| Concierge medicine was in the news again today. | | | | properly covered. |
| Concierge medicine is not yet a widespread | | | | One line of attack against concierge medicine is that it |
| phenomenon, but has been increasing in popularity as | | | | is acting as a form of insurance, and concierge |
| primary care doctors find it increasingly difficult to | | | | practices are in effect operating as an unlicensed |
| provide attentive care to their patients, and maintain a | | | | insurance company. It is still too early to be sure how |
| worthwhile lifestyle at the same time. For those | | | | this will play out, but these arguments miss the overall |
| unfamiliar with the concept of concierge medicine, it | | | | point that the concierge medicine trend illustrates. |
| works as follows: doctors charge each patient an | | | | Is healthcare a fundamental right? Or is it a service |
| annual retainer. The fees vary, but $1000-3500/yr | | | | provided by professionals with fees set by market |
| appears to be a commonly quoted range. In return for | | | | forces? If it is the former, than a national health |
| this, the patient receives 24/7/365 access to the | | | | system, or a private system with a foolproof 'safety |
| practice via email, cell phone, etc. They receive on-time | | | | net' for those unable to afford private care, makes |
| appointments without delay, and appointments are not | | | | sense. If it is the latter, than concierge medicine reflects |
| the typical 10 minute one so common to rushed | | | | an effort by private-sector primary care to provide this |
| primary-care practices today. | | | | service in a fashion that makes more sense than the |
| Not surprisingly, concierge medicine has generated | | | | current system does. |
| debate as to whether this system is 'fair' for patients | | | | The system has not determined what the answer to |
| who are unable to afford the retainers. Also, it must be | | | | this question is, although it is clear that the |
| pointed out that concierge medicine is not insurance. | | | | administration as well as many prominent politicians, |
| That is, patients will still be responsible for other | | | | such as the late Sen. Kennedy, believe that it is a right. |
| healthcare services such as hospitalizations, surgery, | | | | For now, individual providers are deciding for |
| diagnostic imaging, etc. Concierge patients need to | | | | themselves, and adjusting their own terms of |
| maintain their regular health insurance in order to be | | | | participation in the system. |