Michele Andrews, a patient in Northampton, learned about her internist's shift to concierge medicine, which requires a membership fee despite ongoing insurance costs. This trend reflects a broader change in primary care, with many physicians converting their practices to alleviate patient overload and enhance the quality of care per appointment, reducing wait times. However, this model raises concerns about accessibility, particularly for those unable to afford the additional fees, as critics argue it undermines the foundational principles of equitable healthcare access.
Many doctors who made the change have said it resolves, at least on an individual level, some of the pressures they face in primary care.
Concierge medicine is a business model in which a doctor charges patients a monthly or annual membership fee, even as patients continue paying insurance premiums.
Collection
[
|
...
]