for a moment an economically depressed area with a desperately underserved patient population. Hundreds and thousands of patients, in fact, all needing a surgical intervention that would save them from a lifetime of blindness through a simple cataract procedure, yet none of these patients having the means to pay for such an operation. Now imagine in that same country the wealthiest of the wealthy being given red carpet treatment in the plushest of facilities for the very same cataract affliction using state of the art equipment, technology and methods, a boutique practice, if you will. The only thing separating these two groups of cataract patients is the ability to pay. Now imagine further a scenario whereby the profits from the boutique practiced were used to finance a second practice that provided the same service, same world-class technology and cutting edge methods, minus a few of the red carpet frills to the population of poor patients. The physicians operating the practice by all reports are well satisfied and well compensated. The patients pay a premium for their care and are well satisfied with the quality of their care. So what effects do well paid, well-satisfied doctors and well-satisfied patients have on their local community’s health and healthcare system? The next issue beyond simple dollars is to look at what is happening because of health care to this select part of the population, the boutique patients, here in the U.S. Satisfied patients enjoy better health and satisfied physicians practice better medicine, both of these positive affects contributing to the overall improved health of the community at large. Perhaps a practical example might further illustrate this important point. Because of a patient’s wealth, he is able to a obtain a necessary flu shot before winter sets in. Yet, it is understandable that our instincts tell us that it is precisely disparities such as these, are unfair. But the focus on the disparity itself is one that often times further confuses the issues. Taking away boutique medicine will do nothing to decrease disparities in a community’s health. While boutique medicine may admittedly have a distinctly bad taste for some people, it is nevertheless distinctly good medicine for some people.

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Private Pay Health

 Private Pay is the basis upon which the healthcare financing system began. Patients paid physicians a fee-for-service. In its purest sense, the Private Pay model includes only the physician and patient in the exchange of compensation for medical care provided. Over the years as healthcare financing arrangements have changed, entities paying a fee-for-service includes all payers-public and private. Recently, the healthcare industry has referred to physician practices that do not accept health insurance as cash-only practices or Private Pay offices. Private Pay vastly reduces the traditional overhead expenses by not having to bill and abide by contractual requirements of third party payers. Further, collection rates may be higher with fewer bad debt expenses. Physicians in a pure Private Pay practice may want to continue to see patients with private insurance who are willing to pay cash and submit their own claims. Before charging privately insured patients on a cash basis, the physician should determine that there are no contractual or legal restrictions on doing so. This will necessitate a review of existing contracts and state insurance regulations. Certain states protect enrollee’s in particular private insurance plans from being billed for any sums beyond what the insurance company pays, except for co-pays and deductibles. Opponents of a completely Private Pay practice model would argue that it violates the professional principle of ensuring equal access for all. Individuals with insurance may not be able to afford seeing a physician who does not participate with their health plan due to the added financial responsibilities. Thus, the Private Pay practice is limiting its level of patients’ access to care based on one’s financial means. There are already millions of Americans who cannot afford private health insurance and have Medicaid coverage. Others self-insure due to their financial resources being such that they can pay out-of-pocket for their medical expenses. Physicians who wish to move to a pure Private Pay practice and still take Medicare patients must privately contract with such patients. If still accepting Medicare, it is advisable to follow the Medicare fee schedule as to avoid causing any red flags to be raised. The rules related to treating Medicaid patients on a Private Pay basis will vary from state to state. It is advisable to contact the state Medicaid agency for their terms on charging patients directly. Beverly Hills Body Surgery provides body lift plastic surgeon and plastic surgery information around Los Angeles and Beverly Hills areas of California. Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Plastic Surgery Beverly Hills offers cosmetic and plastic surgery including breast augmentation, liposuction, face lift surgery, rhinoplasty and more. Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Customers from all over the world go to surgeons in Beverly Hills to get cosmetic enhancements. Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Surgery Solutions in Beverly Hills provides high quality laser hair removal and other services like spa services, Botox, photo rejuvenation, and much more. Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Beverly Plastic offers rhinoplasty, breast augmentation, facelift, liposuction and more at the plastic surgery practice. Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Plastic Surgeon in Beverly Hills Ca serving Los Angeles offers cosmetic and plastic surgery including breast augmentation, liposuction, face lift surgery. Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery You choose these implants; you may need to visit your plastic surgeon regularly to make sure the implants are functioning properly. Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Care of Beverly Hills Medical Group provides a center of excellence for comprehensive, state-of-the-art medical care. Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery The Beverly Hills plastic surgeon specializing in face-lifts and rhinoplasty can help you. Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Medical center located in Beverly hills, California. Beverly hills is a fashionable residential area for show business ... Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery We perform cosmetic nose surgery and nasal breathing surgery, Beverly hills plastic surgery expert whose team of surgeons ... Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Plastic surgeon in Beverly hills ca serving los Angeles offers cosmetic and plastic surgery including breast augmentation, liposuction, face lift surgery Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery