Comments on: What does affordable health care mean to you? http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/11/what-does-affordable-health-care-mean.html medical blog Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:50:13 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Cascadia - Consultant http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/11/what-does-affordable-health-care-mean.html/comment-page-1#comment-88226 Cascadia - Consultant Tue, 18 Nov 2008 22:04:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/11/what-does-affordable-health-care-mean-to-you.html#comment-88226 Another approach that many people support it so ensure that more resources are dedicated to primary and preventive care. The Dartmouth Atlas studies are very clear that you get care more care but not better outcomes based on how many specilists live in the area. <br/><br/>One simple approach being used in Seattle Washington to cut out the 30% overhead in the system is that people are opting out of insurance for their primary care and seeing internists and primary care doctors who charge a flat monthly fee.<br/><br/>One example is Qliance in Seattle. Unlike the boutique practices this is only about $30 to $60 a month for unlimited care and they treat cab drivers, people who are without insurance as well as those with high deductible plans. (I have no relationship with them)<br/><br/>At first I was opposed to the model as I thought that cutting a practice down to 500 patients (and grossing over $300,000 a year) would be similar to private schools taking the cream of the crop but it seems to actually work to keep docs in family practice at the same time it meets the needs of consumers who can't afford insurance and cuts costs while providing high quality care. Another approach that many people support it so ensure that more resources are dedicated to primary and preventive care. The Dartmouth Atlas studies are very clear that you get care more care but not better outcomes based on how many specilists live in the area.

One simple approach being used in Seattle Washington to cut out the 30% overhead in the system is that people are opting out of insurance for their primary care and seeing internists and primary care doctors who charge a flat monthly fee.

One example is Qliance in Seattle. Unlike the boutique practices this is only about $30 to $60 a month for unlimited care and they treat cab drivers, people who are without insurance as well as those with high deductible plans. (I have no relationship with them)

At first I was opposed to the model as I thought that cutting a practice down to 500 patients (and grossing over $300,000 a year) would be similar to private schools taking the cream of the crop but it seems to actually work to keep docs in family practice at the same time it meets the needs of consumers who can’t afford insurance and cuts costs while providing high quality care.

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