US doctors switch to 'concierge medicine'

Doctors in the United States appear to be turning to "concierge medicine", a service in which they charge patients a fee to reduce waiting times while also lowering heavy patient loads.

Concierge medicine has been offered for more than 20 years in the US. At least 1 in 5 people with the highest incomes in the US have been getting such healthcare for years, a 2020 study by National Public Radio, or NPR, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found.

With concierge medicine, physicians charge the patient a membership fee. They also charge the patient's insurance company or Medicare, a government national health insurance program in the US, for the doctor visit and any services not covered by the membership fee.

The fee for concierge medicine depends on the healthcare provider and the state where the patient lives. It ranges from $2,200 to $30,000 per year. It is usually paid in lump-sum, but some plans may allow monthly payments.

Another type of medical service, known as "direct primary care", or DPC, charges patients a flat fee that covers everything, including lab tests and visits.

Popular trend

As it becomes more popular, there are concerns that concierge medicine could penalize those with low incomes. As more primary care providers join concierge practices, fewer physicians are available to provide general medical treatment.

There is an expected doctor shortage in the US of between 37,800 and 124,000 in both primary and specialty care by 2034, according to data from the Association of American Medical Colleges published in June 2021.

Specialdocs Consultants, based in Illinois, has helped doctors switch from conventional care to concierge medicine since 2002. It has approximately 120 clients across the US.

Terrence Bauer, CEO of Specialdocs, said concierge medicine provides benefits to doctors and patients.

"As reimbursement goes down and their (doctors') operating costs go up, the only way to make the math work is to see more patients, and they get to the point where it's just unsustainable. I mean, how many patients can you see in a day?" he told China Daily.

"For physicians, (concierge medicine) is a dramatically different work-life balance, as opposed to today (where) they have to see more patients just to make ends meet. They get the opportunity to really focus on health and wellness and the disease, not just on the symptoms of the day."

Agencies contributed to this story.