Letter: ‘Concierge medicine’ disturbing

Cash-for-access. That’s what my primary care physician is seeking starting Jan. 1. Cash-for-access in politics is called “pay-to-play.”

My doctor, who I really like, has a practice of about 4,400 patients. He is going to charge $1,950 per person or $3,500 per couple annually just to get in the door. He says he knows all 4,400 patients can’t afford his “membership fee.” He estimates about 1,500 will acquiesce — many reluctantly — and will pay up. But what happens to almost 2,000 people who will be disenfranchised?

For those 1,000 or so patients who pay cash-for-access, they will have benefits like same-day appointments that start on time, e-mail/Skype access, paperwork at no cost and a private reception area — with amenities. That and a few other benefits will cost those 1,000 patients a total of well over $1 million a year.

No doubt other doctors have and will consider what is called “concierge medicine.” Maybe this should be the topic of a newspaper investigation. Once brought into the sunlight, how may doctors would want to be associated with a headline that reads: “Cash-for-access: No upfront pay and doctors drop patients.”

Used by many medical schools, the modern version of the Hippocratic oath ends with: “May I always act so as to preserve the finest traditions of my calling and may I long experience the joy of healing those who seek my help.”

Apparently the “joy of healing” has been replaced by the joy of cash.

This story was originally published September 22, 2016 at 6:41 PM with the headline "Letter: ‘Concierge medicine’ disturbing."