I appreciate all the positive phone calls we received this week about my CSH and your great comments on my blog. Thank you to those who have already signed up; and for those who want additional details, and I’d be happy to continue to provide them to you as rapidly as we can:
I’ve been working for over a year to come up with the best model for you and me to continue the values that we have both come to appreciate: the personal relationship with your physician you have come to expect.
I have observed that the CSH type of practice model is unfolding and growing nationwide as other physicians have tried to grapple with the broken primary care system.
My practice manager, Chris McIntosh, with whom many of you have already spoken to, is working closely with me to ensure that we have a fair membership fee that will allow me to continue practicing in the way that my patient’s expect.
The annual fee will approximately be set at $900 which is $75 per month; this will include the annual comprehensive Integrated physical and a number of office visits. More direct access will be afforded, such as there will no longer be the typical 3 month wait to schedule your physical, I will provide members with direct access to me via cell phone, members will have internet access to scheduling and secure access to their medical information if desired, and many other options we are currently working on.
Membership will initially consist of my current patients who are already signing up or who may wish to by August 15th. After that date, I am also opening membership to people that have been on my waiting list for some time.
I will write more in the coming days about the insurance component so that you can be more informed about the choice you will need to make before mid-August.
This is your practice; you are the Community in Community Supported Healthcare. I want to build a practice that honors the values that you desire. Please continue sending me your thoughts on my blog!